The driver of a stolen car crashed into Lightning’s Boxing Club in Oakland early New Year\u2019s Day after colliding with another car \u2014 sending two people to the hospital \u2014 then fleeing on foot. The estimated repair costs are between $50,000 and $1000,000.<\/p>\n
As KTVU reports<\/a>, a boxing ring used by heavyweight champion George Foreman in the 1980s sustained extensive damage after a car thief crashed into Lightning’s Boxing Club<\/a> on 5845 MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland at some point in the early hours Thursday morning. Kris Lopez, who co-owns the gym with his wife Denise Lopez, said the impact of the crash was forceful.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s like an earthquake,” Kris Lopez told KTVU. “The force knocked over the ring stairs and pushed the ring out of place.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Per KRON4,<\/a> the Lopezes are raising funds for the repairs and staff payroll through GoFundMe<\/a>, which was close to $10,000 Sunday morning. According to the fundraiser\u2019s page, the boxing ring will need to be replaced.<\/p>\n Per KTVU, the gym has played a crucial role in supporting underserved youth in the community, some of whom have become professional boxers. <\/p>\n \u201cDear Oakland Community, we have given our all to this city for the better good\u2014mentoring youth, creating positive members of society, and even producing the occasional boxing champion,\u201d the fundraiser\u2019s page states. \u201cYour donation will help us continue this important work and keep our doors open for the next generation. Please give what you can so we can get back to saving the community and inspiring our youth through the sport of boxing!\u201d<\/p>\n