NJ Boxing Obscura
One of the best parts of traveling is finding the places that aren’t in the guidebooks. Sure, you hit the tourist attractions first, but once you’ve seen those, that’s when you open Atlas Obscura and start looking for the weird stuff. The forgotten landmarks. The obscure historical markers. The places with a great story hiding in plain sight.
That’s the inspiration behind NJ Boxing Obscura.
New Jersey has one of the richest boxing histories in America, but it hasn’t always done the best job preserving it. Unlike New York City, which seems to unveil a new boxing street co-naming every year, many of New Jersey’s most important boxing sites have been forgotten, demolished or simply overlooked. The state doesn’t have obvious pilgrimage destinations like Gleason’s Gym or Madison Square Garden, either.
Yet boxing history is everywhere you turn in New Jersey if you know where to look.
This guide is an attempt to document some of those places: historic gyms, old arenas, statues, plaques, gravesites, street namings, former training camps and a few locations tied to some of boxing’s stranger and more fascinating stories. Some are famous. Many aren’t.
If you’re a New Jersey boxing fan—and I assume you are if you’re reading this—hopefully this list helps you discover a few places you didn’t know existed.
Happy travels.
Historic arenas and gyms
Prudential Center – The New Jersey Devils may be the hometown team, but boxing has its own place in Prudential Center history. Tomasz Adamek first became a sort of North Jersey Gatti-like draw at Prudential Center when he defeated Steve Cunningham in a 2007 classic to win the IBF cruiserweight title. That fight began a run that saw The Rock get packed for fights for several years, attracting other promoters like Premier Boxing Champions to host their own events. In recent years, local stars like Shakur Stevenson and Vito Mielnicki Jr. have headlined at the venue.
Boardwalk Hall – There is no NJ boxing pilgrimage that doesn’t include Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. The famous fight venue, which continues to host boxing fights, was the site for some of the biggest fights of the 80s, 90s and 2000s, including Mike Tyson’s heavyweight title fights against Michael Spinks and Larry Holmes, plus Arturo Gatti’s last two classics against Micky Ward as well as the Gabriel Ruelas war, plus Evander Holyfield vs. George Foreman. As a bonus, there’s a Don King Plaza named for the promoter nearby on Mississippi Avenue, between the Boardwalk and Pacific Avenue.
Elizabeth Armory – The building at 1189 Magnolia Ave. in Elizabeth has since been converted to a storage facility, but this palatial building is infinitely important to the history of the sport in New Jersey. The former Elizabeth Armory, first opened in 1912, began hosting the New Jersey Golden Gloves in 1970, regularly drawing thousands of fans over the next decade-plus that the tournament was held there. The most high profile boxing fight to take place there was Mickey Walker’s homecoming fight in 1928 against George Smith, a non-title fight while Walker was middleweight champion. Other Hall of Fame boxers to fight there include Sugar Ray Robinson, Jose Torres, Beau Jack and Fritzie Zivic.
Second Street Youth Center – Plainfield: This gym made the city famous internationally as Glenwood Brown, Tracy Spann and Harold Knight became famous names out of here under trainer John Davenport. Second Street became one of the best amateur programs during the 70s and 80s, a sort of Kronk of the East, and was located at 929-935 South Second Street from 1967 to 1987, when it closed due to a lack of funding.
Bufano’s Boxing – Jersey City: The legendary gym owned by Dominic Bufano was located at 82 Beacon Avenue, and is still standing as a residential property. The gym was where former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston trained for his 1970 fight with Chuck Wepner, and Wepner later trained for his 1975 challenge of Muhammad Ali. Other fighters who trained there include Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, Jimmy “The Cat” Dupree, James “Buddy” McGirt, Juan LaPorte, among others.
Joe Louis Memorial Park – Pompton Lakes: Joe Louis wasn’t the first boxer to set up camp at Dr. Joseph Bier’s Health Farm, but he certainly made it world famous. Louis prepared for many of his biggest fights at the wooded grounds, including his revenge bout against Max Schmeling and numerous heavyweight title defenses. Thousands of fans routinely flocked to Pompton Lakes to watch the Brown Bomber train, turning the small Passaic County borough into one of boxing’s most famous training camp destinations. The historical marker and park today stand on the site of the former camp at 15 Perrin Ave., with a picturesque lake and some benches to relax at.
