Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Southside’s only boxing gym moves to Tyrone

When you enter the Southside Gym, home of Sebastian-Weiss Boxing, there is a sign that reads, “Welcome to our humble house of pain.”

Though you hear thunderous thuds, as boxers in training and athletes of all ages pound heavy bags, speed bags and a bag known as an ice block, and their faces are serious and focused, drenched in sweat, they are happy. Happy to have a place where they can learn the “sweet science” and happy to have two coaches, Scott Sebastian and Jim Weiss, who are dedicated into making them the best boxers and/or athletes they can be.

Sebastian took several boxers under his wing last year. He converted his garage into a small gym and had a full size boxing ring in his back yard. His fighters were a dedicated bunch that gave a good showing at last year’s Georgia Games, earning two gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals. Sebastian also started working with a boxer from Kosovo, Baki Zymberi, who has started boxing as a professional. The little gym started attaracting new members and that is how Sebastian met Weiss, a former boxer with a long history in the sport.

Weiss’ father was a boxing manager who had worked with boxers like Armando Muniz and had fighters compete against boxers such as Sugar Ray Robinson. Weiss began boxing, training under Frankie Mucci and fighting out west for a number of years. When his nephew, Chris, got interested in the sport, Weiss started to train him but knew that he couldn’t give him the full experience without a gym. A waiter at a local restaurant recommended taking him to meet Scott Sebastian and the rest, as they say, is history. Weiss is now the head coach at the Southside Gym and he and Sebastian give their boxers a full education in boxing.

“Jim is an inside fighter and I am an outside fighter,” said Sebastian, who feels that their styles compliment each other perfectly and help their boxers achieve the best results.

“We cover all angles and give all to the fighters,” said Weiss, who was as impressed with Sebastian’s history in the sport as Sebastian was with Weiss’.

The two men then began looking for a building to expand their gym into and they found it in the Shamrock Industrial Park in Tyrone, thanks to help from Joe Skebo, owner of Sunset Printing. They have 3,000 square feet of space and it is filling up quick with lockers, weights, exercise equipment and of course, the ring, which has been completely reconditioned and repainted.

The workouts are typically 90 minutes long and consists mostly of a cardio workout with some strength training that applies to boxing and not to getting bigger. Though a number of the people who work out at the gym spar and train for upcoming fights at the Titan Games and the Georgia Games, several of the athletes who train at the gym don’t step in the ring at all but enjoy the workout.

“Boxers are some of the best athletes out there,” said Sebastian. “They are very well conditioned and are typically in great shape.”

The gym is open Monday and Friday 4-9 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. and Sebastian and Weiss are there all day and can give one individual instruction and the best training they’ve ever had. Their goal is to be the best gym in the state and they aim to achieve that goal with good, sound instruction.

For more information on the Southside Gym, phone 678-520-5072 or 770-855-4435.