Located in Rowe St, the family-run Hard Knox Boxing Gym's goal is simple — give local youths something to focus on in order to improve every aspect of their lives.
The gym will be owned and managed by Lenard Ritchie, with assistance from Willy Scott, Mark Roberts, Brett Packer, Ivan Lister, Uncle Ruben Baksh and Raimah Ahmat, with the new management taking the reins from Jye Scott.
Mr Ritchie said getting the community involved was the gym's major project.
“We're taking over management, and it's just for the community to get involved — it's mainly for fitness and health and wellbeing,” he said.
“And if young kids want to come in and get into some amateur boxing, we'll take those guys too.”
Mr Packer said promoting healthy life choices to youngsters was the main priority.
“We're going to carry the name of Hard Knox because I believe it's for the youth here that are doing it hard,” he said.
“There's nothing here for the young kids to do, they can come here and we can show them something and they might like it. It might change them and change the way they live, and keep away from all that bad stuff.
“That's the plan.”
The gym kicked off with an open day on Monday, with about 60 people checking things out.
The gym will be open five days a week, from 9 am to noon and 4 pm to 8 pm.
Mr Ritchie said the gym would cater to athletes of all levels of experience and age.
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