Damn. Manchester has given us plenty of world class boxers over the years. Greats like Tyson Fury, Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan, and Anthony Crolla all come from this legendary city.
Thankfully, the boxing spirit is alive and well, and today Manchester is full of some top notch boxing gyms for you to choose from. Let’s dive in…
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 Manchester 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 Manchester 🥊
1️⃣ Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club
- Summary: A true authentic boxing gym. Top class trainers and community.
- Address: Denhill Rd, Hulme, Manchester M15 5NR
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M & W: 5-8pm, Tu & F: 6-8pm, Th: 4:30-8:30pm, Sa: 10am-12:30pm
- Pricing: £3 per class
- Online: website, Facebook, Instagram
Now this is a proper boxing gym. Memorabilia hangs off the brick walls. Every corner is filled with focused fighters pounding old heavy bags. There’s the unmistakable smell of sweat, leather, and hard work.
Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club was started back in 2008 by local firefighters wanting to engage with the community and since then has helped thousands achieve sporting success, personal development, and better health.
Whether you want to become a pro, just get fit, or need support to keep your life on track, this is the place for you.
Yes they have world class coaches that have trained many national champions but they have also built a rock solid community that teaches values of respect, discipline, and self esteem.
Everyone is welcome here (so long as you’re willing to put the effort in!) and there are classes 6 days a week for you to choose from (some dedicated to kids and those training for competition).
At just £3 a class, it’s great value and, if you struggle to afford that, then have a chat with the team, they might be able to help you out.
Undoubtedly one of the best boxing gyms in Manchester. I know where I’m training next time I’m in town.
2️⃣ Shinny’s Gym
- Summary: Learn true boxing from top quality, super friendly coaches.
- Address: 17 Welcroft St, Stockport SK1 3DF
- Google rating: 4.8
- Opening hours: M-T: 6:30am-8pm, F: 6:30am-7pm, Sa: 7am-12pm
- Pricing: £70 / month (unlimited classes)
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
Owned and operated by former British Flyweight Champion, Shinny Bayaar, Shinny’s in the center of Stockport leaves a huge impression on anyone who trains here. Seriously, go check out the non-stop 5-star reviews on Google.
Most of the praise is directed towards Shinny and his team for their knowledge, inclusivity, and kindness. And it’s probably one of the friendliest boxing gyms I’ve ever been to.
They offer a wide array of classes here including boxing technique, boxfit, competitive training, self-defense, circuit training, women only classes, and kids classes. There is someone here for everyone.
And everyone is welcome with open arms. When there isn’t a class you can come and use all the equipment in the gym and train with whoever else happens to be there.
They also offer 1-on-1 coaching and will help you with your diet too for all round better conditioning.
Shinny’s is a top class, old school boxing gym, focused on teaching you the true art of boxing while you immerse yourself in a great community. Highly recommended!
3️⃣ Moss Side Boxing (Champs Club)
- Summary: A friendly, authentic boxing gym with a rich history.
- Address: 139 Princess Rd, Manchester M14 4RE
- Google rating: 4.9
- Opening hours: M-F: 6-7pm
- Pricing: £25 / month + £4 per class
- Online: website, Facebook
Moss Side Boxing is legendary in these parts. It was started back in 1981 by the much-loved former pro boxer Phil Martin whose vision was to help motivate the local community and train champions.
He succeeded in both before sadly dying young from cancer. The gym has inspired many in the city to lead better lives and is arguably the most successful in the UK having trained countless pro boxing champions like Maurice Core and Frank Grant.
But don’t let that intimidate you. One of the reasons Moss Side has been so successful over the years is the friendliness of the coaches that have created an electric atmosphere for everyone.
They hold classes for adults at 6pm on Mon, Weds, and Friday, and at the same time for juniors (age 10-15) on Tuesday and Thursday.
In case you’re wondering, Champs Camp is the name given to the program here focused on training competitive amateurs and pros. Have you got what it takes?
P.S. don’t confuse this with Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club – they are totally different (but both awesome) gyms.
