Knuckleheads Boxing Gym - Chicago, Illinois

If you find yourself in “the Windy City," be sure to check out The Knuckleheads Gym. 

A sports city that goes wild over their Bears, Cubs, Bulls, and Hawks also has a long history of boxing. 

Chicago has historically had a love affair with the big four in sports - football, basketball, baseball, and hockey, but there is indeed a legacy of great fighters that have emerged from Chi-Town.

The Knuckleheads Boxing and Fitness Gym offers a “family friendly boxing and fitness experience in personal and group training”.

In short, the gym services every level of fighter from someone wanting to use the sport to get into shape, to novice-level amateurs to seasoned professionals.

The gym, which caters to fitness, boxing, and MMA-style training, offers a huge space with endless options and styles of workouts.

But, without question, the best thing about this state-of-the-art fight factory and fitness facility is the staff.

For those looking to train in boxing or MMA, the gym boasts some of the best teachers in the business.

Let’s take a look at the people who will put you through your paces, teach you the nuances of combat sports, and get you into incredible shape!

Nearby Whiting, Indiana’s own Marty Jakubowski. Boxing since the age of 9, Marty had an extensive amateur career that saw him win numerous Chicago Park District, state, tri-state, and regional championships, along with being a semi-finalist in many national tournaments.  At the age of 16 and 17, he was a Chicago Golden Gloves runner-up. After 125 wins in 160 amateur fights, he turned pro at the age of 17 while still a high school senior. In an incredible 126-bout career, (119 wins, 34 KO’s), Jakubowski would fight for the world title on 3 occasions. Boxing took Marty to rings in Canada, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and all over the United States. There isn’t a style, offensive or defensive, in a boxing ring, that Jakubowski hasn’t seen. A lightning-fast and highly skilled boxer, Jakubowski was a popular staple on many cable networks that regularly ran professional boxing during his time in the ring. Learn supreme conditioning techniques and elite-level boxing skills from one of boxing’s very best.

With over 40 years’ experience in the squared circle is former 4x Chicago Park District champion Orlando Johnson. He was a Silver Gloves National Champion, a 2x Golden Gloves champion, and a 1980 Olympic qualifier. Later, in ’82 he was a Pan-Am Games qualifier. Orlando retired with more than 350 amateur bouts on his resume, many at the very elite level of amateur boxing.

Rough and rugged Ruben Galvan was a game and tough Midwest scrapper during his time in the ring. Galvan, also from just across the street in Whiting, brings a wealth of experience in conditioning and boxing styles to his training. He needed both in facing a long list of world champions and top contenders in his 58-fight career. Galvan saw every in-ring style and brought a lot of first-hand experience to how to best prepare for the physical task of boxing at all levels. And he isn’t done yet as after 9 years away he returned to the ring this summer to pick up a 6-round win. His next gig is in November.

Rodney Wilson brings years of experience to the Knuckleheads Amateur Boxing program. Rodney’s 166 amateur fights saw him capture the Chicago Park District championship, become a 2x Regional Silver Gloves champ, a CYO boxing champ, a 4x Golden Gloves champ, a Black Expo champ as well as capturing the Illinois state championship on 3 occasions. After turning pro, Rodney was trained by Roger Mayweather of the legendary Mayweather family of fighters. Among his other career highlights was going 12 rounds for the IBO welterweight championship. Come learn under one of boxing’s best who has a motto: Hard Work, No Quit, Can’t Quit.

If it is elite-level conditioning you are looking for, then Shannon Kimble is the man to see. A cross-fit and NASM-certified personal trainer, he has cornered more than 1000 rounds in boxing as a level 3 amateur certified coach. Kimble has coached 9 novice and senior Golden Gloves champions and had 30 fights in the bank himself before age 16. Along with being a Final Round Gym manager for 4 years he also has 2 years of combat sports instruction under his belt.

Siron Harrison came on board this fall and has been the go-to guy as the in-house kickboxing and Muay Thai instructor. He brings some serious credentials to the gym as a professional MMA fighter, a 6-time Muay Thai amateur champion, and a 2022 USA Muay Thai Team qualifier. Experience? He has a serious resume with 80 Muay Thai and kickboxing bouts under his belt. Siron knows about the fitness aspects required in many combat sports and he brings his experience and knowledge to clients of every level. 

Fans might have names like Jordan, and Ditka come to mind when they are thinking about Chicago sports. But, the city does indeed have a long history of boxers who have come out of the city and state.

Get into great shape and learn from some of the very best.