Beaver Boxing Club: Boxing in the basement

Amanda Stephen

Amanda Stephen

Nenad Nevajda works the bag at the Beaver Boxing Gym. The postered wall behind him pays homage to Beaver Boxing greats, including olympian and former head coach Joe Sandulo.

Despite its iconic status, the non-profit Beaver Boxing Club is surprisingly unassuming. Down worn steps and behind the twin windowless doors of a brick building on Spruce Street, Ottawa's oldest boxing gym is easily missed by those who aren't looking for it. After 69 years in the ring, the club's punching power still makes it a contender on Canada's national boxing stage.