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 [continue reading…]
Sweat trickled down muscled backs, down onto the blue canvas stretched over a wooden frame which was pieced together by a carpenter from down the block. Fluorescent lights flickered over the glory of former champions [continue reading…]
Roger Artigiani talks about his arena like he is showing off a prized possession. “This is what we have planned for the one wall,” he said while proudly showing a picture of a mural of [continue reading…]
In a fight with life, Josue “JD” Rivera found himself heading down a scary path that all too many young adults find themselves on. Rivera was a gang leader in California, face with two outcomes [continue reading…]
With so many fitness options in Philadelphia, it is tough to find a place that offers unique programs and experiences that you cannot get elsewhere. Several places around the city allow for a different way to help [continue reading…]
The corner of Kensington Avenue and Somerset Street in Kensington is amongst the most notorious drug corners in the city. Heroin draws addicts and dealers, making it an open playing field for crime and violence, and [continue reading…]
Tattered boxing posters of yesteryears famous boxers posed in their toughest stance around the Irish Catholic cross hand-painted in the middle of the bright blue boxing ring. “I try to repaint it before we have [continue reading…]
The Jack Costello Boxing Club is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1996 by Tim Costello and his family in honor of his late father. “After he passed, we figured what the heck,” said [continue reading…]
Four years had passed since Imani Bell stepped into the squared circle. Bell is a 35-year-old fighter residing in Philadelphia who had only fought once in his professional career. However, the former Pennsylvania State University star [continue reading…]
Philadelphia’s rich history of cultivating some of the greatest boxers in the world is well documented. The world titles in super lightweight and light heavyweight categories are currently held by Philly natives Danny Garcia and [continue reading…]
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