Detroit ― The legendary Kronk Gym is returning to the city.
Mayor Mike Duggan and Kronk ownership announced Wednesday that a new gym will open at the historic Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center this summer. The site, on Wilkins Street near Interstate 75 and Mack Avenue, served as a training ground for legendary boxer Joe Louis in the 1930s.
The original Kronk Gym on McGraw Avenue opened in the 1970s and rose to prominence through the legendary training of Emanuel Steward, who made champions out of dozens of fighters, most notably Thomas "Hitman" Hearns. The original Kronk Gym closed in 2006, and relocated to 9520 Mettetal . Steward died in 2012 at the age of 80.
The new ownership group includes Paul Bhatti, CEO of Kronk; John Lepak, managing partner; Amer Abdallah, managing partner a