The original Centre Avenue YMCA was a boxing gym located in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District. It was run and operated out of the YMCA recreation center and became a magnet to young talented boxers.
Among the many great boxers and world champions who trained at the Center Avenue YMCA at least once during their careers are Robert White, Ernie Sharif, Darren Dolby, Johnny Spell, Charlie Burley, Jack Johnson, Sugar Ray Robinson, Fritz Zivic, Buster Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard, Jackie Wilson, Johnny “Goodnight” Knight, Emanuel Stewart, Tommy Hearns, Clint Jackson, Eddie “Cutie Pie” Chambers Sr., John Tate, Billy Conn and Joe Louis.
On Sept. 3, the original boxing gym, at 2621 Centre Avenue, reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony as the New WPAL Centre Avenue Gym. The boxing ring used in the recent filming of the movie “Southpaw,” was donated to the gym.
“A lot of people covet money, but I covet boxing rings. It’s a sickness,” said “Maddog” Jimmy Cvetic, executive director of the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League. “I think it’s important to teach people to become champions in their own lives.”
Charles “Teenie” Harris boxing photos of former champions who fought and visited the Y covered the walls and inspirational signs were hanging 10 feet above the floor.
Many of Pittsburgh’s biggest fights were held at the Centre Avenue YMCA. Some of the countries top amateur boxers would travel to face the best boxers in Pittsburgh.
“Eddie “Cutie Pie” Chambers knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard in the first round in a fight in Pittsburgh, but Sugar Ray got up and won the fight,” said Golden Gloves Hall of Famer Ernie Sharif. “Sugar Ray, Tommy Hearns, John Tate, Clint Jackson would come here to fight and we would travel to their hometowns to fight. We fought all over the country.”
People come to boxing for a variety of different reasons and goals. Some come to the sport as a tool for self-defense, some come for fitness, and some have aspirations to compete. All are respectable goals and attainable goals at the New WPAL Centre Avenue Gym.
Former National Golden Gloves champion Darren Dolby, will be the head coach of the New WPAL Centre Avenue Gym.
“I am from the hill and when I won the National Championship in 1988 I wore my jacket everywhere and walked with my head held high,” said coach Dolby. ‘I asked God to position me somewhere where I can help kids and he put me in this gym. Our program hours are Monday through Friday and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. we will train the juniors, ages 8 to 16 and from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. we will train the seniors, age ranging from 17 to 34. I want to keep the kids separate from the adults.”
This is a gym that will be exclusively coaching boxing. A gym for boxing and boxers that will provide quality instruction and plenty of sparring partners.
“This is going to be an outstanding gym because of all the boxing knowledge on the hill,” said boxing trainer Johnny Spell Sr. “I used to come from Homewood everyday to train on the Hill. That’s where I learned to box. I still see 20 or 30 former champions walking around the Hill everyday and now they can pass on their knowledge to the kids.”
After the ribbon cutting emcee Andy Sebastian called for Jennifer Tedder to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Pastor Glenn Grayson, of Wesley Center AMEZ Church, gave the opening prayer. Aaron Gibson, executive director Thelma Lovette Centre Avenue YMCAs, welcomed the large group to the YMCA. Rich Fitzgerald, executive, Allegheny County, gave a speech.
Former Golden Gloves champion and current USBA welterweight champion Sammy Vasquez Jr., of Monessen came to sign autographs and show the kids his championship belt.
The young fighters of Pittsburgh are going to have to hit the ground running because they will be fighting for American pride on September 27. The Canadian National Team will be fighting the 2014 Western Pennsylvania Golden Glove Boxers at the New Centre Avenue YMCA.
“On Sept. 27 we’re going to put this gym on the map,” said coach Dolby. “I’m in the gym working with kids everyday and they will be ready.”
“We’ll be setting a standard for people, “ said Cvetic. “We are the City of Champions, and that just doesn’t mean the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Pirates or the Penguins.”
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