Belfast KRONK Boxing Gym
Mission Statement
Background
On St Patrick’s Day 2004, our boxing club
changed its name from the Belfast Amateur
Boxing Club to the Belfast KRONK Boxing
Gym. The name change took place due to a
unique relationship and friendship between
a small Irish amateur boxing club and one
of the most successful and respected
figures in world boxing today, top USA
manager and trainer, Emanuel Steward,
from the famous KRONK Gym, Detroit, USA.
Emanuel Steward officially opened the new
Belfast Kronk Boxing Gym, at the 174 Trust
Complex, on Monday, October 11, 2004. He
was accompanied by legendary seven
times World Champion Thomas ‘The
Hitman’ Hearns. Both boxing icons were
absolutely thrilled to be in Belfast to visit
the latest addition to the Kronk International
Enterprise.
The rapturous Irish welcome and applause
overwhelmed Emanuel and Thomas as they
entered the door of the gym to a sea of
boxing fans eager to meet their boxing
heroes for autographs and a personal
picture. A relaxed and delighted Steward
smiled broadly as he gazed round the walls
of the gym displaying photographs of all the
amateur and professional champions he
has trained over the last 30 years.
Emanuel commented, “The gym has a lot of
personality, almost like the original Detroit
gym. The photos are phenomenal. It is as if
the hands of time have turned back to 1950
when I started boxing at the age of seven..
lots of kids about the place. I have read all
the newspaper clippings and I am very
excited about the gym, being here is like a
dream come true.” Following the unveiling
of the American flag by Emanuel Steward
the large crowd cheered loudly as the new
Belfast Kronk Boxing Gym sign was
revealed.
Over the last 30 years, Emanuel’s labour of
love has seen him develop one of the most
successful boxing stables ever imaginable.
He transformed a neighbourhood boxing
club into a world famous boxing gym,
training hundreds of amateur champions
including 6 Olympic gold medallists.
By far the most famous professional Kronk
boxer is Thomas Hearns, multi-weight
world champion over a 23-year boxing
career. During the 1980s, Thomas
enthralled boxing fans around the world
under Steward’s guidance. He had historic
and classic encounters against Sugar Ray
Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Wilfred Benitez and
Roberto Duran.
Over the decades, the Detroit Kronk gym
has been a cultivating ground for boxers of
every age, weight, gender, colour and
nationality, from legendary world
champions to young amateur prospects.
Emanuel has had a strong Irish connection,
growing up with the Irish on the streets of
Detroit. His trainer at the Lasky Recreation
Centre was Irishman Bill O’Brien, and his
lifetime friend and lawyer was the late John
Noonan.
Steward, a former amateur 1963 National
Golden Gloves Bantamweight Champion
himself, has been inducted into both the
World Boxing Hall of Fame in Los Angeles
and the International Hall of Fame in New
York for his training and management roles
in boxing.
In the early 1970s from a small boxing gym
in the basement of the Kronk Recreational
Centre in the south-west side of Detroit,
Steward began training kids from the City’s
impoverished neighbourhoods. The centre
and gym was named after a hard working
local Polish politician named John F. Kronk.
By the mid ’70 onwards, the young Kronk
boxers had established themselves and
were unstoppable, winning titles galore at
local, regional and national levels of the
sport.
Steward has coached over 30 other World
Champions winning over 40 professional
titles and purses worth millions of dollars.
Some of the World Champions were
Lennox Lewis, Hilmer Kenty, Mark Breland,
Jimmy Paul, Michael Moorer, Julio Cesar
Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Evander
Holyfield, Mike McCallum, Gerald McClellan,
Aaron Pryor and Leon Spinks.
Today he trains IBF Heavyweight Champion
Wladimir Klitschko, and many other boxers
in Detroit.
Emanuel’s heart still belongs with the
amateur kids in his gym, his formula for
success is “find them young, nurture them
carefully and watch them bloom.”
He is also a commentator with the
television network HBO Sports, providing
valuable insight and depth to his role,
covering all the top boxing promotions
across America and the World.
We hope to emulate the success of the
original KRONK Gym in Detroit and motivate
our young boxers to become the boxing
champions of tomorrow.
