The Brunette Boxing Gym

By Todd Webb

Sometimes the cliché, “this is a family affair” gets over used, in the case of Brunette’s Boxing Gym it is dead on! The Brunette family has been one of the mainstays in Minnesota boxing for the past 30 years. The gyms new location is 1675 East 5th Street in St. Paul. In order to to appreciate the new gym to its fullest, it is necessary to take a walk through St. Paul boxing history and some of the most successful programs in the State of Minnesota.

In the late 1970’s Papa Brunette started the Rice Street Gym with a couple of other fathers in the neighborhood.  That began the journey of four brothers and one sister: Tommy, Brian, Bobby, Albert and Tammy.  Soon after the Rice Street Gym opened the clan would move its already successful operation to the Civic Center Gym and Del Bravo.  This is where I was first introduced to the Brunette’s.  Bobby was boxing one of my gym mates, “Scrap Williams,” with Brian set to face  off against, Waymon Glasgow.  The St. Bernard’s (a catholic high school on Rice Street) crowd broke out into a full-scale riot and Brian’s bout never did come off!

Then Brian, Bobby and Tommy turned professional and they opened the Como Park Gym in 1980.  Brian was training there when he fought for the WBA Junior Welterweight title in Italy.  The gym was around until 1986. Then the gym moved to Richards Meats in Maplewood and launched a new amateur program.  The entire Brunette family and a cast of characters from every nook and cranny of Rice Street and the East Side got behind this gym,  which went on to produce multiple Upper Midwest Golden Gloves Champions,  St. Paul City Golden Gloves Champions and several team titles.

When the Hopkins gym closed,  Otis Gage (3 times Upper Midwest Champion) and myself were fortunate enough to be part of this team and these are some of my fondest memories regarding amateur boxing.

The list of boxers is almost too long to go into but boxers like Tory Scales, Too Erickson, Will Grigsby, Matt Vanda, Teddy Solheid, Miguel Ramos, Wayne Martell, Terry Mossburger, Boyd Davis, the Zombrano’s, Mike Gibbs, Troy Lowry and so many others I cannot not mention but one of my teammates I will mention is “Jumpin Johnny Montantez,” gone but not forgotten.

In 2000, the Brunette Gym moved to Arcade Street, below the legion. Now the facility was large and the amateurs turned professional which attracted more boxers and shows were promoted in the gym. My son’s boxed out of this gym and won amateur state titles. When you run a gym long enough even your former boxer’s kid’s box out of the gym!  With the passing of the oldest brother, Tommy Brunette, and the deterioration of the building, the gym was forced to close in 2008.

Jay Lee on the Right

With the painstaking work of Coach Al Brunette and his fearless co-pilot Bobby Brunette, these men found a way!!! Even Tammy got involved again.  She helped financially and by providing exercise and boxing equipment for the gym. Through some very creative maneuvering, that involved their non-profit status, the closing of several East Side Neighborhood recreation centers and a unique partnership with Twin-City Barbell, they re-opened this year and the new gym is a site to behold. Ron Peterson helped with a ring, the bags hang from a specially designed pipe structure, the old speed bag platforms are back up double ended bags are strewn about and the “Brunette Style” is on display 5 nights a week Monday through Friday from 5 PM to 7 PM. They are funded through a very reasonable membership dues and their shows and are currently seeking sponsorship and donations….hint..hint. Last Thursday I had the pleasure of working out in the gym and it was bustling with activity. Jay Lee who is one of the carry over’s from Arcade was sparring with Irvin Freeman both getting ready for the show at the gym on Saturday May 22^nd. Paul Henschell was sweating and working his weight down to 201lbs, The Campillo’s another boxing family was working hard sparring and on the bags. Their father Jeff said he like the new gym it was bright and the equipment is good, I looked up to notice the gym has sky-lighting…we definitely did not have that below Richards or on Arcade! Steven and Jeff Campillo are preparing for the 22^nd as well as was Elias Rubio. There was a young man sparring and I asked him his name and he said Santiago Mendoza, he was 14, when I asked what he liked about the gym and boxing he said the discipline and his coach!

What is not to like, persistence, dedication and determination are all traits of successful people and the Brunette’s possess these traits. When I was at the last show I walked in and Brian was taking the tickets, Bobby was refereeing and Al was in the corner, just as it has been for 30 years.

We sometimes do not give enough credit to the countless hours these coaches spend in the gym, the effort these kids put themselves through to compete and socio economic melting pot that a boxing gym truly is….it is an amazing place to be in, a gym. There is a big show scheduled for Saturday May 22^nd at 7:00PM at the gym on 5^th Street 1675 the former East Side Recreation Center with the proceeds going to the gym.  Several new and exciting boxers will be displaying their talents for the first time. They now will benefit from the rich tradition and become a part of a very special family. For more information call 651-341-8256 or go to www.brunetteboxingclub.com

As Bobby finished up registrations, shook hands and left, I watched Al coach, clean up, counsel kids, pat hem on the back after a good workout and one word came to my mind…”Thanks.”

From Live From Ringside for Livefromringside.com,

Todd “Tbone” Webb