Aside from Louis, other boxers who trained there included Pancho Villa, Benny Leonard, Harry Greb, Tony Conzoneri, Jimmy McLarnin and Primo Carnera.
Boyle’s Thirty Acres – Jersey City: Nothing remains of this historic boxing location and it’s something of an injustice. Located between Montgomery Street and Cornelison Ave., a wooden amphitheater was built on this spot specifically for the 1921 heavyweight championship fight between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier. That fight drew a reported 91,000-plus, was boxing’s first ever million dollar gate and was the first major sports event to be broadcast live across the country over the radio. Other venues like Madison Square Garden soon became more attractive locations for boxing events and it was demolished in 1927. The site later became the Montgomery Gardens projects.
Street Namings
Rubin “Hurricane” Carter Way – Paterson: Carter, a former middleweight contender, lost 19 years of his freedom after being wrongfully convicted of a triple murder, but the Passaic County city he called home made a small step to reconcile the injustice by naming the street in front of the courthouse where he was first convicted in his honor. That stretch of Hamilton Street between Ward and Grand streets includes the Passaic County Courthouse, where he and his co-defendant John Artis were first tried in 1967, was renamed for Carter in 2024. The trial took place during the heat of the Civil Rights movement and attracted the attention of celebrities like Muhammad Ali, who came to New Jersey to push for Carter’s release, and Bob Dylan, who wrote a song about Carter. The Lafayette Bar and Grill, where the murders took place, was located at 428 E 18th Street in Paterson, N.J. and is now the site of a liquor store.
Albert “Steel” Mills Way – Plainfield: The section of Prescott Place between South 2nd Street and West 3rd Street where the Second Street Youth Center used to operate is now named for one of their most accomplished boxers. Mills, who passed in February of 2025, had a pro record of 14-2 (10 KOs) in a career that spanned less than two years, between 1981 and 1982. An eye injury cost Mills his fighting career but he later became a trainer at the Youth Center and later worked for the Plainfield Board of Education.
Tony Galento Plaza – Orange: The former Lackawanna Plaza was named for the late heavyweight hero in November of 1974 and continues to bear his name to this day. Galento had once owned a restaurant and bar at that location, Tony Galento’s Sports Palace, which was the renamed Savoy. Galento, who famously fought Joe Louis, Max Baer, Buddy Baer and an actual bear, had lived for most of his life at 673 South Center Street.
Muhammad Ali Ave. – Newark: This one is interesting because Ali never lived or fought in Brick City. The street, formerly known as Waverly Ave., is between Bergen St. and MLK Boulevard, and Ali himself came to the street renaming event in 1978. According to newspaper archives, the ceremony was tied to a planned affordable housing facility called the Muhammad Ali Youth Opportunities Unlimited Complex, a $10 million facility near the Stella Wright projects, though no mention was made of the project again afterwards.
Leavander Johnson Drive – Atlantic City: A street sign that reads “Leavander William Johnson World Champion Drive” is located at the corners of New York and Mediterranean Avenues in Atlantic City, in front of the Atlantic City PAL where Johnson used to train en route to becoming IBF lightweight champion. The PAL itself is a landmark for NJ boxing, not just for the many great fighters who trained there, but as one of the few PALs that remain in operation.
Boxing statues/plaques/buildings/etc.
James Braddock Statue – North Bergen: Braddock, who won the heavyweight championship in 1935 with a stunning upset of Max Baer, has a statue standing right in the middle of the North Bergen park that bears his name. The statue, which was dedicated in 2019, was sculpted by the famous Zenos Frudakis and is just a couple minutes’ walk from his long-time home, which remains standing at 7712 Park Ave.
Gus Lesnevich plaque – Cliffside Park: Lesnevich, who held versions of the light heavyweight championship from 1941 until 1948, spent his entire life in Cliffside Park. A plaque celebrating him is located in the park where Palisade Ave. and Gorge Rd. intersect, across from the high school and library. A small display recognizing Lesnevich can also be found in a back study room of the library. Lesnevich, one of the most glaring omissions from the International Boxing Hall of Fame, was The Ring magazine’s Fighter of the Year in 1947.
