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This Town Ain't Big Enough. . .May 7th, 2009

Throwdown Elite challenges LA Boxing to a financial deathmatch: Winner takes Utah Valley turf for MMA
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by Jacob Hodgen

LA Boxing was a smash hit. Located on State Street in Orem, it features world-class boxing, kick-boxing, and jiu-jitsu instruction. Pulling students from BYU and UVU, it quickly became the most popular training center in the valley for mixed martial arts (MMA). Feeding off the success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which now exceeds boxing in popularity as an American sport, LA Boxing's classes were packed full of eager students, and its future success seemed assured.

But a dark shadow now looms over the popular studio. Last year, construction began in the ruins of the old Gold's Gym building on the same corner. Over four times size of LA Boxing, a brazen challenger has set up shop right next door. Its name? Throwdown Elite. Its business? Mixed martial arts training.

So what happens when two MMA training centers square off on the same corner in a winner-take-all battle for total Utah Valley domination? One writes about it very, very carefully.

The Defending Utah Valley Champion: LA Boxing

LA Boxing
Damon Willis (right) and the staff of LA Boxing

The Orem franchise is owned by Damon Willis, a lifetime martial arts enthusiast. He notably just fought and won in his first match in Salt Lake's Ultimate Combat Experience. He is proud of LA Boxing and says that he is happy with the way things are going. At its peak, LA Boxing was filled to near maximum capacity and boasted hundreds of active members, which is a tremendous accomplishment for a martial arts training center less than five years old.

Though LA Boxing is significantly smaller than its new rival, Damon reports that his club offers a level of service Throwdown can't compete with. "We try and keep it this size, because it's more intimate and personal," Damon tells me. He claims that Throwdown has slowed down business for them, but that is hasn't stopped them: "People who have gone over to Throwdown are starting to come back."

Though Damon remains optimistic and committed to his business, he admits that he is not happy with Throwdown's decision to open up a competing facility adjacent to his. "I'm a big believer in karma," he says. "I know I do everything ethically, and I know for myself that I'm doing the right thing, and that's all that matters."

Damon says that people have asked him about going next door and challenging the owner of Throwdown to a fight, but he doesn't believe it would solve anything. "We're not 18 anymore," he tells me.

So far, this might sight sound like a case of David and Goliath. However, when I went across the parking lot to speak with Damon's rival, I heard a much different story.

The Challenger: Throwdown Elite

Thowdown Eite
Adam Legas of Thowdown Eite

Calling itself the "World's Largest Alternative Fitness Facility" and filling over 21,000 square feet, Throwdown Elite is gigantic. It boasts cutting edge equipment, two full-sized combat rings, a Pilates room, and an altitude chamber. Unlike what you might expect, the facility has the look and feel of a spa, complete with a wall-mounted water feature and dry sauna.

Throwdown's owner, Adam Legas, tells me that he was a former student at LA Boxing. "This has always been my dream, and I told Damon about it right from the start." Adam is a BYU graduate and lives only a few blocks away. He says that he has always wanted to open up an MMA training center close to his house, and that it was never a secret.

"I started going to LA Boxing because for a while it was the only show in town. But I always wanted to do something bigger."

Adam tells me he has no ill wishes for Damon or LA Boxing and says that he has made no attempt to actively solicit business from his neighbor. However, Adam says he has matched Throwdown's pricing with those of LA Boxing exactly and says he will keep if that way, "as long as it takes."

People familiar with LA Boxing might notice that pictures of many of its former trainers now hang on the wall of Throwdown Elite, since they now work for Adam, but he says that he didn't steal them. "I introduced most of these people to Damon in the first place. They were always going to work for me once we got this going."

Only in business for less than year now, Adam claims to have signed up a staggering 1,400 members and has already received numerous offers for further franchises. He is pleased with the success of his company, but he says that he wishes things didn't have to turn out they did with Damon.

"I offered Damon a partnership in my company. When he refused, I offered to buy his contracts from him. I have gone way out of my way. Now all of his clients have come over to me anyways."

This match isn't over yet, and to be honest, this columnist is rather nervous about writing this article and getting in the middle of the fight. It's one thing to earn yourself the ire of local grocer, but another altogether to antagonize the owner of a combat arts facility. Don't expect me to declare a victor any time soon.

Have an opinion about this battle for MMA supremacy? Let us know what think via the forum below.

Visit LA Boxing at 1620 South State State Street in Orem

Check out their website here

Visit Throwdown Elite at 1640 South State State Street in Orem

Check out their website here

Update

A winner has emerged! View the latest update in a follow-up article here.

Reader Comments

Adam Legas

Jacob, Good article. LA Boxing went out of business before this was even published. I really appreciate your coverage of both gyms. I think more people need to know what types of facilities are available. I wish Damon the best of luck in all he does. However, I am glad we didn't end up as partners. I hope our local MMA athletes can start to get the recognition they deserve. Thanks again.

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