Charm City has a rich boxing history. The legendary Sugar Ray Leonard started his pro career here and since then the town has maintained a strong boxing scene so there are plenty of great boxing gyms in Baltimore for you to train at.
Let’s take a look:
My preference is always for those rare, pure, old school boxing gyms, free of ego, and full of passion for the sport. But sometimes I include the odd boxercise place because I know that not everyone wants the nitty gritty of actual combat.
Why listen to me: I’ve been boxing as an amateur for 6 years and trained in countless boxing gyms around the world from Seattle to Spain. I’ve learnt that picking the right gym can literally change your life and want to help you do the same. Learn more about me here.
PLEASE leave your own opinions and experiences about Baltimore boxing gyms in the comments at the bottom and I’ll continuously update this page to make it as useful as possible!
The 7 Best Boxing Gyms in Baltimore🥊
1️⃣ Lightning Quick Fit
- Summary: Top class pure boxing gym run by a top class coach
- Address: 1000 Morton St (Midtown)
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M-F: 7-9am & 5-9pm, S-S: 8am-1pm
- Pricing: n.a.
- Best for: all boxers!
- Online: website, Instagram
Lightning Quick Fit is run by hugely popular and experienced head coach Ernie.
“Special”, “one of a kind”, “best boxing coach around” are some of the praise heaped on him. You know you’re going to be in very safe hands if you train here. He still fights in competitive bouts.
This all manifests in a welcoming and professional gym that trains boxers of all abilities. Whether you’re just starting out in the Sweet Science or you’ve go decades under your best, the team here will give you a great workout and improve your technique.
Don’t be fooled by the name, this is more than a fitness gym: they train competitive fighters and host regular sparring sessions.
They offer group classes or 1-on-1 training but don’t offer much of the details online so you’ll need to visit them in person for more info.
Lightning Quick is certainly of the best boxing gyms in Baltimore – check it out.
2️⃣ Corner Team
- Summary: A real-deal pure boxing gym with a strong community vibe
- Address: 1101 E 25th St (Darley Park)
- Google rating: 4.7
- Opening hours: M-T: 4:30-8pm, F: 4:30-6pm, S: 9am-4pm
- Pricing: $45 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: those on a budget and those looking for camaraderie
- Online: website, Facebook, Instagram
This place is awesome. It’s a non-profit boxing gym with a big community focus.
They want to “build champions both in and out of the ring” and as well as offering high quality boxing training: Corner Team helps with neighborhood clean ups, educational programs and hosts live music events.
It’s an official member of USA Boxing so you know you’ll get serious, high quality instruction here. Whether you’re just looking to get in shape while learning the technique or if you have your sights set on competitive boxing, Corner Team will sort you out.
And if all that isn’t enough, it’s set in a cool, spacious, 4,500 sq ft warehouse-like facility with plenty of equipment. And at $45 / month for unlimited classes, it is amazing value.
Corner Team is a lot more than just a boxing gym. As all the best boxing gyms are. I’d love to train here.
3️⃣ Unboxed Boxing & Fitness
- Summary: A proper boxing gym with top class coaches
- Address: 2133 Greenspring Dr (Timonium)
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M-T: 6am – 7:30pm, F: 6am-2pm, Sa: 8am-2pm
- Pricing: n.a.
- Best for: all boxers
- Online: website, Facebook, Instagram
This place is a little out of town, north of Baltimore in Timonium, but well worth a visit.
Experienced and professional coaches JD and Troy are welcoming to people of all abilities and offer ~5 classes a day across boxing, kick boxing, strength, and endurance, among others. They do online classes too if you’d rather not make the journey.
Boxing classes consist of a mixture of heavy bag work and mitt work and, when you’re ready and willing, you can do some sparring too.
I like how they focus on small classes (5-8 per class) so you know you’re going to get plenty of attention and instruction from the coaches to really hone proper boxing technique.
Unboxed is top class, undoubtedly one of the best boxing gyms in Baltimore.
4️⃣ Elite Boxing & Fitness
- Summary: Great boxing gym with an electric atmosphere
- Address: 9017 Red Branch Rd B (Columbia)
- Google rating: 4.7
- Opening hours: M-T: 9am-6pm, F: 9am-7pm, Sa: 9am-1pm
- Pricing: $130 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: fitness junkies and boxing beginners
- Online: website, Facebook, Instagram
It’s hard to find a bad word said about Elite Boxing & Fitness. Many of the compliments center around the incredibly welcoming and motivating atmosphere in the gym, led by very friendly staff.
You’re gonna get one hell of a workout here while also learning about proper boxing from experienced and professional coaches.
It offers up to 7 classes daily during weekdays for you to choose from, including in boxing technique, kickboxing, cardio, mitts work and more. The facility looks pretty sweet too.
It doesn’t look like there’s any sparring here (although they do have a ring so maybe it’s possible) so it might not be the perfect place if you’re serious about competitive boxing.
By all accounts, a great place to train in the Sweet Science.
5️⃣ Umar Boxing
- Summary: Non-profit, community-focused gym with an emphasis on youth education
- Address: 1217 W North Ave (Druid Heights)
- Google rating: 4.8
- Opening hours: M-F: 4-8pm
- Pricing: n.a.