Our club first found a home in the summer
of 1996 in the surroundings of an old
Church built nearly a century and a half ago.
The premises are owned by the 174 Trust,
and are located in Duncairn Avenue, off the
Lower Antrim Road, Belfast. The boxing
club was welcomed with enthusiasm by the
local community and it’s popularity has
grown with young people ever since.
The boxing club presently works in
partnership with 174 Trust (Christian
Charity Organisation) and share the same
goals of improving and making a difference
in the quality of people’s lives in the
community.
The club organizes regular boxing events in
the old church hall, which mystical charm
creates a wonderful atmosphere. The
events provide an opportunity for fun and
enjoyment and an arena for community
engagement for the young and old.
In February 2001, Barry McGuigan, former
Irish World Featherweight Champion,
officially opened the former Belfast ABC’s
extensive refurbished premises, thanks to
funding from Sports Lottery Fund, Belfast
Regeneration Office and Belfast European
Partnership Board.
The World Senior Amateur Boxing
Championships in June 2001 were hosted
at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast. Our club
was honoured for the gym to be used as
satellite training camp firstly by the USA
Team and then by 35 other countries from
around the globe.
Since teaming up with Emanuel and
following his training programme, the
success of the gym has grown significantly
with boxers winning a host of County,
Provincial and National titles.
Aim
The aim of Belfast KRONK Boxing Gym is to
provide excellent coaching for the training
of amateur boxers in a safe environment,
particularly for those young people from
disadvantaged, economic, social and
recreational areas of North Belfast.
Vision
Some men see things and say ‘why?’
The Belfast KRONK Boxing Gym dream
things that never were and ask ‘why not?’
Our ambition and dream is to reach for the
stars and provide first class coaching to
match any gym in the world. To work with
young people and teach them the skills of
boxing. And with dedication and experience
produce champions that will travel to the
pinnacle of their careers and compete
against other nations in international
competition (4 Nation Tournaments,
European Championships, Commonwealth
Games, Olympic Games and World
Championships).
We are a young club full of enthusiasm and
our expectations are high, but if we hit the
ceiling and help improve our young people’s
self esteem by encouraging and valuing
every person’s contribution, giving praise
for effort and achievement, we will be doing
well. There is an abundance of young talent
in the gym and the club has already enjoyed
success with boxers winning Antrim,
Ulster, Irish and 4 Nation Titles.
Objectives
• Kids from the age of ten can join the
club and learn the art of boxing and
progress through the juvenile, youth and
senior levels of the sport.
• The gym is open and welcomes any
person - religious, political and racial
bigotry will not be tolerated in any form.
• The club is a place where young
people can come in off the street and
channel their energies positively by
participating in amateur boxing; and avoid
destroying their abilities and opportunities
negatively through vandalism, alcohol,
drugs, game machines and petty crime.
• The club is helping to address health
issues such as Asthma and Diet in young
people and Heart Disease in later life.
Joining the club could be the first step of
forming a healthy lifestyle creating habits
that will set patterns for a lifetime. Young
people will learn about the importance of
fitness, diet, exercise, relaxation and sleep.
• To promote and nurture character
building, to help kids with low self esteem
gain confidence and form friendships and
cope more effectively in today’s modern
world.
• For those kids from broken homes
with their feelings and emotions confused,
the club aims to create an atmosphere of
belonging, enjoyment and fulfilment.
• To bring people together from across
the community in a social setting by
organizing Boxing Events in the Main
Church Hall of the Complex.
Damian McCann
Belfast KRONK Boxing Gym
Contact: 011 4428 9050 718
Or email: belfast.kronkboxing@ntlworld.
com
Mission Statement
Background
On St Patrick’s Day 2004, our boxing club
changed its name from the Belfast Amateur
Boxing Club to the Belfast KRONK Boxing
Gym. The name change took place due to a
unique relationship and friendship between
a small Irish amateur boxing club and one
of the most successful and respected
figures in world boxing today, top USA
manager and trainer, Emanuel Steward,
from the famous KRONK Gym, Detroit, USA.
