boxing | ALXnow

City Council to consider nonprofit lease renewals, receive Torpedo Factory operator proposals

Published May 11, 2026 at 3:45PM

Casa Chirilagua at 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue (via Facebook)

Alexandria City Council will consider extending leases to allow nonprofits and other programs to keep operating at its meeting on Tuesday (May 12).

City Council will consider setting a public hearing for Saturday (May 16) on a new five-year lease agreement with nonprofit Casa Chirilagua at 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria, as well as three-year lease extensions for the Alexandria Boxing Club at Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) and the Child and Family Network Centers at Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (25 West Reed Avenue).

News

Boxing legend Tony ‘Da Beast’ Suggs to be inducted Into ACPS Hall of Fame after student nomination

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated July 11, 2025 at 12:16AM

Tony 'Da Beast' Suggs (on right) teaches at Charles Houston Recreation Center, July 9, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

For the last several years, Tony Suggs has helped others in Alexandria unleash “Da Beast” within. In a good way.

The 59-year-old doesn’t make it easy. In a recent boxercise class at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, more than a dozen students, ranging from their mid-20s to late 70s, got an intense hour-long workout. It started with pushups, leg lifts, scissor kicks, jumping jacks, and then moved to jump rope, followed by a half hour of throwing gloved hands against pads and heavy bags.

News

Kickboxing gyms in and around Alexandria are unofficially throwing down

By James Cullum

Published November 12, 2024 at 1:30PM | Updated November 12, 2024 at 4:59PM

Jacob Arrowsmith reacts after knocking out his opponent at the smoker exhibition night at Atlas Muay Thai, Nov. 9, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Like a scene from Cobra Kai, local martial artists are getting it on.

On Saturday (Nov. 9), fighters from a number of local martial arts gyms participated in an informal smoker’s kickboxing tournament at Atlas Muay Thai (6301A Richmond Highway).

News

Alexandria’s Troy Isley faces rival for North American Boxing Association’s middleweight title

By James Cullum

Published June 6, 2024 at 3:30PM

Boxer Troy "The Transformer" Isley returns to his elementary school, Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy, August 25, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Troy “The Transformer” Isley is on a quest to be the middleweight champion of the world.

Undefeated after 12 fights with five knockouts, Isley will face his former amateur rival Javier Martinez (10-0-1, 3 KOs) for the North American Boxing Association‘s title at The Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The fight will be broadcast live and exclusively on ESPN+.

News

Alexandria Boxer Troy ‘The Transformer’ Isley returns to Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy

By James Cullum

Published August 26, 2022 at 11:10AM

Boxer Troy "The Transformer" Isley returns to his elementary school, Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy, August 25, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Wanna be like Troy “The Transformer” Isley?

The former Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy troublemaker transformed himself into a champion, and on Thursday (August 25) he returned to his old school to talk about his boxing career and last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated August 20, 2021 at 11:17PM

Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne in the alley behind his house after flooding in Del Ray. (Courtesy photo)

What a week in Alexandria.

Public uproar over Sunday’s flooding spilled out throughout this week, which continued to be threatened by near-daily flash flood advisories from the National Weather Service.

News

Olympic boxer Troy Isley welcomed back to Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2021 at 1:00PM

Troy “The Transformer” Isley was welcomed home to cheering supporters in Old Town Thursday, as the Olympic fighter signed autographs and talked about future bouts.

Isley got back to Alexandria from Tokyo last week, and says folks are treating him a little differently.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated August 20, 2021 at 1:14PM

Booster shot preparations for adults made in Alexandria — “After a White House announcement that a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine could be available to adults as soon as Sept. 20, the City of Alexandria is preparing to administer the additional doses.” [Patch]

Efforts underway to educate public as city adjusts to marijuana legalization — “In order to spread awareness about the details of the bill and quell community concerns, the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria worked with the governor’s office to release a “Top 10″ list for youth and adults that concretely explains the new measure’s rules and regulations.” [Alextimes]

News

Alexandria’s Troy Isley wins Olympic boxing debut, faces second fight Thursday

By James Cullum

Published July 27, 2021 at 9:45AM

Alexandria’s Troy Isley won his Olympic debut on Monday against middleweight Vitali Bandarenka, and his boxing club at home is eager that he win a medal.

The Olympic games have been Isley’s dream since he boxing at the Alexandria Boxing Club when he was eight years old.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 28, 2021 at 5:00AM

Alexandria boxer Troy Isley to compete in Olympics — “Troy Isley, 22, is a middleweight boxer from Alexandria, a T.C. Williams High School alumnus and part of the Alexandria Boxing Club. He secured his spot on the Olympic team on June 7, USA Boxing confirmed.” [Patch]

Alexandria Police helped chase down suspect Friday — “Alert:: APD assisted PG County Police and Fairfax County Police with chasing down a suspect. The chase originated in PG County and came through our city via Fairfax County. No injuries to report. The suspect was taken into custody.” [Twitter]

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published April 15, 2021 at 5:00AM

The George Washington National Masonic Memorial in the springtime. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

ACPS opens contest for students to design new logo for renamed T.C. Williams High School — “T.C. Williams was named after Thomas Chambliss Williams, ACPS superintendent of from the mid-1930s until 1963. Williams was a known segregationist who argued that Black and white students learned differently and should remain in separate schools.” [WJLA]

The Old Town Shop Celebrates Four Years — “Over the past four years, the store has introduced a variety of Virginia goods, including the world-famous Hubs peanuts. More locally, the shop features a variety of local, curated artisan items that are normally offered only at the Alexandria Farmers’ Market. Featured vendors include Truly Life (bath and body items), Capital Candles (soy candles), Watermelan Designs (jewelry), Together We Bake (granola and trail mix) and Napier Farms (jams & jellies).” [Alexandria Living]