Boxing Club Fights To Create Safe Space For Members With New Layout, Tech
Sep 30, 2020, 11:56 PM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – In the fight to create a safe space for customers and get back to business as it was before the pandemic, a boxing gym in Sugar House is adapting its layout and investing in new technology.
“It’s definitely been difficult,” said Jon Bish, owner of Title Boxing Club in Salt Lake City. “We know we can’t stop the virus from being in here, but we’re going to do everything we can to fight it.”
The virus is far from the fight they’re used to, but it’s still close enough for the club to take a swing. After the gym closed for several weeks, Bish said they “had more people offering to pay us during that time than to cancel, which was pretty overwhelming.”
COVID-19 is far from the fight this gym is used to. But still close enough for them to take a swing. At 10, we take a look at the impact on Title Boxing Club in Sugarhouse and their fight to create a safe space for members to come back to. @KSL5TV #boxing #covidimpact pic.twitter.com/yPtmdVVYp8
— Matt Rascon (@MattRasconNews) October 1, 2020
But he knew he needed to make changes to get some members back in the ring and create a safe space for them to exercise.
“Coming to an indoor space and trying to make people comfortable in a group setting during this is pretty tough,” he said.
The gym went from 50 hanging punching bags that were typically all booked during classes, to opening back up with 12 bags in the orange phase and to now 17 bags available.
Bish also added makeshift booths in the back of the building with dividing walls and mounted TVs, offering members an option to train on their own with a recording of their boxing class.
And their latest hit zeroes in on the air in the gym.
“We’re turning the air every 2.5 minutes here,” he said, speaking about a new air filtration system. “This technology we’ve put in here is kind of our next step to try to prove to people we’re going to try to do everything we can to make sure they have a safe environment to work out in.”
Outlasting an opponent has never looked quite like this at the Title Boxing franchise.
“We like to fight stress,” Bish said. “Not a better time right now than to be able to come in and take that out on a bag.”
But Title Boxing is determined to keep swinging while distancing itself from the virus as long as it lasts.
“Without another round of funding, it’s going to be interesting,” he said. “But we’re a fighting brand and we’re going to fight all the way to the end.”