The Pittsburgh Boxing Club has roots firmly established in the Brookline community and in the City of Pittsburgh's Department of Parks and Recreation (Citiparks). In 1957, a young Park Director named Chuck Senft brought to Pittsburgh the idea of youth boxing. With the assistance of former World Champion Billy Conn, the city began hosting annual boxing tournaments for amateurs aged eight through sixteen years of age. Over the next fifteen years, Chuck's boxers (Moore Park Boxing) dominated the Junior Tournaments.

With the construction of the Brookline Memorial Recreation Center in 1971, the boxing club became known as the Brookline Boxing Club, or "Charlies Angels." The Angels continued to dominate the amateur boxing ranks, winning team titles in the Golden Gloves, Silver Gloves, Junior Olympics and Allegheny Mountain Association Tournaments. The club also began completing in the Senior brackets (17 years and older).

Pittsburgh Boxing Club Champion Wade Lipscomb.

After Chuck's retirement in 2003, the club restructured and relaunched in 2005 as the Pittsburgh Boxing Club. With the help of longtime Brookline Boxing Club coach Mike Bayens, Recreation Center Director Michelle Underwood and former Brookline champions Bob Healy, Bob Brown, Carlos Schrader, the club began the next chapter in Brookline's long and successful boxing tradition.

The club obtained non-profit status and expanded its operations to include two new workout facilities. The club now holds workouts at gyms located in Mount Washington's Dilworth Park, at the renovated Overbrook Fire House, and at the Brookline Recreation Center.

Contenders Orlando Harvard and Nick Edmonds (front), along with
Mike Ciccanti, Nick Pelescak, Mike Bayens, Dan Bayens and Sean Bayens.
Nick has the honor of winning the first bout for the Pittsburgh Boxing Club.

Mike Bayens, who established the club in 2005, retired as acting director in July 2012. The club is now managed by Bob Brown and Ted Mrkonja, along with coaches include Hugo Garcia Sr. and Michelle Underwood, who train and instruct male and female boxers age eight and older. In addition to the pride, discipline and fitness obtained through the boxing workouts, the Pittsburgh Boxing Club trains individuals to be champions not only in the ring, but in life. It's more than just boxing.

The Pittsburgh Boxing Club is a member of the United States Boxing Association. Participants can train for competitive boxing or just work out to learn boxing skills. The Club participates in local events and prepares yearly for the Golden Gloves/Silver Gloves competitions.

Orlando Harvard wins one for the Pittsburgh Boxing Club.

The cost of membership is $50, which includes a passbook, American Mountain Association registration, jersey, equipment and other incidental costs. Members are required to bring bag gloves, mouthpiece and hand-wraps, and have the determination to work hard to succeed. Anyone interested in joining the Pittsburgh Boxing Club can call Coach Ted Mrkonja (412-491-7193) or Coach Bob Brown (412-728-2206) for more information. Parental permission is required for children under 18 years of age.

Pittsburgh Boxing Club Champions

Dan Bayens - 132 lbs - Novice - Golden Gloves - 2005
John Buckner - 165 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2006
John Buckner - 156 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2007
Robert Underwood - 119 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2008
Wade Lipscomb - 132 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2008
John Buckner - 141 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2008
Chris Tonry - 191 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2008
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 119 lbs - Junior - Silver Gloves - 2009 *
Trevor Urban - 147 lbs - Junior - Silver Gloves - 2009
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 119 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2009
Vinnie Maccellaro - 156 lbs - Open - Golden Gloves State Champion - 2009
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 119 lbs - Junior - Ohio State Fair - 2009
Teddy Mrkonja - 70 lbs - Junior - Silver Gloves - 2010
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 126 lbs - Junior - Silver Gloves - 2010 *
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 126 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2010
Wade Lipscomb - 156 lbs - Open - Golden Gloves - 2010
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 126 lbs - Junior - Junior Olympics - 2010
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 126 lbs - Junior - Arnold Classic Gold Medalist - 2010
Teddy Mrkonja - 70 lbs - Junior - Ohio State Fair - 2010
Khalil Sanders - 132 lbs - Junior - Silver Gloves - 2011
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 139 lbs - Junior - Silver Gloves - 2011
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 139 lbs - Junior - Allegheny Mountain - 2011
Teddy Mrkonja - 70 lbs - Junior - Allegheny Mountain - 2011
Teddy Mrkonja - 70 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2011
Brandon Wysong - 75 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2011
Jeremy Kelly - 90 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2011
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 139 lbs - Junior - Golden Gloves - 2011
Khalil Sanders - 132 lbs - Junior - Junior Olympics - 2011
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 139 lbs - Junior - Junior Olympics - 2011
Hugo Garcia Jr. - 139 lbs - Junior - Ringside World Championship - 2011
Khalil Sanders - 139 lbs - Junior - Ringside World Championship - 2012
Teddy Mrkonja - 85 lbs - Junior - Silver Gloves - 2013
Teddy Mrkonja - 85 lbs - Junior - Regional Silver Gloves - 2013
Teddy Mrkonja - 85 lbs - Junior - National Silver Gloves - 2013

* Western PA/State/Regional Champion

Photos of the Pittsburgh Boxing Club