Emanuel Steward officially opened the new
Belfast Kronk Boxing Gym, at the 174 Trust
Complex, on Monday, October 11, 2004. He
was accompanied by legendary seven
times World Champion Thomas ‘The
Hitman’ Hearns. Both boxing icons were
absolutely thrilled to be in Belfast to visit
the latest addition to the Kronk International
Enterprise.
The rapturous Irish welcome and applause
overwhelmed Emanuel and Thomas as they
entered the door of the gym to a sea of
boxing fans eager to meet their boxing
heroes for autographs and a personal
picture. A relaxed and delighted Steward
smiled broadly as he gazed round the walls
of the gym displaying photographs of all the
amateur and professional champions he
has trained over the last 30 years.
Emanuel commented, “The gym has a lot of
personality, almost like the original Detroit
gym. The photos are phenomenal. It is as if
the hands of time have turned back to 1950
when I started boxing at the age of seven..
lots of kids about the place. I have read all
the newspaper clippings and I am very
excited about the gym, being here is like a
dream come true.” Following the unveiling
of the American flag by Emanuel Steward
the large crowd cheered loudly as the new
Belfast Kronk Boxing Gym sign was
revealed.
Over the last 30 years, Emanuel’s labour of
love has seen him develop one of the most
successful boxing stables ever imaginable.
He transformed a neighbourhood boxing
club into a world famous boxing gym,
training hundreds of amateur champions
including 6 Olympic gold medallists.
By far the most famous professional Kronk
boxer is Thomas Hearns, multi-weight
world champion over a 23-year boxing
career. During the 1980s, Thomas
enthralled boxing fans around the world
under Steward’s guidance. He had historic
and classic encounters against Sugar Ray
Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Wilfred Benitez and
Roberto Duran.
Over the decades, the Detroit Kronk gym
has been a cultivating ground for boxers of
every age, weight, gender, colour and
nationality, from legendary world
champions to young amateur prospects.
Emanuel has had a strong Irish connection,
growing up with the Irish on the streets of
Detroit. His trainer at the Lasky Recreation
Centre was Irishman Bill O’Brien, and his
lifetime friend and lawyer was the late John
Noonan.
Steward, a former amateur 1963 National
Golden Gloves Bantamweight Champion
himself, has been inducted into both the
World Boxing Hall of Fame in Los Angeles
and the International Hall of Fame in New
York for his training and management roles
in boxing.
In the early 1970s from a small boxing gym
in the basement of the Kronk Recreational
Centre in the south-west side of Detroit,
Steward began training kids from the City’s
impoverished neighbourhoods. The centre
and gym was named after a hard working
local Polish politician named John F. Kronk.
By the mid ’70 onwards, the young Kronk
boxers had established themselves and
were unstoppable, winning titles galore at
local, regional and national levels of the
sport.
Steward has coached over 30 other World
Champions winning over 40 professional
titles and purses worth millions of dollars.
Some of the World Champions were
Lennox Lewis, Hilmer Kenty, Mark Breland,
Jimmy Paul, Michael Moorer, Julio Cesar
Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Evander
Holyfield, Mike McCallum, Gerald McClellan,
Aaron Pryor and Leon Spinks.
Today he trains IBF Heavyweight Champion
Wladimir Klitschko, and many other boxers
in Detroit.
Emanuel’s heart still belongs with the
amateur kids in his gym, his formula for
success is “find them young, nurture them
carefully and watch them bloom.”
He is also a commentator with the
television network HBO Sports, providing
valuable insight and depth to his role,
covering all the top boxing promotions
across America and the World.
We hope to emulate the success of the
original KRONK Gym in Detroit and motivate
our young boxers to become the boxing
champions of tomorrow.
Our club first found a home in the summer
of 1996 in the surroundings of an old
Church built nearly a century and a half ago.
The premises are owned by the 174 Trust,
and are located in Duncairn Avenue, off the
Lower Antrim Road, Belfast. The boxing
club was welcomed with enthusiasm by the
local community and it’s popularity has
grown with young people ever since.
The boxing club presently works in
partnership with 174 Trust (Christian
Charity Organisation) and share the same
goals of improving and making a difference
in the quality of people’s lives in the
community.
