Boxers from the 1940s-1970s talk about a small but important boxing gym in Los Angeles at 78th & Hoover that has since met its demise. Please subscribe to my channel if you like my boxing videos.
I'm Denise Davis, daughter of Henry Davis.... Good to see this video. I grew up in the gym, doing my homework and playing checkers while my Daddy trained his boxers. This was my daily routine. I traveled to fights with my father. Main Street, Hoover and Broadway gyms. I had to do road work with some boxers at 9/10 years old. Henry spent many years training in Germany and Europe. I'm 68 yrs old now. Monroe Brooks (my boxing brother) passed away last year. I miss all the original guys I grew up admiring. Boxing was no JOKE; no team to depend on.
Hi Denise, great to hear from someone who grew up at the Hoover Street Gym. I knew Thei Torrance owned the gym but didn't know the history of your father Henry Davis. Important information in the history of Los Angeles boxing. So few people recall the gym and there isn't even a historical marker signifying its existence. Thanks so much for writing!
@@HistoricLosAngelesBoxing Thank you. Any boxer who was in LA came thru Hoover Street. If only to train for an upcoming fight. "CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS" was the slogan. My father fought welter weight in a 'stable' in Honolulu. He was in the Merchant Marines. From Detroit; settled in Los Angeles after his tour. I love the fight game, not the politics. I've always wanted to be a Boxing Business Manager because of my Dad. Where did you train after Hoover closed?
I spent many days there as a kid. Guys like Scrap Iron Johnson and Billy Mitchell would work with me on the heavy bag. I was between 10-12 yrs old at the time. As a young man I would return frequently and train
I trained at Hoover street gym for a couple years between 96-98 somewhere. Saul Montana, Levi Billups, Dwayne Tiger Williams and his younger brother, and Chantel were just some of the fighters I remember around that time oh also a heavyweight name Mark I used to spar with. Derrik Muhammad always looked out for me. Hoover Street gym will always have a special place in my hart
Please get back in touch with me, I use to train at this gym.Scrap Iron Johnson showed me the basics I've been trying to get in touch with Donald, they called him Don but I don't know his last name. Man I'm so happy you made this video because I use to brag on how I trained in the Same gym Muhammad Ali spared Ken Norton. Thank you for this
Hi John, Thanks for finding the video and happy to know others recall the Hoover Street Gym! The only Don I knew back when I recorded the interviews was Don Fraiser, the old time publicist & boxing promoter who appears in the video. He's still alive. Scrap Iron may still be alive but it was over 10 years ago that I recorded that interview & I've not been in touch. When I was last at Hoover Street most of the old timers were long gone. There were a lot more old timers over at Bill Slayton's Broadway Gym but not sure what's going on over there now. Let me know if Don Fraiser is the Don you were referring to. Thanks again for finding the video. --j
Wonderful Video. Main Street Gym, Seaside Gym, Hoover st gym and Broadway are now gone. This video is rich with LA Boxing History. LA was the hot bed for Boxing up until the 90’s. Olympic Auditorium,Great Western Forum were home to some great fights. Thanks for the video!
No, that's not him the guy I'm talking about was black...... Scrap Iron Johnson past away years ago God bless his soul.. Joe Frazier went to his funeral in Frazier told Scrap wife that Scrap was his(Frazier) toughest fight ever.... I appreciate you ..Thank you for the update on the gym..
I grew up on 78th between Hoover and Figueroa! If we had a beef on the street, we would meet at the gym on Saturday and put gloves on and fight it out! 1966- 1970
I trained at the Hoover St Gym every day from 2000 to 2003. I tried to look up Papa Bear a few times since, last I heard he was at Broadway Boxing but I went by in about 2012 and nobody knew of him. Hope those kids are doing alright too, John John and his brother, they lived right next door, kids would come in and put in work everyday. If anyone knows how to get in touch with Muhammed message me. Would also love to link with any of my old sparring partners.
Wow i remember walking past this gym back in 94 as i did everyday and a older kind of heavy set white man was standing in front of the door waving his arm to get my attention when he had my attention he put up his fist asking me did i want to learn how to box i declined i was to busy street fighting and running the streets i often wonder what if 🤔 Ok i just seen jake on this vid it was him 😁
Hi Kanisha, thanks so much for sharing your memory of seeing Jake Shagru. Though he was gone by the time I shot video at the gym, everyone told me what a colorful and generous manager he was. jk
Please get back in touch with me, I use to train at this gym.Scrap Iron Johnson showed me the basics I've been trying to get in touch with Donald, they called him Don but I don't know his last name. Man I'm so happy you made this video because I use to brag on how I trained in the Same gym Muhammad Ali spared Ken Norton. Thank you for this
