July 15, 2021

The Sioux Falls boxing scene has been essentially nonexistent. 

While the sport is part of larger programs at some facilities, there now is a dedicated gym to professional and amateur boxing. 

George and Evangelos Giovanis, owners and coaches of 15th Round Boxing, made the move to Sioux Falls from California and opened their new facility in March in a retail center at 41st Street and Marion Road.

The Giovanis brothers have been a part of the boxing community for most of their lives. 

They were born and grew up in Rhode Island and joined Rhode Island Boxing, home of five-time world champion Vinny Paz, when they were 13 years old, Evangelos Giovanis said.

“I got into boxing because I was bullied as a kid and I wanted to learn how to defend myself,” Giovanis said. “My brother and I wanted to get into the business to help other kids in similar situations and adults that need it, so we opened our own gym.”

15th Round was founded in 2015 and originally based in Los Angeles, where the brothers had two gyms, one in Glendale and another in East Pasadena. 

Though both of their businesses were succeeding, the COVID-19 pandemic’s lockdown measures in California left small businesses in distress, Giovanis said.

“In California, they shut us down for what they said was originally going to be two months, but that turned into six and then eight and so on,” Giovanis said. “My brother, our fighter Andre Marquez and I had to leave because the California government was telling us that we could not work at all.”

The draw to South Dakota was largely related to the fact that businesses were open, he said.

“We found Sioux Falls after we had a fight in Kansas because I wanted to see what Mount Rushmore was all about,” Giovanis said. “We ended up driving through Sioux Falls on our way and saw that everything was open and that people were living normally with the exception of masks. The environment seemed business-friendly and the population very hospitable.”

One of the biggest challenges the brothers faced with their move to Sioux Falls was leaving the community they had built in California, Giovanis said.

“To pick up, move and have to start all over again is very hard,” he said. “We had to separate from friends and family, which was very difficult, but it felt unavoidable.”

When things started to get economically difficult in California, “many of our clients stepped up to try and help out in any way that they could,” Giovanis added. “They bought clothes, renewed their memberships despite our closure, and some of them just donated money for our monthly dues. There is a sense of community within our walls.”

Boxing in general, whether for competition or for the health benefits, is a sport for everyone, he said. Anyone can use boxing techniques and fundamentals to get in better shape.

“We have a variety of clients here at 15th Round,” Giovanis said. “We have 50-year-olds trying to get into shape and others trying to become world champions.”

“You can have all walks of life and all walks of people in your gym, and that is the most beautiful thing about boxing.”

15th Round offers boxing classes for individuals at every level, morning and night, he said.

“We have some people who don’t know how to throw a jab, some people want to become amateur boxers, and others are professionals. They are all welcome here.” 

With the purchase of a membership, which is $109 a month, participants can attend an unlimited number of classes.

“Each class runs about an hour,” Giovanis said. “We start with a great warmup, then we move to strength and conditioning, followed by about half an hour of technique and learning how to box, and then we finish with a cooldown focused on the core. Whoever comes here gets fit through boxing. We are not just a cardio or lifting gym, and if you stick around for three or four months, you will learn how to defend yourself.”

In an attempt to help grow the regional boxing scene, the brothers are putting on their first promotional fight in the area. The Rock Rapids Rumble will be Saturday at the Forster Community Center in Rock Rapids, Iowa. 

“These shows are about having an avenue for the fighters to turn pro, fight pro and stay pro,” Giovanis said. “We hope to be here and prosper and start putting on boxing shows locally.”

Marquez, who moved with the brothers from Los Angeles, will be fighting Julio Buitrago in the featured bout in the super flyweight class.

“Since my brother and I met Andre, he has dedicated himself to the sport, turned pro and is 9-2, with six knockouts,” Giovanis said.

Marquez fights as a featherweight, which means he fights at 126 pounds in the professional division.

Tickets for the live event are available here, and the fight also can be ordered on TV. 

As the only gym in town that offers solely boxing, Giovanis believes 15th Round will continue to grow in popularity.

“Our accolades also speak for themselves,” he said. “We have had fighters that have been in the top 10 percent on the planet, we had a young female who was a three-time national champion, an undefeated male and Andre, who is climbing the ranks.”

“Boxing and all businesses, if we are allowed to work, will climb up again,” Giovanis added. “That is what boxers are known for. We are known for getting knocked down and getting back up. My brother and I thank Sioux Falls for having a government that allows you to work and a community that supports new business.”

The sport is on the rise again, he continued.

“It is more popular than it has been in a long time. I believe that it will continue to rise in popularity because boxing is king. It will never go away.”