Christmas Eve Fire Destroys Morris Park Boxing Gym!

The famed Morris Park Boxing Gym in the Bronx has been a fixture in the athletic community for over four decades. Early Tuesday morning, just before Christmas Eve 2009 it burned to the ground. The cause of the fire remained unknown, but it started inside the first floor gym.

The gym, which is home to Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing stable of fighters, as well as fighters in training for the Golden Gloves and Police Athletic league (PAL) tournaments, is co-owned by retired fighter Aaron Davis.

Over one hundred fifty amateur and professional fighters in training were left ‘ training camp homeless’ by the fire. The owner of the building, Joe DeGuardia, estimated the damage at one million dollars but has stated he will rebuild.

Several families living in apartments above the gym were left homeless, emerging from the quickly spreading blaze in pajamas, as their Christmas presents burned with the fire. Former World Light Heavyweight champion and trainer Lou Del Valle (coming off a recent draw with Joe Spina) is among the elite who train at the Morris Park Gym who are now forced to find other temporary training facilities.