The grand re-opening of APJ Boxing, July 2021, and the fighters who train there. The film I made that day opens the page; the portraits were made that September, against the gym's wall of legends and a plain white one.
Fresh banners over the door: the club's name and number, a Grand Re-Opening sign, and a welcome to Poughkeepsie in the window.The lion flag and the hanging club sign turn in the breeze at the corner, with the crosswalk just beyond.
Inside, the walls are papered with fight posters and magazine pages, a painted pair of heavyweights trading right hands at the center.A row of fighter portraits pinned along a white wall, each one squared up and looking straight down the lens.
Close on the back of a shirt: the crowned lion, the club name, and Building Champs in gold.
Neon gloves blur toward the heavy bag in the back corner, the only bright color against white walls.Mitt work at the ropes, the coach calling combinations while the gloves snap into his pads.
Three boxers in matching orange tanks shadowbox in the ring, guards up and feet set wide.
Red gloves drive into a heavy bag, glasses and a headband holding steady through the punch.A wide grin at the heavy bag, red gloves still up while the room moves around him.
At the ropes in a club shirt, a trainer throws a mock punch at the camera and laughs.
Against the poster wall, a man in a black cap watches the ring, a Tyson cover over his shoulder.Leaning on the ropes, a trainer in an orange tank talks through the next drill with open hands.
A guest in a button-down ducks through the ropes to take his turn as kids watch from the back.
In red gloves, the guest in the button-down throws into the mitts while the crowd lines the ring.Phones up around the ring as a boxer in a headband squares off, a spectator in a green superhero shirt among them.
A handshake by the ring between a man in a white tee and a man in an orange Club X tank.
A small boxer in braids squares up to the mitts, gloves nearly as big as her head.A young boxer watches the pads closely, gloves up, while the coach sets the next target.
A kid in a white tank drives a straight right into the mitts, spectators watching from the ropes.
A group gathers for a photo by the ring, two toddlers held up in arms and a red club tank at center.The whole club in red, packed in front of the ring for one picture.
Same crew, same shirts, a second take with a few more grins.
Now with guards up: the club throws its fists up for the camera.Kids in front, coaches at the edges, every fist raised.
Guard up in front of a wall of boxing legends.
A young boxer squares up under the green light, fists at his chin.Up close, the stare is steady and the guard doesn't drop.
Fists pulled tight to his chin, eyes on the lens.
Gloveless fists raised to his face, the posters crowding in behind.Peeking over his fists, the youngest stance on the wall.
Hair tied back, fists up, a fighter against the wall of champions.
Arms loose, fists ready, a portrait of Tyson over his shoulder.Guard high, gaze level, in the club's red.
Hands on hips, the club's colors across his chest.
Standing square in front of the poster wall.Close in, a quiet stare above the club logo.
Arms folded, Tyson's poster just over his shoulder.
A punch straight at the lens.Against the white wall, a young boxer brings his fists up.
Same stance, a hint of a smile creeping in.
Arms up and flexed, the shirt almost down to his knees.A club member smiles in the red shirt, glasses and braids.
The smile gets wider on the second frame.
Close in, laughing, the club logo bright on her shirt.Glasses on, hair up, straight to camera.
A calm look in the club's red.
Fists up and head tilted, a little attitude.Fists to her chin, a grin breaking through.
Big smile, red shirt, nothing to prove.
Close in, laughing at something just off camera.Fists up, still smiling.
Arms crossed, chin up.
Arms folded against the white wall, sizing up the camera.Fists to his mouth, almost hiding a smile.
Braids down to her waist, a gold chain over the club shirt.
Close in, a soft smile.Guard up, braids falling over her fists.
A wide smile and a gold chain.
Still smiling, shoulders back.Fists to her face, trying hard not to laugh.
A gap-toothed grin above the club logo.
Fists up to his cheeks, ready.A steady look, gold chain over the club shirt.
Close in, steady eyes.
Fists up, a watch on one wrist and a ring on the other.Leaning in with his guard up.
One fist over the logo, a steady stare.
Fists raised to his chest.Guard up, eyes narrowed.
Bulls cap and a gold chain, standing easy.
Two fingers up for the camera.Cap low, fists up.
Close in, the guard up and the stare steady.
Curls, gold chain and a steady stare.Close in, the same quiet look.
Fists up, a bracelet on his wrist.Guard at his collarbones, eyes on the lens.
