If you want to take up boxing, then kudos to you! It will make you fitter, stronger and a genuine badass! If you’re looking for a suitable gym to joining, check out below our list of 9 of the best boxing gyms in Illinois.
1. Oakley Fight Club
Oakley Fight Club is the first on our list of the best boxing gyms in Illinois. They’re a Chicago-based gym focusing on boxing as fitness – though that’s not to say they’re relegated to fighting equipment. From weights and treadmills to sparring, they’ve got a bit of everything. Oakley Fight Club is open from 12-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, from 12-6 p.m. on Fridays, and from 9-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
While the obvious draw here is boxing, you don’t need to be an experienced fighter to get the most out of Oakley. They offer top-tier trainers and classes for all skill levels, from children and inexperienced adults to near-professional quality sparring sessions. Oakley Fight Club is an excellent choice for staying fit and keeping in fighting shape.
Head to Oakley Fight Club’s contact page to learn more.
2. Body Shot Boxing Club
Next on the list is Body Shot Boxing Club, yet another top-tier Chicago-based boxing gym. While they’re a small outfit with limited space for memberships, each client gets the attention they need to improve. Body Shot specializes in youth and adult coed boxing courses. They’re open from 5:45 – 8 a.m. and 3 – 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, from 6-1 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 9-12 p.m. on Sundays.
Jessica McCaskill and Rick Ramos are the coaches for Body Shot Boxing – names that are likely familiar if you follow the Chicago local boxing scene. They specialize in teaching coed courses designed to instill proper muscle memory and reaction in their students and are an excellent choice for building fitness and muscle mass.
Swing by Body Shot Boxing Club’s contact page to get in touch.
3. Chicago Fight House
Chicago Fight House is (unsurprisingly) yet another Chicago-based boxing gym. This veteran-owned business focuses on the simple basics of boxing – speed, strength, and endurance, regardless of your experience, age, or size. Chicago Fight House is for scheduled classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays and is open for personal appointment-based classes.
Chicago Fight House is genuinely dedicated to training people In the art of boxing. Whether you want a group class or specialized one-on-one advice, Chicago Fight House’s trainers are among Illinois’ best – so don’t skip out.
Go to Chicago Fight House’s contact page to learn more.
4. Hammer Fitness and Boxing
Hammer Fitness and Boxing is a relatively new entry to the Chicago boxing scene. Still, they’ve earned a great deal of recognition from the community lately. They quickly earned an A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and offer a broad range of state-of-the-art facilities and training regimens. Hammer Fitness and Boxing is open from 6-8 p.m., seven days a week.
Hammer Fitness’ main focuses lie on boxing courses. Whether you want a group experience or one-on-one boxing coaching, Hammer Fitness has a top-notch team of expert martial artists and boxers to ensure you get reliable, realistic, and executable advice. Perhaps more importantly, though, their Hammer’s Haven children’s program is an excellent choice for keeping your kid in shape and disciplined during off hours.
Swing by Hammer Fitness and Boxing’s contact page to reach out.
5. Hyper Fight Fitness
Hyper Fight Fitness is one of many Chicago boxing gyms in the area, though they’re the only one to provide far more than “just boxing.” Hyper Fight Fitness offers boxing, cross training, fitness bootcamps, weight loss and nutrition guidance, and general gym memberships and programs. They’re open from 9-1:30 p.m. and 4:30-7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, from 8-10 p.m. on Saturdays, and are closed on Sundays.
Whether you want a true boxing gym with state-of-the-art training gear or a simple gym facility to get in shape, Hyper Fight is all that and more. They provide everything from strength and agility training to boxing technique coaching (and just about everything in between). Ultimately, Hyper Fight Fitness is an excellent option for our readers who need a truly modern boxing gym.
Head to Hyper Fight Fitness’ Facebook page to get in touch.
6. Windy City Boxing
Our last Chicago-based boxing gym on this list is Windy City Boxing. In direct contrast to Hyper Fight Fitness, Windy City is a longstanding name in the Chicago boxing scene with a very specific focus on professional-grade pugilism. Windy City Boxing is open from 8-8 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays, from 10-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and from 10-1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Perhaps the best claim to fame that Windy City Boxing has is that Muhammed Ali himself fought in their halls during his heyday. While those days are long past, the fighting spirit that earned them Ali’s business and the excellent advice on offer is still very present. Windy City Boxing is, if anything, a shrine to the sport of boxing – and where better to learn?
Swing by Windy City Boxing’s contact page to reach out.
7. Northside Boxing and Fitness
Northside Boxing and Fitness are relatively new to Evanston, having opened their doors in 2017. Nonetheless, they’ve quickly gained local recognition for their top-tier facilities and incredibly professional coaches. Northside Boxing and Fitness are open 6-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, from 10-5 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10-3 p.m. on Sundays.
Northside Boxing and Fitness is a multilayered beast. While they obviously offer boxing and various weight and endurance training programs, they also offer specialized courses. Northside offers boxing courses for both men and women, along with a coed Muay Thai class for those that want something a bit more intense.
Head to Northside Boxing and Fitness’ contact page to learn more.
8. Luyando Boxing & Fitness
Champaign, Illinois’ Luyando Boxing and Fitness is an incredibly diverse group dedicated to learning, training, and improving boxers of all experience levels. They’ve been a safe haven for people of all backgrounds and walks of life since 1994, offering the common ground of boxing as a bridge for their community to grow. Luyando Boxing and Fitness is open from 6-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and closed on Sundays.
Luyando is unlike many of the others on this list for one reason – they’re just a boxing gym. While that may dissuade some, the simple fact that they gather six days a week for one purpose is quite admirable. Perhaps more importantly, though, they’re staffed by fully USA Boxing-certified coaches, ensuring you can easily take the next step into semi-professional (or fully professional) boxing.
Go to Luyando Boxing and Fitness’ contact page to get in touch.
9. Jesse Torres Boxing Club
Jesse Torres Boxing Club is, unsurprisingly, a new boxing gym run by Jesse “The Law” Torres. Located in Aurora, Illinois, this small gym is a tight-knit community-centered operation that’s dedicated to building those around them. Jesse Torres Boxing Club is open from 6-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 7-12 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Jesse Torres Boxing Club has been around for nearly thirty years. In that time, they’ve built a reputation as an excellent stop for children and parents to learn and grow. They offer the “Heiress to the Throne” program for mothers, along with a multitude of programs for kids and teens to gain a sense of responsibility and empowerment.
Head to Jesse Torres Boxing Club’s contact page to reach out.
