Discuss Detroit » Archives - Beginning July 2006 » Kronk Gym closed for good « Previous Next »
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Tetsua
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Username: Tetsua

Post Number: 931
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 8:27 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I remember hearing a few month back that Emanuel Steward was scouting a new location on the west side. For the time being however, our piece of boxing history is closed.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=2006611290360
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Viziondetroit
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Username: Viziondetroit

Post Number: 954
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 8:34 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That's jacked up. Didn't someone go in and steal all the piping and such out of there? I think there was an estimate of like $400,000 in damages done?
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Tetsua
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Username: Tetsua

Post Number: 932
Registered: 01-2004
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 8:45 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The stolen copper pipping was the straw that broke the camel's back.
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Rjlj
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Username: Rjlj

Post Number: 206
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 9:45 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Detroiters really love their city and their historical landmarks.
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Eric_c
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Username: Eric_c

Post Number: 890
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 1:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes, Detroiters' do. Thieving miscreants do not.

Make the distinction.
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Chub
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Username: Chub

Post Number: 439
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 1:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'll give this one another Detroit, YES!
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Mayor_sekou
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Username: Mayor_sekou

Post Number: 306
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 7:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Funny my dad who used to box there in the late 70s and early 80s said he could care less that the building is closing he wouldn’t even donate any money. It wasn’t just him a lot of his boxing friends have that same nonchalant attitude about the place too. Strange I wonder why.
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Barnesfoto
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Username: Barnesfoto

Post Number: 2809
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 8:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There's some kind of benefit on Friday, at the release of Rocky 6, I'll post more as I find out more..
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Ordinary
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Username: Ordinary

Post Number: 69
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 10:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Maybe that's what makes Detroit so cool. We just don't seem to worry about our history.
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Bearinabox
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Username: Bearinabox

Post Number: 73
Registered: 04-2006
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 10:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Maybe part of the problem is that the people who benefitted the most from this gym largely made careers out of being punched in the head.
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Detrola
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Username: Detrola

Post Number: 35
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 10:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Although most people only know of Kronk as a boxing gym, the truth is the boxing gym was only a small (although very famous) part of the recreation center. There was a pool, gym and large room for senior activities. The majority of people that used the recreation center used it for activities other than boxing. Neighbor kids, seniors and many others used that center every day. For those people the center closed over a year ago.

The question is why did the city and it's recreation department do nothing to cash in on the KRONK name. Sure there are some nice red and yellow Kronk jackets around. But they were never made available to the general public. People from around the world would call the center asking to BUY a shirt, hat, gloves etc. only to find nothing available. Yet another missed opportunity. That center could have been self sustaining.

Or perhaps the Knonk name and Red and Yellow colors are owned by someone other than the rec department. I know someone will respond to this thread by saying "...how do you know the city did nothing?" One could say the proof is obvious. One could also choose to believe that perhaps I have some inside info about such matters.
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Mtm
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Username: Mtm

Post Number: 151
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 2:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I heard an interview with Manny Lewis on 'CSX this morning. Apparently the BIGGEST straw that broke the camel's back was a fund raiser several months back. Some jerk make a fraudulent "donation" of $1.5M-$2M then back out. Folks though that Kronk was really set with that "donation" and backed off on giving more. I think that Sugar Ray Leonard was about to donate about $50K but thought it wasn't needed so he didn't.

Lewis DID say that he hopes to restore the D-Kronk eventually though they're now just using a smaller gym in Dearborn. It's going to cost several hundred K just to replace the copper piping.

The fundraiser with Stallone is at the Star Southfield tonight. Its a premier of the latest Rockey. General admission tickets are $25 and VIP passes are $100 and, if I remember correctly, include a reception with Stallone.
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Viziondetroit
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Username: Viziondetroit

Post Number: 957
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 2:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I met Emmanuel Stewart's daughter, Sylvia (I think that was her name) who was the manager for the company a few years back. They had Kronk merchandise on their website to sell. So it was out there... people bought it. Just not enough to support the whole operation. The site might still be up... I'll look around and see if I can find the link.
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Thnk2mch
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Username: Thnk2mch

Post Number: 520
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 2:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


quote:

I heard an interview with Manny Lewis on 'CSX this morning. Apparently the BIGGEST straw that broke the camel's back was a fund raiser several months back. Some jerk make a fraudulent "donation" of $1.5M-$2M then back out. Folks though that Kronk was really set with that "donation" and backed off on giving more. I think that Sugar Ray Leonard was about to donate about $50K but thought it wasn't needed so he didn't.




