Kensington: Boxing Holds on to Legacy Despite Influence of MMA
Boxing in today’s Philadelphia is not what it once was. On Dec. 10, 1968, Joe Frazier defended his world heavyweight title against Oscar Bonavena inside the city’s Spectrum. The 3-1 favorite, Frazier, won by unanimous decision after 15 rounds. With 10,000 spectators watching the fight, the excitement of boxing in Philadelphia was at an all-time […]
Amateur Sports: A New Wave of Philadelphia Fighters
Philadelphia is a fighting city. And as the sport of boxing continues to fall in popularity, a new crew of fighters are earning their stripes in a different discipline: jiu jitsu. Fighters like Paul “The Irish Dragon” Felder, who holds a 12-3 record in his 15 professional fights. Felder trains under Daniel Gracie, owner of […]
Kensington: Timoteo League Coaches Leading Players in Positive Direction
Timoteo continues to grow. The Timoteo Flag Football League began in 2005 when three churches decided to create an outlet where the youth of Philadelphia could learn leadership skills. The three churches, Bethel Temple, Light House and Urban Hope recruited 12 men to coach six different teams. The board chose the name Timoteo because the name […]
Olde Kensington: More Than One Game At Everybody Hits Batting Cages
For David Gavigan, baseball never ends. Traditionally a spring sport for most high schools and colleges, many neighborhood youth leagues have extended the season into the fall. But bats are generally silent for the rest of the year. Except at Everybody Hits. Gavigan (below right) opened his batting cages at 529 W. Girard Ave. in May 2013. The fun-themed indoor batting […]
Amateur Sports: Five Brazilian Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Helping Lead the Craze
From “Rocky” to the Blue Horizon boxing venue to Front Street Gym in Kensington, this city has always been a fighting town. But as boxing gyms and venues close around the city, mixed martial arts is gaining in popularity. Training, cage fighting and dance are becoming more common as a rich Brazilian MMA scene is forming around the city. At […]
Northeast Philadelphia: Fitness Leader Sean Thomson Shares His Love of CrossFit
Health and personal fitness is a growing concern among Philadelphia residents. As citizens begin to understand more and more about their bodies, one fitness model has begun to grow: CrossFit. And one of the men who spearheaded this revolution is Sean Thomson, owner of No Limit Gym in Northeast Philadelphia. Thompson has competed in […]