Alright, so I got my hands on a used boxing ring a while back. Wasn’t exactly straightforward, but totally worth it for my space. Let me walk you through how it all went down.
Getting Started: The Hunt
First off, I knew I wanted a proper ring, not some cheap knock-off. New ones? Way too expensive for my budget. So, the hunt for a used one began. I spent a good bit of time scrolling through online marketplaces, checking out local gym equipment resellers, that sort of thing. You see a lot of junk, honestly. Stuff that’s rusted through or missing crucial parts. Patience is key here, I learned that fast.
I was looking for something sturdy, maybe a bit worn but structurally sound. Size was also a big factor – had to fit in my garage gym area. Measured the space like ten times to be sure.
Found It: The Old Gym Ring
After weeks of looking, I stumbled upon a listing. An old boxing gym was closing down about an hour’s drive away and selling off everything. They had this decent-looking floor ring, looked like it had seen some action but was built solid. The frame seemed heavy-duty, which is what I wanted. The canvas and ropes looked tired, but those are replaceable.
I called the guy up, asked a bunch of questions about the brand, the condition, any damage. Seemed honest enough. Decided it was worth checking out in person.
Making the Deal & Moving Day
Went down there with a buddy. Gave the ring a good inspection. Checked the steel frame corners, the floorboards underneath, the turnbuckles. Yeah, it was used, had scuffs and marks, but no major rust or bends. The floor felt solid. We talked price, haggled a bit, you know how it goes. Settled on a number I felt okay with, considering the work needed.
Then came the fun part: taking it apart and hauling it back. This thing was heavy. Seriously heavy. It took three of us a good few hours.
- We started by loosening and removing the ropes and turnbuckle covers.
- Then pulled off the old, worn canvas – that revealed the padding and floorboards underneath.
- Next, we lifted out the foam padding sections. Dusty work!
- The floorboards came up next. Mostly plywood sheets, heavy and awkward. Numbered them with chalk so we knew how they went back together.
- Finally, we tackled the steel frame itself. Lots of bolts and corner pieces. Needed wrenches and some muscle. We labelled every piece and kept all the bolts together in bags.
Loading it onto the flatbed trailer we rented was a workout in itself. Piece by piece, making sure it was strapped down tight. Felt like moving a small building.
Putting It All Together
Back at my place, the first job was cleaning everything. The frame parts got a good scrub down to get rid of grime and old tape residue. The floorboards needed a sweep and wipe.
Reassembly was basically the reverse of taking it apart, but took longer because we were figuring it out as we went, even with the labels.
- We laid out the main frame pieces on the garage floor where it was going to live.
- Bolted the frame together, making sure it was square and level. This took some adjusting.
- Dropped the plywood floorboards back into place, following the numbers we marked.
- Laid down new underlay padding – decided to replace the old stuff.
- Stretched the new canvas cover over the top. Getting this tight and smooth is tricky. Lots of pulling and adjusting. Stapled it down securely underneath the frame edge.
- Installed the corner pads.
- Threaded the new ropes through the corner posts and tightened them up with the turnbuckles. Had to get the tension just right on all of them.
- Put the turnbuckle covers and rope separators on.
Took the better part of a weekend, maybe a bit more, with help. Lots of trial and error, especially getting the canvas and ropes tensioned correctly. But step-by-step, it came together.
The Result
So now, I’ve got a solid, functional boxing ring right in my garage. It ain’t brand new, still has some character marks on the frame, but it’s level, sturdy, and does the job perfectly. Saved a ton of cash compared to buying new, and honestly, putting in the work to get it set up makes you appreciate it more. Ready for some proper training now.
