The San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department’s San Fernando Boxing Club (SFBC) is a local boxing program located in Lincoln Community Center. The boxing program teaches discipline and respect in a structured environment through training, teaching, and instructing youths and adults ages 8 to 34 to perform to their highest potential in all aspects of life. The SFBC trains competitive amateur boxers as well as conducts healthy cardiovascular workouts for those who wish to be healthier. The SFBC boasts volunteer coaches who are committed to helping youth and young adults in boxing development. The SFBC is dedicated to providing youth in the community an organization that emphasizes sportsmanship, education, physical conditioning, as well as mental, spiritual and emotional health.
Originally part of the San Fernando Cathedral School complex, the two-story brick building at Travis and Santa Rosa streets was built in 1948 and dedicated Dec. 3, 1950. The gym was used by the Archdiocese of San Antonio for Catholic Youth Organization activities until the early 1970s, and on Oct. 31, 1974, the City of San Antonio acquired San Fernando Gym and its .92-acre lot for $52,100. The San Fernando Gym was renamed after local boxing legend Jesse James Leija in 2006. The City of San Antonio owned Jesse James Leija Gym until it was traded in a land swap deal in 2015. The SFBC continued at Jesse James Leija Gymnasium until early 2017 when the SFBC moved to its new home at Lincoln Community Center, located at 2915 E. Commerce. The program was closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, but re-opened in June 2021. Today, the SFBC amateur boxing program operates from 4:00pm to 8:00pm Monday through Thursday and 4:00pm - 7:00pm on Friday.
Throughout it’s history, the SFBC has had a number of boxers train with and visit the club. In addition to Jesse James Leija, other well known boxers include Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya, and Pernell Whitaker. More recent champions have passed the SFBC for training or visits to inspire other young boxers.
Be a part of our award winning program Fitness in the Park by joining us in a Boxing Fitness class.
• Tuesday from 6:00pm - 7:00pm
• Thursday from 6:00pm - 7:00pm
New programs and classes will be coming soon!
The San Fernando Boxing Club hosts four show a year. We host regular boxing competitions. These competitions are referred to as shows. Our shows include bouts for various levels of boxers including the first time fighter and the seasoned vet.
Upcoming Boxing Show:
November 4-5, 2023
Visit our event page!
Past Boxing Show Results
April 30th Boxing Show Results
The San Fernando Boxing Club has proudly been represented by some of our boxers at elite competitions throughout the country. These competitions have included:
• The USA National Jr Olympics in Madison, Wisconsin
• The Western Elite Qualifiers in Reno, Nevada
• The Elite National Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah
• Games of Texas in Corpus Christi (Shown below)
Ravven Brown
-Current USA Boxing national champion 141lbs.
-Recently competed in her first international tournament, the Women's World Championships in Russia, where she finished in the top 8 elite amateur boxers in the world.
-Scheduled to compete in the Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier tournament in California November 2nd-9th, at 125lbs.
-Ravven is currently qualified for the 2019 USA Boxing Olympic Trials/ National Championships in two different weight classes 141lbs (non Olympic weight class) and 132lbs (Olympic weight class). Which will be held in Lake Charles, LA December 7th-15th.
-She is currently the only elite national champion in San Antonio male or female. The last time San Antonio had an elite national champion was 2015.
Spectrum News Story
Coach Jeff Mays
-Current assistant boxing coach with Team USA since 2017.
-Lead coach for the Women's World Championship training camps in Colorado Springs and in Germany August-September.
-Assistant Head Coach for the USA Women's World Championships team which competed in Ulan Ude, Russia in October, Where the team finished in 4th place overall with one gold medalist, two bronze medalist and 7 out of 10 boxers finishing in the top 8. Last year's Women's team finished in 14th place with 3 bronze medalist.
-Coach Mays is scheduled to be one of the USA Boxing coaches for the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Kenyon Walker
-Current USA Boxing national champion
-Currently ranked top 10 in the nation
-Kenyon has qualified for the 2019 USA Olympic Trials/National Champions in the Super Heavy Weight Division
-Boxing for 6 years under Coach Mays
