PAUL WADE

Boxing is here today; it always will be here. As the foremost genuine martial art, boxing is full of hard, brilliant, and sensational life, possessing an astounding history. Boxing has been an unchanging local fact. From the Golden Age days of 20, 30, and 40 round matches from the 1880s until now, San Francisco has loved boxing and produced many champions in every division. A detailed account of the ups and downs of boxing in Northern California would fill many volumes. In fact, the city by the bay used to be called the "Cradle of Fistic Stars". However, there has been a serious decline in boxing over the past few years, and the root of the problem has been the absence of an authentic, old-school boxing gym.

I came to San Francisco in 1994 after spending ten years kickboxing in Ireland. It humbles me to walk the same streets that famous fighters such as James J Corbett, Nonpareil Jack Dempsey, Abe Attel, Joe Choynski, and Bobo Olsen once did. From the Mission to Ocean Beach, from Nob Hill to Hunters Point, I feel the fiery presence of San Francisco's battling-ring legacy on every corner.

It broke my heart then to see the dwindling existence of SF boxing, despite the presence of so many lifelong fans along with considerable homegrown talent. After training for the last nine years and winning the Golden Gloves, my love for the sport has grown stronger and deeper. I had an overwhelming dream to open a gym which would honor the past by creating another generation of boxers.

I grew up fighting on the streets of Dublin, in a country that breeds fighters. Fighting is not just a sport to my people. It is a way of life, and has been for hundreds of years. From a rough start, I discovered boxing, which changed my life infinitely for the better. My philosophy is the same as President Theodore Roosevelt, who wrote: "I regard boxing professional and amateur, as a vigorous, healthful sport that develops courage, keenness of mind, quickness of eye, and a combativeness that fits every boy who engages in it for the daily tasks that confront him."

"It is not half so brutalizing or demoralizing as many forms of big business, and certain legal work that is often carried on to help such business."

"I have often thought that if we had more boys' clubs where the art was taught, we would have fewer adolescent criminals, the street-corner type of hoodlum, and would breed a better class of young American citizens - the future voters. Boxing develops elements of character that are difficult to obtain in other sports: fairness, a spirit of give-and-take, courage, and alertness."

" It is only the bully who wants to give and avoid the taking. If boxing were taught in every public and secondary school and in college, this nation would soon find it rid of the bullies and would develop in our youth a spirit of manhood, a spirit that teaches fairness to our fellow men. We would be rid of street corner rowdies and cowards and make our boys a better, sturdier, and healthier lot."

I want to play a part in bringing back to San Francisco the amazing sport of boxing in all its glory. I want to pay homage and respect to the fighters and trainers who came before us. This is my mission for Third Street gym.

Simon Redmond
Paul Wade
Paris Alexander
Ernie Batongmalaque
Mark Moreno
Roman Acosta
Zo Silver
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Cole
Rashad Hasan
Eliza
Miguel Lopez
Cynthia Talmadge
Xavier Macay
Melissa McMorrow