Johnny Tocco

Tocco’s Ringside Gym became a training place for Sonny Liston, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson and other heavyweight champions. It was far removed from the polished resort arenas that sold the biggest fight nights.

His importance also lay in work with less famous fighters and young people. The gym connected boxing’s daily labor—conditioning, sparring and instruction—to its headline events. Tocco died in 1997, but the regional Hall of Fame preserves his role in the city’s boxing infrastructure. His profile gives the trainers and neighborhood rooms a place beside the promoters and hotels.