The mayor is doing what he can in the hopes of allowing a storied Toronto boxing club to go another round.
Last month, the owners of Sully's Boxing Gym on Dupont St near Dovercourt Rd were told their lease wasn't being renewed and that they had until the end of February to move out. The landlord recently granted management an extension to March 15.
The gym was first opened in 1943 and has occupied its current spot on Dupont St for the last 12 years. Boxing greats like Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Razor Ruddick and George Chuvalo have all thrown punches at Sully's.
Sully's Boxing/gofundme
The mayor visited the gym Tuesday night to see what could be done to save a place he sees as an important part of its community.
"Sully's isn't just another gym," John Tory told reporters Wednesday. "It's a place where a lot of kids have over many years, had a place to go and a place to be given the proper kind of encouragement and some very positive activities and that's why I stepped in as the mayor."
Sully's Boxing/Instagram
Sully's runs an after-school program where kids can work out. But manager Danielle Manteiga says some young people never break a sweat inside the gym, using Sully's as a safe place to socialize. Manteiga says kids see her father Joe--the club's owner and head trainer Tony Morrison as mentors.
"There's many stories of kids coming off the streets and staying here and just keeping away from trouble that they were in before," Manteiga says.
Because of their community ties, Sully's management is determined to stay in the neighbourhood but Manteiga says finding a new space that is affordable and available has been difficult.
Mayor Tory spoke with the club's property manager Wednesday morning, looking to connect with the landlord.
"As a very first starting point, I've asked them for more time so that if (Sully's has) to move in the end, that they're at least given a reasonable amount of time so they can continue with their program."
Tory says he was gratified and heartened at the property manager was at least willing to talk. He is optimistic that giving Sully's a few more months to make plans could give the club and landlord time to resolve their differences and keep them from moving.
Sully's has launched a gofundme campaign with a $30,000 goal to "keep this Toronto landmark and centre for young people alive".
with files from Dave Bradley