Like we’ve said before, evolution has done very little to keep us from wanting to throw hands. The only key difference now is that we stop to consider whether our dental plan covers flight/fight incidents. And it’s always foolish to charge into battle without a strategy — which is why we’ve rounded up the very best boxing gyms Melbourne has to offer.
These days, combat sports programs are a dime a dozen, and for every OG sweat hall, there are ten schools that are more marketing than anything else (Krav Maga institutions being serial offenders in this space); hampered by tradition (in the worst possible sense); and liable to waste precious hours with BS posturing (arguably an even greater crime than wasting our money).
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Not all boxing gyms or boxing classes are created equal, and to really zero in on the best boxing gyms available in Melbourne, you’ll need to decide: 1. what it is you’re after (i.e. general fitness vs self-defence vs competition), and 2. the level you’re at and your needs as a fighter (amateur, professional, and everything else in between).
Always keep in mind: authentic combat training is ego-breaking and sands you down with humility in defeat early on — that’s what you should be keeping an eye out for if skill development is your priority. Because as we all know, you can burn calories doing virtually anything active. Like hitting a regular non-combative gym.
So how does one discern the real deal from false confidence factories?
What should you look for in a boxing gym?
Similar to what we’ve outlined within our prescription for previous articles on the best boxing and MMA gyms, personal goals will invariably dictate what the “best” boxing gym is in the context of you. Generally speaking, there are a few things you should always look out for…
Instructors
Are they qualified to teach you and what are their credentials?
Not everyone needs to have claimed a world title, but win or lose, a little ring experience goes a long way. Even if you’re only after cardio boxing (those inherited bad habits might be tough to unlearn later on).
Do some due diligence and don’t be afraid to fraud check.
Hygiene
Is the gym you’re choosing well-maintained?
On a related note, don’t buy into the Hollywood cliché of grinding away in some dingey warehouse without proper building safety standards or, god forbid, a goddamn meat freezer.
Getting tetanus from rusty equipment or rolling your ankle because of poorly installed mats won’t magically make you a better fighter. Plus, nobody wants to go 12 rounds in a smelly basement.
Atmosphere
Yes, learning to get comfortable in uncomfortable conditions is part of the process, although where you train should also be a place where you genuinely want to spend time.
Are your potential teammates welcoming and kind? Do they understand you’re a beginner and ease you into the arts or are they lighting you up during what should be light drills/sparring sessions for a quick ego boost?
As with other facets of life, avoid the dickheads wherever possible.
The following list is for anyone who wants to fight (and learn to fight) within a safe and controlled environment. But we’ve also ensured there’s sufficient variety to cater towards whatever you may be seeking.
Here are our picks for the best boxing gyms in Melbourne.
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Melbourne’s Best Boxing Gyms Right Now
East End Boxing Gym
Whether you’re looking to seriously compete (amateurs and professionals alike) or simply committing to that fitness-related New Year’s resolution, East End Boxing represents one of Melbourne’s finest combat gyms. Located in the city’s east, just half an hour from the CBD in Croydon, it offers a combined experience of over 100 years in the sweet science — ready to be passed on directly to you.
Address: 2/43 Hewish Rd, Croydon VIC 3136
Phone: (03) 8288 2869
Free Trial: N/A
Membership Cost: Upon Request, Depending On Training Needs
FightFit Boxing Centre
Franchise gyms often have a reputation for dilution in the quality of training and a lack of “authenticity,” but that certainly isn’t the case for FightFit. Run by a stable of actual ex-fighters who’ve competed at every elite level, while it may feature more circuit training than some would care for, you certainly can’t accuse them of lacking.
In addition to strength and conditioning classes to pair with boxing sessions, you can also sharpen your kickboxing skills at FightFit’s pristine facilities. Find a location near you in either South Melbourne, Collingwood, or Moorabbin.
Address: Various
Phone: Various
Free Trial: Yes
Membership Cost: From $40 per week
Prestige Gym
Tucked away in Melbourne’s King St, Prestige Gym is renowned for its full-service classes — catering for all skill levels and three distinct styles (boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai). Essentially, you’re allowed to truly discover what suits you best with a strong emphasis on the fundamentals. Best of all, they stress that this “isn’t a fitness centre.” This is, at its very core, a place to become a proper scrapper.
Address: Level 2/181 King St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: 0416 522 744
Free Trial: Yes
Membership Cost: From $35 per week (plus a $62 sign-up fee)
Murphy’s Boxing Gym
Since 1975, proprietor and head trainer Gerry Murphy has steadily been building his gym’s reputation as not just one of the greatest in Melbourne, but also one of the most welcoming. Let those beginner anxieties dissolve and make a change in your life for the better.
In what has traditionally been a male-dominated scene, Murphy’s Boxing Gym offers dedicated classes for women twice a week.
Address: Unit 1/172 Union Rd, Surrey Hills VIC 3127
Phone: 0414 620 060
Free Trial: Yes
Membership Cost: From $40 per week
Leo Berry’s Richmond Boxing Club
Look past the website from the 90s (which is oddly a glowing endorsement of this gym’s nature). Founded by the legendary Leo Berry decades ago — and having served as a valuable base for the area’s underprivileged and disadvantaged youth ever since — expect time-tested methods for your journey towards unlocking that higher potential.
While it still maintains that old-school grit to this very day, Leo Berry’s Richmond Boxing Club has recently made itself at home in a new space on Gleadall Street, right next to Richmond Recreation Centre. Which is all the more reason to check it out.
Address: 13a Gleadell St, Richmond VIC 3121
Phone: 0412 742 645
Free Trial: Yes
Membership Cost: Upon Request
UBX (formerly 12RND Fitness)
Founded by WBA light-heavyweight, IBO cruiserweight, and WBC interim super-middleweight champion Danny Green (alongside entrepreneur Tim West), UBX is a certifiable boxing gym empire that extends beyond Melbourne alone. And Australia as a whole.
What’s made them such a hit with 100 boutique locations across ANZ, Singapore, Japan, the UK, Ireland, and the US? Cost-effective and incredibly accessible training.
“Our success has come from our ability to rethink boxing and rethink group training in a way that gives our members access to a unique mix of boxing and strength training in an ultra-flexible format that removes class timetables and bookings altogether,” reads the official site description.
Best of all for the time-poor folks out there, you can get a full-body workout across 12-round circuits in just under 45 minutes.
The city’s most popular UBX outpost is in Port Melbourne, but they also boast locations from South Yarra to Camberwell.
Address: Various
Phone: Various
Free Trial: Yes
Membership Cost: $59 per week
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Hammer’s Gym
For those of you more interested in the Thai variety of boxing, look no further than Hammer’s Gym. Helmed by the famed Mark “The Hammer” Castagnini, who’s been training professional Muay Thai fighters, kickboxers, as well as sweet science purists since the mid-90s — he’s also been routinely tapped for world title camps — this is well and truly the place to be.
In addition to the three aforementioned striking disciplines, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), mixed martial arts (MMA), and yoga, plus a whole manner of fitness classes are available on-site which — depending on your membership level — will also be covered.
Address: 244 Whitehorse Rd, Nunawading VIC 3131
Phone: (03) 9878 9266
Free Trial: Yes
Membership Cost: From $16.95 per week
Check out the following related articles:
- The 13 Best Boxing Gyms In Sydney To Train Like A Pro
- The 11 Best MMA Gyms In Sydney Right Now
- The 10 Best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gyms In Sydney (According To Black Belt Kaine Wilken)
- This Sydney Boxing Gym Can Calculate Which Mates You Could Beat In A Fight
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