The gym’s walls are littered with gigantic pictures of boxing greats both young and old. A few pictures of Cleveland’s own Jimmy Bivins are there as well.

Cory Gregory is a teddy bear. When you see him at his favorite restaurant, “The Landmark Restaurant” near E. 55th and St. Clair Avenue, almost everybody speaks to him or shouts out one kind of greeting or another.

“My man Cory, how ya doin’?” one man nods.

“Big “C!” What’s up?” another man inquired.

He high-fived several more of the restaurant’s patrons before taking his usual seat in the front dining area.

Yes, Cory Gregory is a very pleasant man.

Until he climbs into the ring that is. Then, he morphs into one lean, mean swinging machine able to do some real bodily harm to an opponent, seemingly at will.

Just recently, Cory was inducted into the Ohio Boxers Association’s Hall of Fame. On that night, he said his dream “had come true.” Not only did his opponents recognize his pugilistic skills, but his other peers did too, including the board at the boxing commission.

“Just imagine,” he exclaimed,” all of these people came out to honor me. That’s something.”

On Monday, Cory passed on some of his boxing knowledge at the brand new “Old Angle Gym” located at 3212 W. 25th St. to some eagerly awaiting kids who are looking to get off the streets and into something other than trouble. It was the gym’s grand opening.

“This is where I have an opportunity to give back,” Gregory said. “I can show these kids what it means to be a champion inside the ring and outside of the ring. It’s all about making the right decision at the right time. It’s hard but if you don’t do it, the alternative is even worse. Believe me, jail ain’t where you want to end up.”

Cory didn’t start boxing until he was 26 years old. “I was at home one night watching a few bouts on television that were put on by Coach Gary Horvath and I said to myself, ‘Heck, I can beat some of these guys.’ The next day, I called Gary on the phone and he invited me to the gym and we have been together ever since,” he said.

The new facility is brightly lit and is an excellent place for working out and honing ones boxing skills. All of the equipment is brand new, thanks to Attorney Tim Misny, who held a fundraiser at his home during the summer that raised $13,500, which he quickly handed over to Coach Horvath.

The gym’s walls are littered with gigantic pictures of boxing greats both young and old. A few pictures of Cleveland’s own Jimmy Bivins are there as well.

The bright red gloves cut through the air as the young recruits tried on the gear, most of them for the first time. The punching bags, speed bags and all of the mouth pieces and head gear were gobbled up like piranha eating goldfish. The kids, out of school for President’s Day, had eyes as wide as swimming pools as they listened intensely to Cory, Coach Gary or any of the other qualified instructors on hand to teach them the fine art of boxing and self-defense.

The gym is also offering tutoring a few days a week so that they can stay on top of their school work. “The parents won’t have any trouble out of these kids. After leaving the gym all they will be able to do is go to sleep, wake up in the morning, eat and go to school. They will be too tired to do anything else,” Horvath chuckled as Cory whaled away on the speed bag.

To join or for more information call (216) 280-3458.