The club organizes regular boxing events in
the old church hall, which mystical charm
creates a wonderful atmosphere. The
events provide an opportunity for fun and
enjoyment and an arena for community
engagement for the young and old.
In February 2001, Barry McGuigan, former
Irish World Featherweight Champion,
officially opened the former Belfast ABC’s
extensive refurbished premises, thanks to
funding from Sports Lottery Fund, Belfast
Regeneration Office and Belfast European
Partnership Board.
The World Senior Amateur Boxing
Championships in June 2001 were hosted
at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast. Our club
was honoured for the gym to be used as
satellite training camp firstly by the USA
Team and then by 35 other countries from
around the globe.
Since teaming up with Emanuel and
following his training programme, the
success of the gym has grown significantly
with boxers winning a host of County,
Provincial and National titles.
Aim
The aim of Belfast KRONK Boxing Gym is to
provide excellent coaching for the training
of amateur boxers in a safe environment,
particularly for those young people from
disadvantaged, economic, social and
recreational areas of North Belfast.
Vision
Some men see things and say ‘why?’
The Belfast KRONK Boxing Gym dream
things that never were and ask ‘why not?’
Our ambition and dream is to reach for the
stars and provide first class coaching to
match any gym in the world. To work with
young people and teach them the skills of
boxing. And with dedication and experience
produce champions that will travel to the
pinnacle of their careers and compete
against other nations in international
competition (4 Nation Tournaments,
European Championships, Commonwealth
Games, Olympic Games and World
Championships).
We are a young club full of enthusiasm and
our expectations are high, but if we hit the
ceiling and help improve our young people’s
self esteem by encouraging and valuing
every person’s contribution, giving praise
for effort and achievement, we will be doing
well. There is an abundance of young talent
in the gym and the club has already enjoyed
success with boxers winning Antrim,
Ulster, Irish and 4 Nation Titles.
Objectives
• Kids from the age of ten can join the
club and learn the art of boxing and
progress through the juvenile, youth and
senior levels of the sport.
• The gym is open and welcomes any
person - religious, political and racial
bigotry will not be tolerated in any form.
• The club is a place where young
people can come in off the street and
channel their energies positively by
participating in amateur boxing; and avoid
destroying their abilities and opportunities
negatively through vandalism, alcohol,
drugs, game machines and petty crime.
• The club is helping to address health
issues such as Asthma and Diet in young
people and Heart Disease in later life.
Joining the club could be the first step of
forming a healthy lifestyle creating habits
that will set patterns for a lifetime. Young
people will learn about the importance of
fitness, diet, exercise, relaxation and sleep.
• To promote and nurture character
building, to help kids with low self esteem
gain confidence and form friendships and
cope more effectively in today’s modern
world.
• For those kids from broken homes
with their feelings and emotions confused,
the club aims to create an atmosphere of
belonging, enjoyment and fulfilment.
• To bring people together from across
the community in a social setting by
organizing Boxing Events in the Main
Church Hall of the Complex.
Damian McCann
Belfast KRONK Boxing Gym
Contact: 011 4428 9050 718
Or email: belfast.kronkboxing@ntlworld.
com
Welcome to the Kronk
Boxing Team website.
By clicking on the links
listed above, you will be
able to obtain more
information about our
Gym. Emanuel or
Sylvette 's thoughts can
be read by clicking on
ES news. Click on any
photos on this website
to obtain more
information..
Explore and Enjoy
Emanuel Steward
Boxing Team website.
By clicking on the links
listed above, you will be
able to obtain more
information about our
Gym. Emanuel or
Sylvette 's thoughts can
be read by clicking on
ES news. Click on any
photos on this website
to obtain more
information..
Explore and Enjoy
Emanuel Steward
| In 1972, Emanuel Steward assigned the colors RED, BLUE and GOLD to his team's uniform; thus, the birh of the famous Kronk design. Sylvia Steward, President of Second Round Inc. , remains steadfast in continuing the preservation of the Kronk logo upon merchandise of championship merit. Kronk Sportswear: 734-663-5421 contact number |
| Click on photo above to enter Kronk Store |
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Belfast Ireland