I do not know if this is the same donation, but:
http://www.sportssummary.com/b oxing/stories/archives/kronk.h tm
Kronk Fundraiser Exceeds Steward’s Wildest Dreams
BY KEVIN WALTERS, STAFF WRITER

When the city notified Emanuel Steward that the Kronk Recreation Center, where the famed Kronk Gym is located, was one of nearly a dozen centers being closed by the City of Detroit because of budget shortfalls, he did what anyone in his unique position could do – he called on his friends. And Steward has a lot of friends.


River Rouge Boxing’s Anthony Young avoids getting hit by Isaiah Thomas. Photo: Chris O’Loughlin.
February 2 saw the opulent Fisher Building in Detroit’s New Center area transformed for one evening into what surely was the grandest time for the sport of boxing in many, many, many years.

What was billed as a black-tie affair, with tickets priced from $500-$2,500, became something slightly less formal but still certainly a well-dressed occasion, attracted a standing room only crowd to the beautiful first floor of the Fisher Building for a night of both professional and amateur boxing as well as silent auction all to raise money to keep the Kronk’s doors open.

Among the celebrities in attendance were former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis and former world champ Hilmer Kenty, soul legend Aretha Franklin, the Supreme’s Mary Wilson and famed boxing announcer Michael Buffer who announced Banks’ fight with his familiar, and copyrighted, “Lets get ready to rumble.”

Emanuel Steward said that he had hoped to raise $300,000 so you can imagine his surprise when a check for $1.2 million was presented by Motown Legends Casino. There was no word as of press time on the total amount that the benefit raised but sportssummary.com will report the results soon.

Octavio Lara connects solidly to the face of Kelly Wright. Photo: Chris O’Loughlin.
In the professional bouts, cruiserweight Johnathon Banks (10-0) knocked out previously unbeaten Mike Word (4-1) of Milwaukee in the fifth round. Octavio Lara (6-2) won a split decision over Kelly Wright (4-4), and Aaron Pryor Jr. (3-0) defeated a winless Mike Walthier (0-4).

In the amateur bouts, Kronk fighters came out on top in all events.

Jacob Bonas was a late switch (one of his younger brothers had been scheduled to fight in another weight class) and defeated Jimell Woods of the Toledo Titans by RSC in the second round.

Ali “Prince of Dearborn” Ehjahmi beat Myron Carr of the Toledo Titans. Gheith Mohammed, the “ham” of youth boxing, defeated Montie Whitson, who earned a standing 8-count in both the first and second rounds.

Jayleon Love made his amateur debut against Ryan Stewart in a match that was hard to differentiate from many of the pros. Both fighters were aggressive but Love really kicked it in gear dominating the second round and forcing Stewart to receive two standing 8-counts in the round. Love’s first fight ended in another victory for the Kronk team and an excellent start to what should prove an exciting amateur career.

Johnathon Banks following his fifth round KO of Mike Word. Photo: Chris O’Loughlin.

In the only female bout of the night, Kronk’s Latonya King, whose record boasts at least 16 wins including several unopposed championships, defeated Temple Smith.

Isaiah Thomas, no relation to his famous namesake, defeated River Rouge Boxing Club’s Anthony Young in a match that some saw differently. Whether the night was stacked in favor of Kronk fighters in light of the fundraising event or whether Thomas outfought Young is a matter of debate but Thomas’ skill can not be questioned even if the outcome of one fight can be.
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Mtm
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Username: Mtm

Post Number: 152
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 5:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah, I think that's exactly what they were referring to because it was some kind of online gambling thing and it was totally bogus. But, after hearing that amount, many who were going to give big to help hit the $300K didn't bother. What a pity...
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Rhymeswithrawk
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Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 143
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, December 01, 2006 - 10:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Maybe that's what makes Detroit so cool. We just don't seem to worry about our history.

Well, can't repair said landmarks without a tax base, dude. If more people would move into the city, then such places could be spared. A city of mostly poor people can't keep up everything for the enjoyment of those in the suburbs.

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