Kronk Community Center was closed for good in 2006, after thieves invaded one night and ripped out the copper water pipes. Within weeks, the city’s underfunded recreation department deemed repairs prohibitively expensive and closed the internationally revered building.
Kronk became famous for one reason: In its basement was one of the finest boxing gyms ever created. Producing several world champions, with Thomas Hearns being the best-known. The old palace sits exposed to the elements. Over ten years have passed – exterior doors have been removed and the interior walls are crumbling. Many believe that it should be on the National Register of Historic Places but there isn’t anything left to preserve and honor, just missing and boarded-up windows, and graffiti-covered brick. You never would know that kings were made here.
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