Photo: Curtis Paul ~ WJR
DETROIT, June 4, 2025 ~ KRONK Gym, one of boxing’s most storied institutions, is returning to its hometown roots with plans to reopen at the historic Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center. The announcement, made Wednesday during a press conference featuring city officials, boxing champions, and members of the Steward family, marks a significant milestone in the gym’s effort to restore its legacy and reengage with the Detroit community.
The Brewster Wheeler Center, once slated for demolition, was preserved following advocacy from local leaders and residents who recognized its cultural and historical value. Mayor Mike Duggan recalled the building’s ties to boxing legend Joe Louis and its role as a community hub. “Can you imagine a more perfect use for this building than the KRONK Gym?” Duggan said. “This is the city we’re building — a city where we honor our history and keep it alive.”
PODCAST:
June 4, 2025 ~ At a press conference held at the historic Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center, the owners of the KRONK Gym announced its return to Detroit, honoring the legacy of boxing great Emanuel Steward. City leaders, boxing legends, and the Steward family celebrated the gym’s revival as both a symbol of Detroit’s boxing heritage and a renewed investment in its youth and community.
(CONTINUED) KRONK’s leadership emphasized that the gym’s revival is about more than restoring a name. CEO Paul Bation described the project as a long-term investment in Detroit’s youth, with plans to offer mentorship, job training, and athletic development. “KRONK is about much more than history,” Bation said. “It’s about creating opportunity and looking after the people.” The initiative is backed by the Steward family and several former KRONK champions, who all aim to help carry forward the vision of founder Emanuel Steward.
As the gym prepares to reopen this summer, its return is being positioned as both a tribute to Detroit’s boxing heritage and a commitment to its future. “Detroit gave KRONK to the world,” Bation added. “Now KRONK is giving back to the future of Detroit.” With its new home in a building that once trained legends, KRONK is set to once again become a place where champions — and community leaders — are made.
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June 4, 2025 ~ Organizers, investors, and community leaders gather at a press conference, announcing that the historic KRONK Gym will reopen later this year at the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center in Detroit. Photos: Curtis Paul ~ WJR
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