Thirteen-year-old Zach Valdez travels across the Midwest to box in storied venues like the Milwaukee Athletic Club, balancing aspirations of turning professional. Valdez began his training less than two years ago after his father discovered Crown Boxing Club on a Facebook post, finding a steady stance and a cool-under-pressure mindset that earned him a spot in the non-profit gym’s competitive rotation.
Crown Boxing Club operates out of Lansing, Michigan, bringing together local youths and Michigan State University students to build a disciplined training family under head trainer and MSU faculty member Ali Easley. The program offers a one-month trial period for aspiring fighters before inviting dedicated participants to join its traveling team, which prepares for bouts across state lines.
Building a Competitive Boxing Squad in Lansing
Ali Easley fields his fighting squad by blending local teenagers with university students taking boxing and conditioning courses at the gym. Easley integrates the demographics so that younger participants can observe the discipline of students pursuing degrees and working to better their lives through education. The gym schedules training drills starting on Mondays, utilizing rotating stations to develop fundamentals like Valdez’s left hook.
Team members travel together as a tight-knit unit for out-of-state events, sharing meals and lodging to foster camaraderie. During trips to cities like Milwaukee, the squad stays in college dormitories and eats in campus cafeterias to expose younger fighters to collegiate environments beyond standard hotels.
Training Journeys for University Students and Youth Fighters
Finn Hillier, a 20-year-old junior studying zoology and marine biology at Michigan State University, joined Crown Boxing Club as a freshman after searching for a way to learn how to fight. Hillier advanced through all three levels of the university’s boxing conditioning courses before competing last year and stepping into a teaching assistant role for beginner classes. Hailing from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Hillier hopes to secure a spot on the fight card for the upcoming Milwaukee event to perform in front of friends and family from Wisconsin and Madison.
Zach Valdez continues his preparations for the fourth bout of his career, working toward another competition at the Milwaukee Athletic Club. Crown Boxing Club scheduled its next out-of-state tilt for Friday, Oct. 16, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where fighters from both the youth program and university roster aim to represent the Lansing gym.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crown Boxing Club
How do young athletes join Crown Boxing Club?
The club offers a free one-month trial period three or four times a year for youth participants. At the end of the trial, participants showing strong interest and dedication to competing may receive an invitation to join the competitive team.
When is the next out-of-state competition for the Crown Boxing team?
The team is preparing for a Friday, Oct. 16 tilt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where fighters will travel together to compete at venues including the Milwaukee Athletic Club.
Who trains the fighters at Crown Boxing Club?
Ali Easley, the head trainer at Crown Boxing and a Michigan State University faculty member, leads the training sessions and manages the integration of local youths and university students.
How do Michigan State University students get involved with the gym?
MSU students enroll in university boxing and conditioning classes hosted at Crown Boxing Club. Students can advance through multiple course levels, compete on the team, and eventually serve as teaching assistants for beginner classes.
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