Coach Al Franco launches limited men’s boxing skills program in Upland

Warzone Boxing Club in Upland will start a limited-enrollment Men’s Boxing Skills Training program on Oct. 20 for men 18 and older. The small-group class caps enrollment at 10 per group and combines early-morning technical coaching, sparring progression and optional amateur competition prep.

Why it matters: - The program gives adult men a structured way to train like competitive boxers without joining a full amateur team. - The 10-man cap creates a semi-private coaching setting that can deliver more direct instruction and individual correction. - The early-morning schedule is aimed at adults balancing careers, businesses and families.

What happened: - Coach Al Franco is launching a Men’s Boxing Skills Training program at Warzone Boxing Club in Upland, California, beginning Oct. 20. - The program is limited to 10 men per group. - The first sessions are set for Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. - The program is open to men 18 and older, including beginners and experienced boxers.

The details: - Training includes stance, balance, footwork, punching mechanics, combinations, defense, counterpunching, range control, partner drills, conditioning, boxing IQ, ring awareness, controlled sparring and competition preparation. - Beginners will start with stance, balance, footwork, defense and punching mechanics before moving into partner work and sparring. - Sparring is part of the progression, starting with controlled drills and technical sparring before advancing to more realistic contact sparring. - Additional sparring-focused training days may be added as the program grows. - The program is designed to avoid hard sparring for inexperienced boxers and focus on complete development in a controlled environment. - Members who show the required skill, conditioning, discipline and commitment can be prepared for sanctioned amateur boxing events. - Enrollment, payments and administration are handled directly through Coach Al. - The program is accepting deposits now. - The training location is Warzone Boxing Club Upland, 916 N. Mountain Ave., Suite G, Upland, CA 91786. - Enrollment information is available from Coach Al Franco at 714-822-4852 or Warzone Boxing Club Upland at 909-477-1016.

Between the lines: - The launch extends Warzone Boxing Club’s long-running model of structured boxing instruction into a tighter adult-only format. - Franco said competition is optional, but participants should want to learn boxing correctly, condition like a fighter, work with partners and eventually spar. - Franco also said the morning schedule is meant to let adults train seriously before work while still getting attention from a smaller coaching environment. - Warzone Boxing Club was founded in 1997 after Franco began boxing at age 8 and spent about 19 years in the ring. - Over nearly three decades, Warzone has produced 19 National, International and World Amateur Champions, professional champions and athletes who later turned pro. - Warzone’s coaching history includes former WBC and IBF champions and coaches with extensive amateur and professional experience.

What’s next: - The program begins Oct. 20. - Franco said more training days could be added later, especially sessions focused on sparring. - Boxers who progress through the program can move toward amateur competition prep if they choose to compete.

The bottom line: - Warzone is betting that a small, fighter-style class for adult men can meet demand for serious boxing training without the time commitment of a traditional competitive team.