Scott Melesky
Jeff Langton has always wanted his own boxing gym to help kids stay
off the streets.
Nine months ago, Langton was able to fulfill that dream by opening
Langton Boxing & Martial Arts, and the gym is thriving with a stable
of 25 boxers.
Langton said he wants his gym to be a place where kids can learn a
sport, along with avoiding the dangers that are prevalent with many
young boys and girls in today's society.
"I chose to have the gym in Burbank because this city didn't have
any boxing gyms in the area," he said of the facility, located at
1006 W. Oak St. "I wanted to have a place for kids to go to and keep
them off the street and have an alternative to gang activity."
The students at Langton's gym are getting lessons in athletics --
and life -- from a man with a long and decorated career in the sports
and entertainment industries.
The 47-year-old Burbank resident has been in 17 movies, including
"Diehard 2," "Batman II," "Rambo III" and "Rocky V," as well as
having starring roles in five movies, including "Maximum Force."
Langton has also had roles on 13 television shows.
Along with his success in the entertainment industry, Langton has
also made a name for himself in the fighting world. He has worked in
the corner of 33 world title boxing matches as a trainer and cut man,
and he was the California State Tae Kwon Do champion in 1975.
Through his exploits, Langton has become friends with boxing
promoter Don King, actor Sylvester Stallone and famed martial artist
Benny "The Jet" Urquidez.
Langton said he is proud of what he has accomplished in his
personal life, but now wants to give back to the sport and to the
local youth in the community.
The boxers at his gym go through tough conditioning sessions,
spiced with lessons of Christianity mixed in from Langton.
"I am a Christian, and I want to instill Christian values in my
fighters," Langton said. "The kids call me 'The Pope of Oak Street,'
but I am also from the old school of boxing and I believe in total
conditioning.
"I train my fighters in two-hour sessions, and I train them to use
the jab to set up the punch, and lateral movement. I believe that
hard work makes champions."
Langton learned his training methods from a wide variety of some
of the most experienced and celebrated fighters and trainers in the
boxing and martial arts worlds, including his uncle, Al Bonnani, who
has trained 10 world champions.
Langton learned the sweet science at a young age from his father,
