Universum Gym

Universum Gym, located in Hamburg, Germany, has been integral to the city's boxing landscape since its establishment by Universum Box-Promotion in 1984. Originally, the gym was situated in a converted carpentry workshop on Walddörferstraße in the Wandsbek district, officially inaugurated in December 1993 with the event themed "Raus aus der Ritze!"  This venue served as the training ground for numerous prominent boxers, including Dariusz Michalczewski, who became a flagship fighter for Universum after signing in 1991. The gym also hosted the professional debuts of Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko in November 1996, marking the beginning of their illustrious careers.

In 2019, under the leadership of Ismail Özen-Otto, Universum Box-Promotion experienced a revival, leading to the relocation of Universum Gym to a new training facility in a former factory complex in Hamburg-Altona. This modern venue has since hosted several significant boxing events. Notably, on December 19, 2020, Felix Sturm returned to the ring at Universum Gym, securing a unanimous decision victory over Timo Rost. Sturm continued his comeback with another win against James Kraft on June 19, 2021, also at this venue,

Hamburg's rich boxing heritage is further highlighted by its role as the host city for the 62nd World Boxing Council (WBC) Convention in December 2024. This prestigious event attracted boxing experts and legends, including Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis. A convention highlight was the Universum Boxing Night held at the Grand Élysée-Hotel, featuring ten bouts, six of which were WBC title fights. Universum Gym's ongoing contributions to boxing and Hamburg's storied history in the sport underscore the city's status as a pivotal hub for boxing talent and events.?