IN TRAINING

Back in the day, Austin was a hotbed for boxing. Joe Vela and others remember fighting in the Forties and Fifties at the City Coliseum, where the Austin Regional Golden Glove fights were held. But these days, there's not enough boxing for the city to have its own regionals. All the big fights are now held in San Antonio. There's talk that the Golden Gloves will return to Austin one of these days, a boon the old-school Austin fighters would welcome with open arms. For now, though, it's just talk. This week brings some hope for Austin's future as a boxing center, as this Friday the Austin Music Hall plays home to Austin's first women's world title fight. In a 10-round match, Austinite Anissa "The Assassin" Zamarron, the No. 1 contender, will take on Francesca Lupo of Italy, the No. 2 challenger for the world title in the junior flyweight division. [See Community box for details on the fight.]

In addition to ABAD, there are a number of gyms, public and private, keeping the fine art of boxing alive here in town. Most mix a strong anti-drug, pro-school, and pro-family platform in with the training. Zamarron trains and teaches at Lord's Gym, perhaps the most professionally ambitious of the Austin boxing gyms. The crowded, lively space behind the Goodwill on North Lamar is privately run by Austin fighter/fight promoter Richard Lord. Full of memorabilia, the gym is usually packed with all manner of boxers-in-training -- from older women, one of whom is the uncontested speedbag queen, to young Army men. Group lessons (available three times a day most days) and unlimited gym access costs $60 per month, with private lessons available for $15 for members, $25 for non-members. Big Steve's Gym down in Lamar Plaza has a relatively new program which includes both boxing and kick-boxing for ages 5 and up at $60 per month. Venture Boxing Gym has boxing and kick-boxing at all levels for ages 8 and up. Monthly access, with classes on Monday-Wednesday-Friday and sparring Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday costs $65 per month. Boxing lessons are available at the YMCA for $25-35 for several sessions. They also have a youth program for ages 8-16. Many fighters supplement with trips to Hyde Park Gym for weight training.

City-run Recreation Centers are youth-oriented (most start training kids at around age 8), tend to have great coaches, and are free. Montopolis (which is open evenings, with sign-up on Monday and Thursday) has a widely respected program that turns out first-class fighters. Pan American and Givens also offer formidable programs. Dove Springs has had boxing in the past but is currently looking for a new instructor.

Boxing, Vela stresses, keeps kids mentally disciplined and, most importantly, off the street. If the Golden Glove fights return to Austin and if these grassroots gyms start to flourish, he predicts, drugs and gangs will have to make way for a generation of fit, focused kids with a passion for the sport and no time for fighting outside the ring.

ABAD, 2412 Cesar Chavez, 457-0205

Lord's Gym, 5400 N. Lamar, 451-8424

Big Steve's Gym, 1126 S. Lamar, 445-2348

Venture Boxing Club, 1806 Hwy183 N., Cedar Park, 259-4049

YMCA, 1100 W. First, 476-6705

Hyde Park Gym, 4125 Guadalupe, 459-9174

Montopolis Rec Center, 1200 Montopolis,
385-5931

Cantu/Pan American Rec Center,
2100 E. Third, 476-9193

Givens, 3811 E. 12th, 928-1982

Dove Springs Rec Center, 5801 Ainez,
447-5875

-- Ada Calhoun