- Best for: kids looking for a better path in life
- Online: website, Facebook, Instagram
This place has got an awesome vibe to it, summed up by its mottos: “No hooks before books” and “Guns down, gloves up”.
It has a big focus on training and supporting local kids, not just in boxing, but also in education, to set them up for the future. And has been doing so since 1996. There’s even a classroom at the gym.
It’s not just for kids though. Umar Boxing offers boxing training programs for adults too. Classes are run by Marvin McDowell, former pro boxer and member of the Maryland Boxing Hall of Fame.
This place is doing some truly awesome work for the community. Highly recommended.
6️⃣ Knockout Fitness
- Summary: Good fun boxercise studio. Be wary of contracts.
- Address: 1108 Light St (Federal Hill)
- Google rating: 4.3 & 3.9
- Opening hours: varies by location, but approx ~4 classes spread throughout the day
- Pricing: $130 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: fitness fanatics
- Online: website, Facebook, Instagram
As the name suggests, Knockout Fitness is probably more of an exercise studio than a boxing gym and you won’t get any sparring here.
Having said that, they do have dedicated classes for boxing fundamentals where you will work on boxing technique using pads, bags, and partner drills.
The rest of the classes are more fitness focused with some boxing involved. I must admit, they do look fun though. Think sledgehammers, heavy ropes, punchbags etc etc. No doubt you’ll get in great shape at Knockout Fitness and have a good time while you’re at it.
The gym offers between 2-4 classes each day, 6 days a week.
A word of warning. They have attracted plenty of bad reviews for their contract policy. Lots of people complain about not being able to cancel their membership and being charged for several months after they have asked to cancel. Read the small print. It’s a shame as otherwise Knockout Fitness is doing everything right.
7️⃣ Title Boxing Club
- Summary: High-end, high-intensity boxercise franchise
- Address: 10200 Grand Central Ave #104 (Owing Mills)
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M,W,F: 5:30-7am, 10am-8:30pm, T & T: 9am-8pm, S: 7:30-11:30am, Su: 9am-12pm
- Pricing: $169 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: fitness fanatics
- Online: website, Facebook, Instagram
Title Boxing Clubs (it’s a nationwide franchise) are hugely popular, and for good reason. Their classes are intense and engaging.
The facilities are modern and clean. And they have a large selection of classes to choose from everyday.
But, bear in mind, it’s not a pure boxing gym and you won’t be doing any sparring here. The focus is much more on the fitness than it is on genuine boxing technique. Not necessarily a bad thing but just make sure you know what you’re singing up for.
This particular Title club in Owings Mills has nearly 150 five-star reviews on Google. There is hard to find a bad word said about it. So if a fun, full-body, adrenaline pumping workout is what you’re looking for, then Title will certainly do the job.
Related articles:
- The Best Boxing Gyms in Washington DC
- The Best Boxing Gyms in Philadelphia
- Should I Start Boxing? (7 Reasons Why HELL YES!)
How to pick a boxing gym in Baltimore❓
- Coaches – an experienced, motivating coach makes all the difference. Not just when it comes to improving your technique but also in encouraging you to keep coming back time and time again. Becoming a good boxer takes a long time and so it’s important you find a coach that you click with if this is something you want to do for many years. Reviews will often focus on coaches so try looking for those for some insights.
- Convenience of location and class timings – for me this is so important. My boxing gym is on the same block as my home so I have no excuse not to go almost everyday, even if I’m not feeling up to it. Finding a gym that’s close to home or work will make your life much easier and help to make going to boxing training a habit. The same applies to class timings, if you have to massively disrupt your day to get to a class because it doesn’t fit your schedule then you’re going to be less likely to go.
- Gym focus – I don’t have a problem with boxercise classes, but make sure you know what you’re signing up for if you join one of these. Boxercise is very different than actually learning how to fight and getting sparring experience. If you truly want to learn how to box then you need to box. That involves punching other people and getting punched yourself.
- Trial class – most boxing gyms will allow you to have a free trial class so you can get a feel for the place before you sign up. This is a great way of evaluating whether you like the coach, the energy, and the focus of the gym. Always worth asking for a free trial class if you’re not sure whether it’s offered.
How much do boxing gyms in Baltimore cost? 💰
- Monthly memberships: ~$50-$150 per month depending on how high-end you go. Most places offer unlimited classes to their members. Be sure to check for this.
- One-on-one personal training: This can vary a lot but expect to pay around $70 per hour as a minimum.
- Drop-in boxing classes for non-members: ~$15-$30 per class
- Initiation fee: not all places make you pay one of these (and I’m not a fan of it) but those that do usually charge a one-off fee of $50-$100
12th Round 🔔
I must admit that I was surprised at how many proper boxing gyms there are in Baltimore. With places like Lightning Quick, Corner Team, Unboxed, and others, this city has got a really strong boxing scene. What are you waiting for?
Happy fighting!🥊🥊
“The possession of muscular strength and the courage to use it in contests with other men for physical supremacy does not necessarily imply a lack of appreciation for the finer and better things of life.” — Jack Johnson
Itís difficult to find educated people about this topic, but you seem like you know what youíre talking about! Thanks