SARASOTA (SNN-TV) – The Sarasota Boxing Club has rooted itself on the Suncoast for 36 years, training any and all comers, from young kids to adults alike. But recently the training facility received some tough news, some might even call it a body blow.
The Sarasota Boxing Club’s head coach, director and trainer, Harold Wilen meets, greets, and trains nearly 100 members at his Lime Avenue facility throughout the week. But, the Florida Hall of Famer never imagined having the conversation that he did, at the end of last month.
“One of the two landlords that have this place, told me out of nowhere, that we have to vacate this building on the end of this month, September. That was a shocker to everybody, there was no advance warning of that.”
With reasoning behind the removal still unknown, Wilen says he and his team are currently searching up and down the Suncoast for properties that are available to become the new location for the gym. The Boxing Club has been a staple on the Suncoast for nearly four decades and has housed former boxing world champion contenders. But on top of that, Wilen says his club is more than meets the eye, and provides an escape for its members.
“Many people feel that this place is actually there salvation. In terms of being a disciplined person in there life, having some place to come and get fit. People are here on all levels, from people fighting for the world championship, all the way down to young kids coming here to help not being bullied in school and everything in between.
If Wilen and his team are unable to find a home, the club will be forced to store their equipment and pause training, until a suitable property can be attained. Wilen hopes that option is not the case, and takes personal responsibility for the club’s future, because of the success its created in the past and present.
“It’s become kind of an institution. People look to me to open the door everyday for them — and I do! I’m here everyday, its not easy some day to come here but I come here. I do it for the people who come here.”
We did reach out to both landlords of the property and were unable to contact one of them, while the other declined to comment at this time. But, if you would like to help Coach Wilen and the Sarasota Boxing Club, you can visit them at 1325 Lime Avenue, call Harold Wilen at (941) 539-6836, email him at coach_harold@yahoo.com, or view their Facebook page for more information.