Established in 1996 as a charitable organization by Joe Hand Sr. and Joe Hand Jr., the Joe Hand Boxing Gym grew out of a deep love for boxing and a commitment to Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. Grounded in Joe Sr.’s historic legacy as an early investor in heavyweight champion Joe Frazier, the gym was created as more than a place to train—it was built as a safe space to champion youth education and athletic growth.
Today, inside our brand-new 6,000 sq. ft. facility, that original vision is stronger than ever. We harness the discipline of boxing to empower individuals and strengthen our community. Beyond the ring, our true mission shines through our community outreach programs—offering adaptive training and support through our dedicated initiatives for Parkinson’s, Autism Cares, and local PAL law enforcement partnerships.
Mike Smith was a Philadelphia cop for 13 years from 2001 to 2013. During his time he was a part of the police boxing team for 4 years. Before that Mike has trained in kickboxing since he was a kid and placed 2nd in the 1992 Keystone State Games.
Miguel was the youngest person to be on the USA national team at the age of 16. He is a 2- time USA National Champion, National Golden Gloves Champion, and a 7-time PA Golden Gloves champion. Miguel has been a professional for over 10 years and is the Former IBO Latino Bantamweight champion. In 2009 Miguel won the Pride of Philadelphia award from the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
Nalek Korbaj is a Venezuelan boxer who has competed at both the amateur and professional levels. He represented Venezuela at the 2020 Olympics and won a bronze medal at the 2019 Pan American Games. Korbaj transitioned to professional boxing in 2024.
Sammy is a police officer and has been in the force for over 15 years. He is the head coach of the police boxing team and has an amateur record of 8-1.
If you would like to become a trainer at the Joe Hand Boxing Gym, send us your contact info, along with relevant experience information by clicking the button below!
