Round Lake OKs downtown boxing gym
Round Lake trustees have approved plans for a boxing gymnasium and health club in the village's downtown that'll be primarily geared toward at-risk youths in the community.
Trustees at a meeting Monday voted 6-0 in favor of former professional featherweight boxer Jose Hernandez's plan for a 4,400-square-foot warehouse at Nippersink and Cedar Lake roads. The village board approved Hernandez's plan, in a voice vote that included an outdoor auction facility on Valentin Drive and two other items.
Hernandez did not attend Monday's village board session. His proposal had received a positive recommendation from the Round Lake plan commission/zoning board of appeals.
“I think he was feeling comfortable after the zoning meeting,” Round Lake Village Administrator Russ Kraly said of Hernandez's absence.
All Star Boxing will be operated under a company Hernandez and his father started, Falling Stars Inc. While the gym would be open to anyone wanting to learn the sweet science, Hernandez said he particularly wants to focus on having a place where disadvantaged children can visit with adult supervision in the evenings.
Plans call for more than pugilism and physical fitness training at All Start Boxing. Dance, music and other extracurricular activities are expected to be added at the facility.
Hernandez, 37, who retired from the professional fight game three years ago, won the national Golden Gloves tournament as an amateur in 1997.
Among his many career highlights was being on the undercard for Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas in 2007. At the time, De La Hoya-Mayweather shattered revenue records for live gate and pay-per-view buys.
Copas Bar and Grill hosted this fundraising dinner event.
Hernandez recently received support for his venture in a fundraiser attended by Round Lake Mayor Daniel MacGillis, Democratic state Sen. Melinda Bush and Round Lake Beach Mayor Richard Hill. The fundraiser was at the Hernandez family's Copas Bar and Grill in downtown Round Lake.