Ike Williams Community Center – Trenton: If ever there was a boxer who should have more done for his memory, it’s Ike Williams. Possibly the greatest fighter in New Jersey history, the former lightweight champion has few landmarks named for him. The Ike Williams Community Center is located at 238 Clay St. in Trenton and first opened in 1976. Several sites erroneously state that Williams, who retired with a record of 126-24-4 (61 KOs) and held the title from 1947-1951, has a statue in his honor at the adjacent park. Perhaps the town or state should make that statement true. Williams died on September 5, 1994, and had his funeral at the Campbell Funeral Chapel, located at 1225 Calhoun St. in Trenton.
Jersey Joe Walcott statue – Camden: Walcott, who was born Arnold Cream, finally received the statue treatment in 2019, with his statue standing at the Wiggins Park Promenade in Camden along the Delaware River. Walcott won the heavyweight championship in 1951 with a picturesque one-punch KO of Ezzard Charles in 1951 – four years after he should have won it in a robbery loss to Joe Louis. He made a successful defense over Charles in a rematch before losing it in another memorable one-punch KO the following year against Rocky Marciano.
Chuck Wepner statue – Bayonne: Wepner made the town of Bayonne famous with his “Bayonne Bleeder” nickname, and the town returned the favor by giving him a statue in Dennis P. Collins Park. Wepner, who inspired the Rocky movie franchise with his courageous heavyweight title stand against Muhammad Ali in 1975, had his statue unveiled in November of 2022.
Leavander Johnson statue – Atlantic City: The Atlantic City native tragically died as a result of injuries suffered in his 2005 fight against Jesus Chavez, but his legacy lives on in his hometown. A statue for Johnson, who knocked out Stefano Zoff earlier that year to win the title, is located in City Center Park, on Atlantic Ave. between North Carolina and South Carolina Avenues. It was dedicated in 2010.
Larry Holmes statue – Easton: Easton might as well be included in New Jersey since it’s literally the first town you’ll see over the border. Holmes, who still calls the Lehigh Valley town home, even boxed for the Trenton Golden Gloves team so excuse me if I count him. The statue is appropriately located at Larry Holmes Drive overlooking the Delaware River near the Northampton Street Bridge. It’s one of the best boxing statues you’ll ever see and features Holmes throwing his signature jab.
Ringside Lounge – Jersey City: Few institutions still standing scream “New Jersey boxing culture” quite like Mario Costa’s hangout. The former manager of Bayonne contender Nino Gonzalez has run this boxing themed bar located at 475 Tonnelle Ave. since 1979. While so many boxers have come through the bar and adjacent boxing gym over the decades, the two names most closely associated with them are Arturo Gatti and Mike Tyson. Gatti first lived at nearby 277 Manhattan Ave. in Jersey City after coming from Montreal, having arrived in America with help from Costa. He trained there and regularly ate at the similarly iconic White Mana diner across the street, which Costa also owns. Tyson has long been a regular of the Ringside Lounge, and houses his pigeon coop – made famous by the Animal Planet series “Taking on Tyson” – on the property. A Mike Tyson mural is located on the same block.
Mickey Walker Recreation Center – Elizabeth: One of the greatest fighters of the sport’s early days, a recreation center bearing “The Toy Bulldog’s” name opened in 1980 at 860 Anna St. in Elizabeth. Named for Walker, who was born there, won the welterweight title in 1922 with a unanimous decision over Jack Britton and then moved up to light heavyweight in 1925 and beat Mike McTigue for the title despite weighing just 150 pounds. Walker lost the welterweight title the next year but won the middleweight belt later in 1926 with a decision win over Tiger Flowers. It’s a little strange that the recreation center that holds the town’s recreation boxing gym isn’t the one named after the boxer, but I doubt anyone other than me spends half a second thinking about this.
Frankie DePaula shooting location – Jersey City: Few fighters were as exciting during the 1960s as Jersey City’s DePaula. Unfortunately, that excitement spilled out into the rest of his life, often with disastrous results. DePaula was escorting his date back to her home at 283 Harrison Ave. on May 14, 1970 when they discovered a note advising that the lock was broken and they would have to enter through the back door. As they walked down the side alley, two men ambushed them and shot him twice, once in the left arm and another in the upper back. He collapsed at the corner of West Side Ave. and Harrison Ave., was taken to Jersey City Medical Center and died there four months later at the age of 31. DePaula, who lived at 140 Duncan Ave., had a pro record of 21-7-3 (16 KOs) and fought in The Ring’s Fight of the Year for 1968, losing a thrilling decision to Dick Tiger, and challenged once for the light heavyweight title, losing by first round knockout to Bob Foster in 1969. Two people – including his former manager – were indicted for his murder but no one was ever convicted.
