ST. PAUL, Minn. — December 19 marks the five-year anniversary of the opening of the Rice Street “Old School” Boxing Gym in east St. Paul.
Since its opening, the gym has welcomed everyone who wanted to join in.
Mike Evgen, co-founder of the gym, helps everyone despite their financial burdens.
“We don’t turn anyone away if they don’t have the money,” Evgen said.
The gym’s journey started with Evgen himself and his long career in professional boxing.
“I started when I was 12 years old. I weighed 70 pounds,” Evgen said. “I have been the underdog in sports and life.”
Evgen turned to boxing after losing his cousin Tommy Luger in a shooting in 1979.
“Tommy was an amateur boxer. He was only 19 when he was killed. I tried to carry on his tradition,” he said.
After winning his fight at Roy Wilkins Arena and earning the IBO Jr. welterweight championship, Evgen still had a few years left in boxing. During his final years in the sport, Evgen would experience his most difficult and painful days.
“I was going through some personal problems, the alcohol and a divorce,” Evgen said. “I was going through a really bad situation. I wasn’t working. My boxing career was over. It was either take my own life.” or get my shit together.”
Evgen would use his champion spirit to lift him past his worst days.
“On August 5, 1996, I decided to get treatment, and I was ready. It was about time. I’ve been sober ever since. Twenty-eight years and four months,” Evgen said.
Now Evgen is giving back to the community that helped him rise through the ranks.
“A lot of boxers want to stay involved in some way. You never know who’s going to walk through that door and we might have the next world champion right here in the gym. You never know,” Evgen said.
Respect for Evgen is seen in the gym by his colleagues and his students.
“Mike is a very well-respected guy. He’s really nice,” said Steffania Piper, an aspiring silver-gloved boxer. “He always gives a warm welcome.”
Owen Emerson, another young member of the gym, says he was initially nervous when he joined, but Evgen quickly made him feel part of the group.
“I came in and I was scared. I didn’t know anything, but then someone came up to me and fist bumped me and I thought, ‘oh, this is a community. This is a family,'” Emerson said.
Many of Evgen’s students are trying to reach new heights in their own boxing careers.
“I really want to be a professional boxer. Everyone wants to be a world champion and I really want to try,” said Emerson.
Some students also see how it will change their personal lives for the better.
“I think this will help me in life, especially in terms of discipline,” said Angelo Catilleja. “What it really does is, with your mindset, never give up. I’m trying to go for the championship and maybe I’ll look back on this moment.”
The gym accepts donations via Venmo, in person or by mail.
