They make them tough in Fort Worth, the home of cowboys and rodeos. It’s therefore no surprise that the city also boasts a thriving boxing community. If you’re looking to train in the Sweet Science in Panther City, then you’re in luck, there are some great boxing gyms here.
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 Fort Worth boxing gyms in the comments at the bottom and I’ll continuously update this page to make it as useful as possible!
The 6 Best Boxing Gyms in Fort Worth🥊
1️⃣ Paulie Ayala’s University Of Hard Knocks
- Summary: Top class, old school gym run by former world champ
- Address: 7616 Camp Bowie W Blvd (Ridglea Hills)
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M, W, F: 6am-7:30pm, T&T: 9am-7:30pm, S: 9-11am
- Pricing: n.a.
- Best for: everyone!
- Online: website, Facebook, Instagram
The University of Hard Knocks was founded back in 2004 by former featherweight world champion, Paulie Ayala, and has been training true fighters in the art of boxing ever since.
There’s not a bad word said about this place: it has an awesome atmosphere and attracts a great crowd of people who are keen to get fit and learn boxing. No egos, just plenty of hard work and passion.
They offer 3 or 4 group classes every weekday for adults (plus more classes for kids). And you can also book in some 1-on-1 time with the Paulie if you want some extra attention.
Everyone is welcome here, beginners, pros, adults, kids. They are great with the kids and also have specialist classes for people with Parkinson’s disease which tells you the place has a big heart too.
A word of warning: Paulie will push you to your limits! So get ready to work hard. Undoubtedly one of the best boxing gyms in Fort Worth. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
2️⃣ Reyes Boxing Gym
- Summary: No-nonsense, passionate pure boxing gym
- Address: 1109 Roberts Cut Off Rd (River Oaks)
- Google rating: 4.7
- Opening hours: M-F: 5-9pm
- Pricing: $50 / month
- Best for: everyone, especially aspiring competitors and kids
- Online: website, Facebook
They mean business here. If you want proper boxing, to hit and get hit, then you’ve come to the right place.
Boxercise this definitely is not! They have a competitive amateur team here if you’re looking to get in the ring for real.
Don’t let that intimidate you though. If you’re willing to put the effort in, then they will welcome you with open arms, kids included. In fact, many of the complimentary reviews about Reyes Boxing comment about how good the coaches are with kids.
They offer multiple classes throughout the week in the evenings for both kids and adults, and also offer private 1-on-1 training sessions. Reyes Boxing Club is highly recommended.
3️⃣ Keller Boxing Club
- Summary: Family-focused, authentic boxing gym
- Address: 12057 Katy Rd Suite 201 (Keller)
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M,W, F: 5:30-8:30pm, T & T: 6-7am & 5:30-8:30pm
- Pricing: $175 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: families and the laid back
- Online: website, Instagram
Keller Boxing Club has a strong family feel to it, and offers family fitness boxing sessions and family membership packages. This results in a very friendly, welcoming environment for boxers of all ages and skills.
But don’t let that put you off if you’re a serious fighter – they’ll teach you proper boxing technique here and train you for competition if that’s what you’re after.
Coach Malakai is a very popular figure who will make sure that everyone he coaches gets the specific training and advice they need to reach their own personal goals.
This is no doubt one of the best boxing gyms in Fort Worth. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself or read the endless 5-star reviews on Google!
4️⃣ FHG Boxing
- Summary: A real-deal old-school boxing gym
- Address: 806 S Cherry Ln (White Settlement)
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M-F: 9am-12pm & 5-8pm, Sa: 9am-12pm
- Pricing: n.a.
- Best for: serious boxers
- Online: website, Instagram
FHG Boxing is one of those true, old school boxing gyms.
You won’t find any selfies and superfood smoothies here but you will find respect and boundless passion for boxing seeping out of the walls. The same walls that are adorned with inspiring boxing memorabilia to get you in the mood.
If you’re serious about genuine boxing training and sparring then this would be a great choice for you. There’s nothing fancy about FHG Boxing (which is how boxing gyms should be) but it attracts a respectful and hard working bunch who are committed to honing their boxing skills.
Coach Ray and his team are clearly running a top class gym that’s professional, encouraging, and safe.
I’d love to train here.
5️⃣ Total KO Boxing Club
- Summary: Community-focused gym with strong values and a great atmosphere
- Address: 3000 Cullen St.,Suite B
- Google rating: 4.8
- Opening hours: M-F: 8:30am-8:30pm
- Pricing: $100 / month (unlimited classes)
- Best for: women, fun lovers, and fitness fanatics
- Online: website
Total KO is a boxing gym with a purpose: it’s a non-profit that started as an all-female gym aimed at helping women build self-esteem and stay healthy.
It has since expanded to offer classes to men (and kids) but has always retained its strong values that make it a hugely valuable part of the local community.
Coaches and co-founders Victoria, Clay, Rita and Sarah are all certified USA Boxing Coaches who really know they are doing. They’ll ensure you have one hell of a workout but have a smile on your face while you’re at it. They have 3 or 4 classes each day during the week.
At $100 month, it’s great value, and they also have discounts for families, veterans, and law enforcement.
6️⃣ Sanctuary Boxing Gym
- Summary: Newly opened and destined for big things
- Address: 1411 Wesleyan St
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M-Sa: 9am-9pm
- Pricing: n.a.
- Best for: everyone and anyone!
- Online: Instagram
Sanctuary Boxing Gym only opened it’s doors in 2022 but is already developing a loyal fan base with much of the praise directed at founder and coach Cyrus Moshrefi.
“Fantastic”, “supportive”, “kind”, “extremely patient”, “super knowledgeable” are just some of the compliments he received for his coaching.
As the name hints at, Sanctuary is welcoming of anyone, whether you want to get in the shape of your life, learn to defend yourself, or compete in boxing.
I love that they do things a little different here. For example, they don’t force you into long-term binding contracts and instead operate a pay-what-you-can system. Cyrus is focused on creating a gym that will be a central part of the community and help people improve both their physical and mental well-being.
Sanctuary offers private sessions, open gym, sparring and also has a spa and an ice bath to help recovery. It doesn’t look like they offer scheduled group classes yet though.
They’ve been too focused on their boxing to set up a website so info is pretty hard to come by, but you can check them out on their their Instagram page.
Related articles:
- The Best Boxing Gyms in Dallas
- The Best Boxing Gyms in Austin
- Should I Start Boxing? (7 Reasons Why HELL YES!)
How to pick a boxing gym in Fort Worth❓
- 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 Fort Worth cost? 💰
- Monthly memberships: ~$50-150 per month. 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 $60 per hour as a minimum.
- Drop-in boxing classes for non-members: ~$15-$20 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 🔔
While there aren’t loads of boxing gyms in Fort Worth, there are certainly some top class ones. Like the sport itself I suppose, it’s all about quality over quantity here. With places like University of Hard Knocks, Reyes Boxing Club, Keller, FHG and others, there’s a small but thriving boxing scene for you to get involved in.
Happy fighting!🥊🥊
“If you screw things up in tennis, it’s 15-love. If you screw up in boxing, it’s your ass.” – Randall “Tex” Cobb
