Faith in the fight: Glenn Hagler Sr. helps local youth find discipline, direction through boxing

Glenn Hagler Sr. opened his boxing gym in Daytona Beach to positively impact kids lives.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 12:00 p.m. January 11, 2024
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Neighbors
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Boxing keeps Glenn Hagler Sr. grounded. It always has. 

He opened the Hagler Boxing Club so he could offer that same balance and positive outlook on life to local kids.

In 2006, his son Glenn Hagler Jr. moved to the area to attend Bethune-Cookman University. Hagler Sr. would drive 15 hours from Trenton, New Jersey, every two weeks to see his son. He began to notice kids hanging out on the street corners.

“I was talking to the lord and asking how I can make a difference,” he said. “I don’t want to just come down here and not make a difference. I want to come down here and touch some lives. If I save one life, then I’ve done something. If I have touched one, then my life is purpose driven.”

After purchasing a home in Port Orange, Hagler Sr. opened a private training facility in the same city named the Hagler Boxing Club. He moved his business to 885 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach in 2017 and began renting the facility. He bought it in November 2021.

Hagler, of Ormond Beach, is hoping to keep the legacy of the Hagler Boxing Club in Daytona Beach.

“Lord open up a door so that this legacy will stay here with these kids forever, that this boxing gym will be here and these kids will be able to flourish, regardless,” he said. 

Finding discipline

Hagler approaches kids on the streets and will cruise neighborhoods in search of youth that are interested in boxing, may need direction in their lives or mentorship. Three of his kids were recently sponsored for one year each by local community members.

Twenty-two year-old Oscar Mendez said he was not disciplined before he found boxing. He said if you want to succeed in this, you have to make the right sacrifices.

“I feel like a lot of young guys need a sense of direction in life,” he said. “I think fighting and boxing sports will give you that discipline, that edge and that self-confidence that helps with life. A lot of kids are getting involved in drugs and the wrong crowds. The kids in the ring that are working at it every day don’t have time for that.” 

When kids arrive at the gym, they will be coached by Hagler Sr., coach Ken Kuhar and coach Rafael.

I want this to be a place where kids can come and strengthen each other. They can come here and we can help them become leaders in this community—where they can be a voice of strength, wisdom and knowledge to help other kids. - Glenn Hagler Sr., Hagler's Boxing club owner

Kuhar said when they come in, they have to get a routine. His routine starts with cardio to get the heart rate up so the rest of the workout is effective. The boxers then head to the conditioning room to work on leg and core strength followed by agility drills and a bag circuit—upper cut bags, speed bags, heavy and double end bags.   

“We want to impress upon them that you can’t box without cardio and conditioning,” Kuhar said.  “You can’t fake this. You’re in the ring all by yourself. There is no one to hide behind. You have to be in shape to do this.”

They also teach mitt work, combinations, boxing stance and balance. He said boxing is complicated.

“Routine is very important,” Kumar said. “If things go bad, you can go on automatic pilot because you’ve done this over and over and over. You know exactly what to do when certain things happen that you didn’t expect.”

Nicholas Osorio has been going to Hagler’s for three or four months. He recently moved from Kissimmee where he went to the Heart of a Warrior Boxing Gym. He said he wants to box like Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali and Prince Naseem.

“I want to bring back that golden age of boxing from those generations,” he said. “I personally feel like most of the fighters now are not as hungry as the people from the 80s and 90s. I’m trying to bring back that level of boxing to this generation.”

Fifteen-year-old Spruce Creek student, Prince “Prince of Darkness” Banks, has been boxing for a little less than one year at Hagler’s gym. He is one of Osorio’s sparring partners.

“I like the adrenaline of it,” Banks said.

'It's like family here'

The level of boxing expertise at Hagler’s ranges from beginners to professionals. 23-year-old Brent Hallberg played football, soccer and some track when he attended Mainland High School. He was looking for a sport he could do on his own and through social media, found boxing. He has been going to the gym for over two years. 

“I looked up boxing gyms near me, found this one and signed up,” he said. “They have the best coaches around. It’s like family here. It’s nothing but love here.”

He has been boxing in exhibition fights where a boxer can get experience and exposure.  After his next exhibition at the end of January, he will signup with USA Boxing and begin his amateur career. According to their website, as a member, he will be able to participate in their sanctioned events which include the Summer Olympics.

Kuhar said Hallberg could box forever because he has excellent cardio conditioning. Hallberg  said just showing up every day is half the battle.

Palm Coast resident, 18-year-old Camden Bond, drives to the boxing gym five days a week. He joined four months ago after looking up boxing gyms and learning that Hagler Sr. is a cousin to the professional boxer Marvin Hagler. He said it was the best decision he has made yet.

Bond moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico just before his eighteenth birthday. He left his last year of high school. When he got here, he was not sure what he was going to do with his life.

“The coaches are probably the best coaches I could ever ask for,” he said. “They are always supportive of me, even outside of boxing. I know coach (Hagler) is always there to give me advice whenever I need it. They helped me get on my feet and meet some new people.”

Every Monday night, Hagler Sr. hosts the 106.3 gospel radio show, We Will Win. On Wednesday nights at his gym, Hagler holds a meeting with his boxers called Real Talk. Everybody who attends can open up about anything they would like to or need to talk about.

“We’ll just talk,” he said. “I’ll just sit with the kids and ask them what’s going on in their lives. Some of them cry because they can’t help their families. Some of them cry because their mothers are struggling and they don’t know the answers. They’re kids but they feel like they should know and some of them try to bear the burden of their family.”

Slide “Sli” Velazquez has been going to Hagler’s on-and-off for two years. Prior to living in Daytona Beach, he lived in Coconut Creek where he attended Dre’s Hard Knockz Personal Training & Boxing in Margate. When he was younger he wanted to be a professional boxer but now that he is older, he said it might not be in the cards.

“I try to come in every day,” he said. “I love it here. This is like family here. If I can become the best amateur (boxer) I can, it’s worth it for me.”

Hagler said his platform is a way for kids to bring out the greatness that God has already given them. He said his job is to help them tap into their true identity.

“I want this to be a place where kids can come and strengthen each other,” he said. “They can come here and we can help them become leaders in this community—where they can be a voice of strength, wisdom and knowledge to help other kids.”



 

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