502-504 Corlies Avenue, West Allenhurst, NJ
DeForest Boxing Training Camp
Jimmy De Forest was a professional boxing promoter and trainer who set up his training camp on Deal Beach Avenue (now Corlies Avenue) in West Allenhurst on the south side of Corlies Avenue, from 1900 to 1930. He trained such legendary boxers as Stanley Ketchel and Jack Dempsey. DeForest also trained: James J. Jeffries; Joe Gans; George Dixon; Joe Walcott; Kid McCoy; Tommy Ryan; Philadelphia Pal Moore; Jack Sharkey; and, Luis Angel Firpo. He also promoted the Harry Greb vs. Mickey Walker bout.
DeForest moved the training camp to a larger facility in Long Branch. DeForest also had an extensive collection of boxing memorabilia, much of which was lost in a house fire. The buildings still exist today as private homes.
Gene Tuney, who would later be the American light heavyweight champion from 1922 to 1923 and world heavyweight champion from 1926 to 1928, got his start training at the DeForest Camp and working as a beach lifeguard during the day.
