Grand Opening: Tillman, Spinks, Rosey Grier & More!

Champs & Football Stars Attend Gym Gala

Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Tillman hosted a Grand Opening gala of a brand new boxing gym bearing his name. On Thursday, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Henry Tillman Championship Boxing Club located in the City of Carson. The “Chatter Box” made the rounds in my special report about this KO day which featured several boxing stars and NFL greats in attendance.

Joining the former pro and current boxing trainer were athletes (some who have known Tillman for decades) including ex-heavyweight champ Leon Spinks, former champion Virgil Hill, Rams legend Rosey Grier (“Fearsome Foursome”), NFL players Rod Martin (Raiders), Calvin Sweeney (Steelers), heavyweights Joe Hanks and Jonathan “Beauty Salon” Hamm, contenders and prospects Leon Spinks III (grandson of Leon Spinks), Efrain Esquivias, Xavier Montelongo Jr., Devo Donaldson, former fighter Calvin Meeks and more.

Henry Tillman and co-owner Tina Hunt stepped into the ring, welcoming all the guests, city officials, councilmen, and chamber members. City of Carson Mayor Jim Dear and actor Alex Veadov were also part of the large crowd spilling out of the gym which once housed a church. In fact, attendees at yesterday’s event walked through the stained-glass window entrance leading into the new boxing gym. It opened about a month ago but the July gathering was the official city celebration.

Kids and teens, amateurs and pros will now be able to train alongside the champs on the hallowed grounds where a church once stood. Students of the sweet science will now learn skills from the best in the biz. Tillman, who won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics, continues to encourage the youth to go after their dreams. The former New Yorker spoke about wearing leg braces as a child and not learning to box until much later in life, and yet he still lived out his dream of competing–and winning gold–in the Summer Games.

The heavyweight was presented with certificates of recognition for his new beginning with this gym.

Henry also took time to introduce a very special guest coming from Vegas. Champ Leon “Neon” Spinks and his wife Brenda came out to support longtime friend Tillman. Guiding the guests to the outdoor buffet set up, Henry surprised Spinks with a birthday cake and a serenade from the crowd. The boxing heroes posed for photos and signed autographs for the fans.

Another big draw was football player, singer, actor Rosey Grier, the last remaining member of the storied “Fearsome Foursome” of the Rams. I asked Henry how the two athletes first met?

“I met Rosey when I was just a kid,” Tillman replied with a grin. “I was in a movie with him called ‘Sophisticated Gents’ and we hit it off back then.” Henry appeared in numerous TV shows and films including “Rocky V.” During the speeches, he proudly introduced another one of heroes–Tillman’s father, who also took in the festivities at the new gym.

Many of the “young guns” attending the gym opening have trained with the Olympic champ and also have trained and/or sparred at the new gym. I noticed these boxers were eschewing the birthday cake since they all have fights coming up. While talking to the guys, they expressed their hunger in training hard and adding victories to their pro records.

Fighting soon will be heavyweight Jonathan Hamm (July 19 on ESPN2), southpaw Leon Spinks III (“Third Generation”) will be fighting July 25 in San Diego, and lightweight Devo “Turtle” Donaldson will make his pro debut on August 9 at Quiet Cannon in Montebello. Devo trains at the Tillman gym and says he’s looking forward to his upcoming bout. Efrain Esquivias just fought to a technical draw on June 28 at Thompson Boxing’s show; Xavier “The Mongoose” Montelongo Jr. fought in May, winning by TKO.

The prizefighters, gridiron stars and city officials all showed a strong fist of support at the gym opening.

Here are my exclusive shots from the day!

PHOTOS BY MICHELE CHONG