At the time of his murder, DePaula had just been acquitted of charges of hijacking a truckload of copper but was still under indictment for perjury – along with two alleged organized crime figures – related to an investigation into the Foster fight.
Joe Jeanette plaque – Union City: One of the best fighters to never get a title opportunity, Joe Jeanette at least hasn’t been forgotten by his hometown. A historical marker and plaque outside of the building at 2612 Summit Avenue where he once lived and trained James Braddock, was dedicated in 2009, which cites former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson as calling him the toughest opponent he had ever faced. Perhaps coincidentally, a nearby street between 28th and 30th Streets, sandwiched between JFK Boulevard and Summit Ave., is named Jeanette Street, though that appears to pre-date Jeanette’s career.
Certo’s Custom Tailors – Secaucus: Al Certo’s old tailor shop where he’d regularly hold court with boxing legends like Walcott and Giardello is located at 1259 Paterson Plank Rd. Certo is best remembered for being the manager that led James “Buddy” McGirt to the junior welterweight and welterweight titles. Among the many clients that he made custom suits for was Frank Sinatra.
Boxing Graves
Gus Lesnevich: Lesnevich is buried at Maple Grove Park Cemetery in Hackensack. Lesnevich died of a heart attack on February 28, 1964 at the age of 49 at the office of Dr. John R. Williams, which was located at 715 Palisade Ave. His funeral took place at McCorry Brothers Funeral Home on Anderson Ave. which remains in business. Lesnevich’s home, which is still standing, was at 50 Lawton Avenue in Cliffside Park.
Jersey Joe Walcott: Walcott, who died in 1994 at the age of 80, is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Pennsauken, under his birth name Arnold Cream.
James Braddock: The Cinderella Man is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Tenafly. FindAgrave says that his gravestone, which features boxing gloves and the years he was champion, is located alongside a fence on East St. near row 47.
Tony Galento: Galento is buried at Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery in Orange.
Freddie Cochrane: “Red” Cochrane, an Elizabeth native who held the world welterweight championship from 1941 to 1946, is buried Hollywood Memorial Park in Union, N.J., where he had been living at the time of his death on January 16, 1993. FindAGrave lists the plot of his grave to be Sec. 29, Lot 164, Grave A-1. Cochrane beat Fritzie Zivic in 1941 to win the title but was prevented from making regular defenses after enlisting in the Navy during World War II. He was discharged in 1944 and lost the title in 1946 by fourth round knockout against Marty Servo – who had passed up Ray Robinson for a title shot despite Robinson beating Servo twice. Cochrane’s most high profile bout was his first meeting with Rocky Graziano, which was named Fight of the Year for 1945 by The Ring magazine. Graziano had reportedly been outboxed for the first eight rounds before dropping Cochrane late in the ninth and then finishing him early into the tenth and final round.
Lou Duva: The fiery boxing manager from North Jersey is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, in a plot that includes his son, Dan, who had helped him run the Main Events promotional company. Duva, who managed many of the greats of the 80s and 90s, including Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor and Bobby Czyz. His plot is located at Section R, Lot 985, according to FindAGrave. During the ’80s, Lou Duva once owned Lou Duva’s Seafood Grille and Sports Club, located at 120 Union Boulevard in Totowa, in a building that is now a CVS.
Frankie DePaula: The former light heavyweight contender is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, N.J., with FindAGrave listing the plot’s location as Blk-5 Sec-F Gr-13 7B. His father Basil, who died two months before he did while he was hospitalized following his shooting, is also interred at this grave.
Joe Jeanette: Jeanette is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, N.J. in a grave marked with the birth spelling of his name, Jennette.
Joey Giardello: The former middleweight champion is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill, just over the border from where he had been billed from in Philadelphia. The gravestone bears his birth name, Carmine Tilelli. Giardello, who was undisputed middleweight champion from 1963-1965, also has a statue in his honor at 1845 Passyunk Ave in Philadelphia.
Arturo Gatti: “Thunder” Gatti, who died in 2009 at age 37, had memorial services following his death in New Jersey, where he spent most of his adult life, but is buried at Cimetière de Laval in the Montreal suburb of Laval. The plot location is listed as MO1-393E, according to FindAGrave.