Ace Boxing Club on Milwaukee’s south side reopened Thursday, after an electrical fire forced the nonprofit gym to close its doors two weeks ago.The gym, which has been training at-risk youth for free for 66 years, was shuttered after the fire burned the back wall and ceiling Feb. 2.Coach Jason Janiszewski started as a student in the gym decades ago.”Our motto is that it’s better to sweat in the gym than bleed in the streets,” he told WISN 12 News in the days after the fire.Janiszewski called himself a “punk kid,” and said Ace Boxing was a safe space for him to grow up. When asked where he’d likely be today without the mentorship he received at Ace Boxing, he said probably nowhere good.”I probably don’t want to say. Jail, maybe,” Janiszewski said.Ace Boxing trains more than 20 regular students. Thursday, those students got to return for the first time since the fire. The club raised $5,000 to reopen its doors, relying solely on donations. “Feels like home,” Janiszewski said of the return.Despite the reopening, the building, which is 100 years old, requires significant repairs, including a new door, patched walls, and insulation. Coaches estimate they need at least another $10,000 to ensure the facility is up to date and prevent future incidents.Genaro Saavedra, a student at the gym, said one of his favorite things about the gym is how inclusive it is. “I want others to be better than what they are now,” he said. “We’re all together like a real family. No separate colors like white over there, Black over here, brown over here. It can be anybody and everybody here.” Ace Boxing Club is located in the Del Porter Pavilion, named after the Porter family, who founded the nonprofit over 60 years ago. The building holds historical significance as the first Milwaukee County building named after a Native American family. A fundraiser is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Culver’s in Greenfield (6031 W. Layton Ave). Culver’s said 10 percent of proceeds will go to help Ace Boxing rebuild.They are also accepting donations on their website here.

MILWAUKEE —

Ace Boxing Club on Milwaukee’s south side reopened Thursday, after an electrical fire forced the nonprofit gym to close its doors two weeks ago.

The gym, which has been training at-risk youth for free for 66 years, was shuttered after the fire burned the back wall and ceiling Feb. 2.

Coach Jason Janiszewski started as a student in the gym decades ago.

“Our motto is that it’s better to sweat in the gym than bleed in the streets,” he told WISN 12 News in the days after the fire.

Janiszewski called himself a “punk kid,” and said Ace Boxing was a safe space for him to grow up. When asked where he’d likely be today without the mentorship he received at Ace Boxing, he said probably nowhere good.

“I probably don’t want to say. Jail, maybe,” Janiszewski said.

Ace Boxing trains more than 20 regular students. Thursday, those students got to return for the first time since the fire. The club raised $5,000 to reopen its doors, relying solely on donations.

“Feels like home,” Janiszewski said of the return.

Despite the reopening, the building, which is 100 years old, requires significant repairs, including a new door, patched walls, and insulation. Coaches estimate they need at least another $10,000 to ensure the facility is up to date and prevent future incidents.

Genaro Saavedra, a student at the gym, said one of his favorite things about the gym is how inclusive it is.

“I want others to be better than what they are now,” he said. “We’re all together like a real family. No separate colors like white over there, Black over here, brown over here. It can be anybody and everybody here.”

Ace Boxing Club is located in the Del Porter Pavilion, named after the Porter family, who founded the nonprofit over 60 years ago. The building holds historical significance as the first Milwaukee County building named after a Native American family.

A fundraiser is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Culver’s in Greenfield (6031 W. Layton Ave). Culver’s said 10 percent of proceeds will go to help Ace Boxing rebuild.

They are also accepting donations on their website here.