By Howard Goldin
Residents of Morris Park Avenue had reason to celebrate last Monday afternoon as they witnessed the official reopening of the Morris Park Boxing Club and Gym. Almost one year ago to the day of the party the building housing the gym and two apartments burned down. The residents and the boxers were then homeless.
The gym has been the home of the Morris Park Boxing Club since 1977. The gym has been the training home for thousands of young people. Most have been children hoping to get into better shape and engage in an activity that would be more productive than remaining on the streets of the Bronx. Many teenagers and even older men and women have trained there preparing to compete in the Golden Gloves. The gym has also been the home for many professional boxers from the Bronx including world champions such as Aaron Davis and Luis DelValle. The generations mix in the site as it is also home to many up and coming pros who one day may become world renowned.
Joe Deguardia, the owner of the building, and the owner of the gym, Dex Pejcinovic, were hosts of the happy gathering in the newly rebuilt gym on Monday afternoon. A large number of community residents and gym members were enjoying food and drink and marveling over how well the building looked. Among the guests were former world boxing champions Carlos Ortiz and Iran Barkley. The two posed for photos with many of their fans.
Speaking with DeGuardia and Pejcinovic, one found a rare camaraderie between a landlord and his tenant. Both spoke highly of the other as individuals and of their cooperation both before and after the terrible blaze that destroyed the edifice.
DeGuardia was the previous owner of the boxing club and gym. He sold the business to Pejcinovic three years ago, so he could devote more time to his boxing promotion, Star Boxing. The new owner reminisced of his start in that same gym when he was 17 years of age. A poster of his pro debut as a boxer on August 15, 2000 in Mount Vernon was hung on the wall and brought a smile to his face when it was pointed out to him. He then said he was planning a boxing comeback in February or March.
Both men expressed strong feelings of gratitude to the Everlast Company for its generous donation of equipment to the gym. They explained how the community came together to support the rebuilding of this important and positive site in the area. Pejcinovic expressed his happiness with how very successful the enterprise appears to be, “Everybody came back to the same gym they previously belonged to. During the year, we were closed they went to other gyms. Over 100 members have joined and the phone is constantly ringing. It looks like it’ll be very successful.”
DeGuardia explained his reasons for scheduling a holiday party at the gym during this week, “It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, there was practically nothing at all left in the gym other than the charred corner posts and burned metal frame of the ring. Everything inside was completely destroyed. Now, exactly one year later, we have a brand new beautiful gym thanks to everyone’s hard work and the donation from Everlast. Being the fire happened right around Christmas, we felt that it would be a great time to have the grand re-opening and combine it with our first annual holiday party and giveaway. It is our way of expressing our gratitude that no was injured in the fire and to acknowledge the tremendous community support we received.”
During the celebration boxers were sparing the new ring, others were using the punching bags, others were partaking of the free hot food and drink provided by DeGuardia. The promoter’s father, Joseph DeGuardia, Sr., the original owner of the boxing club was present to celebrate with his son. Many of the celebrants left with frozen chickens and turkeys to cook for a holiday meal. If this true story was a motion picture, it would be a perfect, heartwarming, holiday film.
