Street Named In Honor Of 3 Legendary Utah Boxing Brothers
Aug 2, 2019, 1:27 PM | Updated: 9:38 pm
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — For anyone who followed boxing, they were household names in the 1950s and 1960s.
Gene Fullmer beat Sugar Ray Robinson in 1957 to become the middleweight boxing champion, and then claimed the title again in 1959.
Don Fullmer and Jay Fullmer fought in numerous high profile bouts.
This week, the cities of South Jordan and West Jordan joined together to recognize the legacy of the three Utah brothers by renaming a section of 9400 South, “Fullmer Lane.”
The 5-block section runs from Redwood Road to 2200 West, where the Fullmers made their home.
“Members of the South Jordan Historic Preservation Committee really wanted some way to highlight or recognize the Fullmer family for all their contributions to not just South Jordan City but the region,” said city administrative services director Spencer Kyle. “A lot of the younger generation doesn’t know who the Fullmers were, and so this may pique their interest and they may do a little more research and see what the Fullmers meant to the community.”
To anyone who watched boxing, they were household names in the 1950s and 1960s. This week, two cities came together to honor the Fullmer brothers’ legacy [VIDEO] https://t.co/Te1cXqCaNW@KSL5TV #KSLTV #Utah
Photojournalist: @Photog_Steve5 pic.twitter.com/lP3ecclIIu
— Andrew Adams (@AndrewAdamsKSL) August 1, 2019
Because the street borders both South Jordan and West Jordan, leaders from both cities had to sign off on the name change.
“West Jordan has a fighting spirit and the Fullmers were a part of that,” West Jordan Mayor Jim Riding said. “It was exciting for me to agree to this change to the name of the road.”
Chet Fullmer, son of Jay Fullmer, said the family was grateful for the recognition.
“We knew that they had that type of respect because we were involved in the sport and we see what type of respect they received from it,” he said. “For the cities of West Jordan and South Jordan—because (the road) splits them—to recognize them with that was a huge honor—especially with them being passed now.”
Gene Fullmer and Jay Fullmer both died in 2015. Don Fullmer passed away in 2012.
“I think it’s about time—I really do!” said Nick Butterfield, who coaches at the Fullmer Brothers Boxing Gym, located at 11000 South and 2200 West. “For me, these guys have done so much not only for the West Jordan and South Jordan communities but the entire State of Utah.”
Today, the brothers’ legacy continues to live on inside the nonprofit gym, which is adorned with numerous vintage photos and fight promos.
Volunteer coaches continue to instill the Fullmers’ fighting spirit within the next generation of aspiring boxers.
“There’s kids out there all over the valley that want to fight, but maybe they can’t afford it,” Chet Fullmer said.
Butterfield said he was grateful for the example the Fullmer brothers showed him.
“I was always getting in fights at school,” Butterfield recalled. “My dad looked toward Don Fullmer and got me involved and I started boxing. I was about 10-years-old, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Fullmer said continuing the legacy of his father and uncles by teaching their boxing techniques and life principles has been completely worth it.
“It just gives these kids a chance, which, you know—that’s priceless,” Fullmer said.
