SARASOTA BOXING CLUB: KEEPING BOXING ALIVE
Pictured (left to right) Harold Wilen, Dr. Edward Mosley, trainer/physician, Joltin’ Johnny Langston and Johnny Williams.
When Harold Wilen opened the Sarasota Boxing Club (SBC) back in 1985, he knew it would require a lot of hard work and persistence to make it all come together. Now 34 years later, the club continues to provide a venue for both aspiring boxers and those who simply seek a great workout. Men and women of all ages train at the club and discover early on what a genuine boxing workout can do for them. Wilen has been in the boxing business for 55 years and has worked with hundreds of aspiring boxers. He was inducted in the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015, a validation and confirmation of all of the years he put into the club and to all of the people he worked with. Even though the club moved around a lot – from its first location at Central Avenue for 14-1/2 years – to 301 and Myrtle – to Fruitville Road and School Avenue – it has found a home at Lime Avenue and 15th Street where it has been for the past 10 years. An “old school” gym, SBC is known as the place to come if you are interested in competitive boxing and serious about a boxing career. It is a place to prepare for opportunities and Wilen works hard to get those opportunities for his boxers. Several Continued on Page 10 champions have come from the club and then one day, in walks Joltin’ Johnny Langston.
Langston started boxing at age 11, becoming interested through neighborhoods kids. He started just to have fun but his interest was piqued by then. Boxing had his attention. He stopped boxing for awhile due to personal obligations but he got back into it and started competing in tournaments. Since then, he has been in several competitions and is ranked #3 in his age group. He is a Sunshine State Games champion and Junior Olympics Champion.
“I enjoy the competition,” he said. “I don’t like the easy fights because I really want to work for it,”
he said. Since 2017, he has had seven professional fights. Langston has visions and dreams of doing great things. Even though he has had bouts with the law, he has changed his life and wants to be better for his family. “I wanted to change my life and let others know it can be done. I just have to stay focused because boxing is as much mental as it is physical,” he said. Langston is on the radar of a major promoter who knows what he’s capable of. “It is a tough business but I have a few people in my corner,” he said. So where does Langston go from here? “Johnny has the skills to go to the top,” Wilen said, “all the way to heavyweight champion.” And that resonates well with Langston. “That’s what I worked for and I’m ready for the challenge.” An average about 20 boxers come through SBC on a given day. “Each boxer has his or her own goals when they come, some for workout and fitness, and others who are serious about boxing,” Wilen said. He’s on the phone 24/7 looking for bouts and opportunities for the boxers. “A lot of talent has come from here,” he said. “This is my passion and I get renewed each time new talent comes into the gym,” he said. Wilen also works with Johnny Williams, also a boxer, who coaches and trains at the gym. Williams was inducted into the boxing hall of fame in 2018. “I enjoy working with boxers, he said. “Boxing has taught me a lot about what to do and what not to do in order to make it. I try to teach that now – that as a team we can make it and that in boxing we have choices.” Sarasota Boxing is open Monday through Friday from 4:00 to 8:30 p.m. and on weekends. Wilen is looking for support from the community. If you can help out, call Wilen at 941-539-6836.