4️⃣ St John’s ABC
- Summary: A gem of an old school, passionate and professional boxing gym
- Address: Chequers Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9DX
- Google rating: 4.5
- Opening hours: M-T: 6-8:30pm, Sa: 10-11:30am
- Pricing: £3 per class
- Online: website, Facebook
St John’s is primarily a boxing club focused on providing top quality training to kids looking to build amateur or professional boxing careers. If that’s your dream, then there is no better team in town for you to join than the one here at St John’s.
It ain’t just for kids though. They have boxing classes every evening (except Friday) and on Saturday morning for adults too. The coaching is top class – professional and patient – and the workout will leave you totally spent.
What I love about St Johns is the environment. Everyone is friendly, there are no egos. It has a palpable community vibe to it where members are also close friends and talk of a “second home”.
The gym itself is proper old school. The walls are covered in retro posters and most of the punch bags are held together with duct tape. Love it. If you’re after superfood smoothies and selfies, look elsewhere.
St John’s is one of the best boxing gyms in Manchester. Go check it out.
5️⃣ Collyhurst & Moston Boxing Club
- Summary: A humble but mighty, old school community gym
- Address: Lightbowne Rd, Manchester M40 9EG
- Google rating: 4.4
- Opening hours: M, W, F: 4:30-6:30pm
- Pricing: £3 per class
- Online: website, Instagram, Facebook
For over 100 years (yes, ONE HUNDRED!), Collyhurst and Moston ABC has been training local champs and helping people of all ages find their passion for boxing.
There’s nothing fancy about this place. There are holes in the ceiling and it hasn’t seen any paint in years. But that’s exactly how boxing gyms should be: simple, full of dedication and free of ego. Its worn down facade tells its long, proud story.
They offer classes for people of all ages and abilities every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening, and at just £3 a class it’s incredible value. They have trained plenty of local champs here so you know you’ll be getting genuine boxing coaching, none of this boxercise stuff.
As well as being a great place to train, Collyhurst & Moston is also a big part of the local community. It offers classes to the most vulnerable local youths and even has a mobile gym that they take around the city to help more people get exposure to the sport.
A great gym with a rich history. Well worth a visit.
6️⃣ Fight Factory
- Summary: A cool facility teaching pure boxing to people of all abilities
- Address: Unit 17, Vaughan Industrial Estate, Vaughan St
- Google rating: 5.0
- Opening hours: M, T, W: 5-7pm, Sa: 9:45-11am
- Pricing: £5 per class
- Online: Instagram, Facebook
Fight Factory is the real deal. They’re here to teach you proper boxing, and will train you all the way to competition if that’s what you’re after.
If you’re just looking to train and get in the shape of your life then that’s totally fine too. Fight Factory is extremely welcoming and respectful to anyone, no matter your ability or age (they have separate kids classes).
During the week they have classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings for juniors and adults, on Tuesday they have open gym from 5-7pm, and there’s also a Saturday morning adults class.
The warehouse-like facility itself is awesome: it’s spacious, clean and well equipped.
They’re too busy boxing at Fight Factory to have a website but they keep their community updated on their social media pages, particularly their Instagram.
Related articles:
- The Best Boxing Gyms in Leeds
- The Best Boxing Gyms in Birmingham
- Should I Start Boxing? (7 Reasons Why Hell YES!)
How to pick a Manchester boxing gym❓
- 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 – this is key. 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. I’ve written more about picking the right gym here.
- 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 Manchester cost? 💰
- Monthly memberships: Most gyms charge per class and it ranges from £2-5 per class. Some charge monthly memberships for unlimited classes.
- One-on-one personal training: Depending on the gym, costs are around £30 per hour as a minimum.
- Initiation fee: most places won’t 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
12th Round 🔔
If you’re looking to train and fight in Manchester then you’re in luck. This city is seeped in boxing history and has multiple world class gyms for you to choose from.
Moss Side Fire Station, Shinny’s, Moss Side, and St Johns are just some of the great places on offer. You’re spoiled for choice.
Happy fighting! 🥊🥊
“I’ve got a problem with my legs, they just can’t walk past a chippy.” – Ricky Hatton
