This weekend, Hulu and Andscape, in partnership with 1964, celebrated the Hulu Original They Fight at Gleason’s Gym in DUMBO, Brooklyn.
The afternoon paired boxing sessions led by the gym’s trainers with a screening in the same space, bringing guests into the ring before they settled in for the film. We stepped into the ring, where a DJ played live music during the training. Red boxing gloves were provided for the sessions, along with branded They Fight sweat towels and T-shirts.
Founded in the Bronx in 1937, Gleason’s later moved to Manhattan and then Brooklyn. Muhammad Ali and Roberto Durán are among the fighters who trained at its earlier locations. Nearly nine decades after opening, it remains as one of the last of New York City’s thriving boxing gyms.
Photo Courtesy: 1964 Agency
Our session was with coach Bobby, who did not take it easy on us. What we expected to be a short introduction became a full workout, with sparring, conditioning, and plenty of attention to technique. Five minutes of sparring required far more endurance than expected. Staying calm while keeping up physically was another challenge, especially once fatigue set in.
The instruction was thorough and straightforward. We covered stance and footwork alongside jabs, hooks, uppercuts. Equally important was learning about defensive movements like slipping and ducking. Bobby gave as much attention to moving around the ring as he did to throwing punches. Conditioning was part of the session throughout. A pause to catch a breath included a hollow body hold, while burpees and mountain climbers rounded out the workout.
Photo Courtesy: 1964 Agency
After training, the screening was set up in the middle of the gym. We joined the other guests to catch our breath and watch the film, with the workout still fresh. Directed by Sheldon Candis, They Fight stars André Holland as Walt Manigan, a formerly incarcerated man who returns to Southeast D.C. and begins coaching young boxers. Wendell Pierce plays Slim, a mentor who helps guide him. Based on the 2018 documentary of the same name, the film follows Walt’s efforts to rebuild his family life alongside the boys’ friendships, ambitions, and experiences in the ring.
Photo Courtesy: 1964 Agency
The Knockturnal previously explored the film in “Grit, Grace, and the Ghosts We Fight: Inside ‘They Fight’”. At Gleason’s, the training gave us firsthand context for the story. The physical demands were easier to recognize, while the characters’ family responsibilities and personal struggles added another dimension to what happened inside the ring.
