Inside Gleason’s Gym: Where Boxing History Meets Community in DUMBO, Brooklyn

Q: Gleason’s has trained 136 world champions from Jake LaMotta and Muhammad Ali to Roberto Durán. What does it feel like to be the steward of a legacy like that?

Bruce: Gleason’s is training 136 world champions, and of that 136, 15 are female world champions, which is another record. We obviously have a lot of good world champions and boxers and athletes for the past 44 years, every day, I enjoy coming in here and meeting the people that are here. It's just a fun place, and I hate to go home, probably one of the oldest, if not the oldest, tenant in DUMBO. The transformation has been terrific. 

Q: You run programs for kids, veterans, people with Parkinson’s, the neurodiverse community, trans boxers, and seniors. Gleason’s is clearly more than a traditional fight gym. What do you wish people understood about what this place really represents?

Bruce: We have a diverse group and a free program called give a kid a dream. I started that 501, c3 back in 1991 so underprivileged kids come up here, people with Parkinson's disease, people with that are on the spectrum, are up here the trans boxers. And I have to say that there's never a problem. 

Q: Gleason’s is the oldest gym of its kind in New York City and has called DUMBO home for more than 30 years. How has being here shaped the gym’s identity, and what has it meant to be part of this neighborhood for so long? 

Bruce: The gym has transcended from a traditional, old style fight gym to a more modern gym with a diverse group of people. We went from only having fighters to now probably 80% if we're 85% or neighbors. It's a community center. I have members that have started with me. So, you know, it gives me a lot of pride to say we're doing something right. People like staying here, and it's a great activity. But you know, the basics are the same. We still only train people in boxing again every single day. 

Q: If the walls of Gleason’s could talk, what’s one story from this gym that you think every boxing fan should hear?

Bruce: There's a story up here. The one that I like to recite is about a very well known fighter. His limo pulls up, and as his limo pulls up, there's a young woman walking down the street, talking on her phone. Muhammad Ali, the number one person in the whole world, walks over to the woman, takes the phone out of her hand, puts his arm around her, and starts talking to the person on the other end of the line.

Q: For people who’ve never stepped into a boxing gym, what’s the biggest misconception they have about boxing?

Bruce: You know, I always find it interesting that people that don't understand boxing have a very negative view about the sport. A boxing gym is a place where you gain health. You gain self control, maturity, free demons. Find out what, what you're made of, and it helps everyone you know. It's very, very rewarding.