The days of watching the clock at your corporate health club are over. The Ring is a “coaching facility,” which means it’s our job to put you through your workout. Our staff is the real deal—we’re the only club around whose coaches boast years of amateur and professional boxing experience. They also happen to be the most entertaining cast of characters you’ll ever have the pleasure of meeting, and unlike your treadmill, they don’t come with an emergency stop button.
…a fun and unique workout at The Ring Boxing Club…..a class format with pro boxers as trainers…. a major motivator….an alternative workout environment.
— NECN, STYLE BOSTON
Rodney “The Punisher” Toney
Rod won the Golden Gloves after training for only two weeks and knowing only two punches – no, this is not normal or recommended. His quickest knockout took 13 seconds and one right hand, and although Rod doesn’t get paid to knock people out at The Ring, he might just oblige if you challenge him at Madden. He loves Curb your Enthusiasm, South Park, and Mr. T in ‘Rocky III’. Rod’s favorite post-fight meal is Kentucky Fried Extra Crispy Chicken with mashed potatoes and coleslaw, and his favorite fighter is his father, Ring Boxing Club Coach Harold Combs.
FORMER PRO BOXER
RECORD OF 29-4-42
4 YEARS EXPERIENCE
CAN BE FOUND: Joking with his class while barking out punch combinations and chugging Monster.
Jeff “Lefty” Leggett
Former sparring partner of World Champ Terry Norris, Jeff won his first seven pro fights by way of knockout. He’s one of the most inspiring coaches on staff and says that boxing is “better than therapy.” An avid chess player, Jeff teaches his students to stay two moves ahead of their opponents. He’s a big fan of Shrek, loves The Wizard of Oz, and can “watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang all day long.” But it’s Jeff’s attention to detail, knowledge of the sport, and no-quit attitude that leave members wanting more.
FORMER PRO BOXER, record of 12-5-1
24 YEARS EXPERIENCE
CAN BE FOUND: Politely asking his classes for their blood, sweat, and tears.
Tommy “The Gooch” McInerney
Personal Coach of Boston Bruins Left Wing Shawn Thornton, Coach Tommy is all about form and technique and considers his ability to take a punch both his greatest strength and weakness. Favorite meal is anything his mother cooks, always eats dessert first, and has a single plastic fork and dorm-sized fridge instead of a kitchen. Tommy watches reruns of The Hills, hates coffee, and has coached everyone from pro boxers to regular Joes. He loves teaching anyone who’s willing to work hard, or anyone who brings him a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting.
FORMER AMATEUR
BOXER17 YEARS
EXPERIENCECAN BE FOUND: Sparring members one-on-one or indulging his sweet tooth.
Nick Rothstein
A rare blend of artist and athlete, Nick is a natural-born teacher and boxing coach of The Boston Red Sox wives. He played semi-pro football for six years, is a published poet, and started boxing to “keep himself out of trouble.” He prides himself on teaching members the skills to defend themselves and the courage to walk away from a confrontation. Nick hates anything to do with the Twilight series and loves to see members walk out of his class exhausted.
FORMER AMATEUR BOXER
Semi-pro football player
15 YEARS EXPERIENCE
CAN BE FOUND: Schoolin’ kids at Brookline High by day, Ring members by night.
Dave “Lil Batista” Mejia
Never an athletic kid in high school, Dave mistakenly wandered into The Ring while looking for Qdoba. Today, due to his tireless work ethic, Dave can do 103 pushups in 60 seconds, and arguably has the fastest hands in the gym. He’s terrified of spiders, including Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web, and his favorite post–fight meal is 15 pancakes at IHOP, which he inhales in one sitting.
AMATEUR BOXER
Two-time Golden Gloves finalist
3 YEARS EXPERIENCE
CAN BE FOUND: Whipping your ass into shape in his no-mercy, high-intensity class.
Sassan “The Professor” Tabatabai, PhD
Trained by the legendary Soviet Olympic boxing coach, Mikhail Grigorian, Sassan says that he fell in love with the sport of boxing because it is “the ultimate test of one’s own character. There are no teammates to rely on. Boxing is the purest form of sport possible.” When not coaching at The Ring, Sassan is either teaching world literature and philosophy at B.U. or watching the Food Network while making his world-famous tacos.
FORMER AMATEUR
BOXER20+ YEARS
EXPERIENCECAN BE FOUND: In Boston University lecture halls comparing the trials of Odysseus to George Foreman’s triumphant return to boxing.
Harold “Honey” Combs
An old friend of Joe Frazier’s, this humble member of the Boxing Hall of Fame considers himself a better coach than fighter. A former Boston Boxing Commissioner, Harold says his greatest achievement was watching his son, Ring Boxing Club Coach Rodney Toney, climb the ranks of the international boxing world. (Rod never lost a fight while Harold was in his corner.) He loves Dancing with the Stars, the two-and-a-half pound lobster dinner from Legal Seafoods, and winning.
FORMER PRO BOXER
50+ YEARS EXPERIENCE
CAN BE FOUND: Holding mitts for members when he’s not polishing his son’s Championship Title Belt.
“Big Tom” Jenkins
After watching Rocky at age 12, Big Tom became so inspired to box that he chugged raw eggs and wrapped a mattress around a column in his basement as a heavy bag. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 37 times in the NFL scouting tryouts and played in the AFL for 13 seasons, but gets terrible motion sickness on literally every ride at Disney World. He knows everyone’s name after one class and has eyes in the back of his head, so don’t even think about stopping your punches while his back is turned. Leaving his class with a dry T-shirt is not an option.
FORMER AMATEUR BOXER
Ex-pro football player, College strength and conditioning coach.
32 YEARS EXPERIENCE
CAN BE FOUND: Putting you through a workout like your very own sparkle-free, 6-foot-4, Red Bull slammin’ fairy godmother.
Justin Kennard
Justin is proof that you can start boxing at any age. He won two amateur championships in his 50s and, with his use-it-or-lose-it attitude, doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He loves teaching members new punch combinations to add to their arsenals and likes Raging Bull because the “fight scenes don’t look fake.” Justin says boxing is a lot like chess – it takes fifteen minutes to learn the rules, but a lifetime to master.
AMATEUR BOXER
Two-time winner Ringside World Championship, Masters’ Division
18 YEARS EXPERIENCE
CAN BE FOUND: Sparring members with Zen-like patience.
