Grand Opening & Benefit for Youth Boxing Club
The “Chatter Box” wants to give all SoCal boxing fans a heads up about a back-to-back boxing bash taking place in the City of Corona. This is your chance to bump fists with the heavyweights, Olympians and boxing champs all coming out in support of Today’s Youth Boxing Club in Corona.
The festivities will take place THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 at the town’s Historic Civic Center. Commencing with a special ribbon cutting at the Grand Opening of the new gym facility, light refreshments for the crowd with the day will culminating in a Meet & Greet with the invited celebrity guests in attendance. Prizefighters, city officials and other luminaries will be available to mingle with the attendees. Leon Spinks resides in Las Vegas so this is a rare opportunity for California fight fans to come out and meet the pugilist.
I recently caught up with the dedicated and passionate owner of the gym, which is open to area youth and at-risk kids in the region. Tina Hunt is a TV producer, talent agent and gym owner, whose heart is focused on helping underprivileged children and teens while building champions of the future.
During an exclusive chat with the busy entrepreneur, Hunt told me that the benefit originally was 
going to be a black-tie gala for former WBC Heavyweight Champion Ken Norton but unfortunately the ailing ex-champ would, understandably, not be able to join the event so it is now a fun autograph session with some of boxing’s favorite faces. “Leon Spinks, Henry Tillman, Lamon Brewster, Paul Gonzales, James Toney and Chris Sande are our invited VIP guests,” the enthusiastic show runner shared. “Guests can get autographed gloves signed too.”
Tina is close to both the Spinks family and the Norton family and has visited with both heavyweights, with both sluggers signing gold gloves for Hunt. Norton’s wife may be present at Thursday’s gathering and if so, Tina and the boxing club was present an “Oath of Adoption” in honor of Ken Norton. WBC Continental Americas titlist Leon Spinks will stand in proxy for his fellow heavyweight. There will also be a photo unveiling taking place in tribute of Norton.
Giving back to the community is imperative for the businesswoman and gym owner and her goal for the upcoming function is to raise funds for the boxing club. All proceeds will benefit athletic and educational scholarships so I encourage you to please lend your support!
“Empowering the youth of tomorrow…today!” is the gym’s motto and boxing fans can come out and meet the champs while helping others in need.
Tina is excited about the Grand Opening and champions’ gathering which will take place in the Community Room of the Civic Center. “The city support has been tremendous since I took over the club–they have been great,” she told me during our catch-up chat this afternoon. “Everything’s on schedule and we’re getting a real good response!”
For those in Riverside County, San Bernardino County, the Inland Empire and neighboring regions of Los Angeles County, please keep Thursday, September 20 in mind as the City of Corona will be the epicenter of some heavyweight champs, gold medalists and other sur
prise guests at this rockin’ fundraiser for the young amateurs of Today’s Youth Boxing Club.
“Boxing and Olympic Champions Meet & Greet”
Thursday, September 20
5 PM GYM Grand Opening
6 PM-8 PM MEET & GREET
City of Corona’s Historic Civic Center
815 West Sixth Street #140
Corona, CA 92882
25.00 Advance/ 35.00 At Door
todaysyouthboxing.org
Photos courtesy of Tina Hunt