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Room at the Gym September 12 was just about like any other day for Alexis Hloros, who works out four days a week.. After spending two hours working out, doing floor exercises and hitting the heavy bag he was about to leave the Kronk Gym for the day when Coach Raja approached him with some unexpected news. Hloros was not welcome at the Kronk anymore.
The coach delivered the news but could not offer an explanation beyond saying that Kronk patriarch, Hall of Fame trainer and HBO boxing commentator Emanuel Steward had issued the order. The sad truth was confirmed for Hloros when he spoke with Steward’s nephew and trainer Javan Hill, who Hloros reported said he tried to change Steward’s mind. Hill was not successful. That was Friday, ten days ago, and Hloros was training for his 11th professional fight a week later. Training in the same gym – Kronk – where he first started boxing as an amateur ten years ago and where he says he has trained ever since. “It’s not up to me,” Coach Raja told Sportssummary. “It was Emanuel Steward.” Raja said that he has “no problem with Alexis,” calling him a nice guy and said he “trains all the time at our gym.” The 29-year old Hloros is convinced that Steward has nothing against him personally. Hloros echoes what promoter Gino Cicarella believes: Steward and Cicarella’s business partner, Carlos Llinas, do not get along. For whatever reason, and neither man is saying why, it is the boxer Hloros that is paying the price. The problem appears to have been caused by the appearance of both Llinas and Cicarella on Thursday that coincided with a photographer being in the gym to take pictures of Hloros. There may also be issues concerning payment of gym fees, or the lack thereof, but insiders suggest that it was more likely the presence of Llinas, who was a former Kronk employee, that upset Steward. Reached by phone in L.A., Steward initially denied any knowledge of the incident. Under more questioning, a frustrated Steward said the Dearborn gym is a “private gym for Kronk fighters” and dismissed further questions. Coach
Majed Fradi, who stated at the June grand opening that he owned
the gym while Steward owned the Kronk name, told Sportssummary last
week that the gym is open to others wishing to work out or train.
The gym is reserved for Kronk fighters from 3-6 pm but others are
welcome to train before or after that time. The cost is $5/day or
$30/month, Fradi reported. |
