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Woodland Boxing Complex Fighting To Stay Open

WOODLAND (CBS13) —  A popular boxing complex in Woodland is now fighting to stay open.

Critics have been throwing their own punches.

They say the run-down building is a magnet for crime.

The Woodland Boxing Complex was known as a community cornerstone for decades, and now it's riddled with all sorts of problems.

"The ceiling is caving in, bathrooms are plugged up, stabbings, shootings and fights," said Woodland City Councilman Angel Barajas.

Barajas is behind the push to move the boxing facility to a new location.

He says it's only a matter of time before someone at the facility gets hurt.

18-year old Christopher Rodriguez grew up at the boxing club.

"I won 50 fights and have been in close to 60 fights."

His boxing career has taken him all around the state, and even to Puerto Rico.

"It just keeps me out of trouble and I come in to get my mind off things," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez has seen the facility's condition worsen over the years, and while that turned many people away -- Rodriguez kept coming back.

According to Yolo Housing, the agency which owns the boxing club, an inspection of the facility was made and "as a result of that inspection, Yolo Housing is working with the City to address the facility's issues."

But Councilman Barajas isn't backing down.

He's hoping to convince the city to relocate the boxing club to the Woodland Community Center, saying it's newer and safer.

Boxing coach Brian Alvarez agrees.

Alvarez says, "It's gonna be a good thing, to be in a new environment."

Woodland City Council members will decide on a new location sometime in the next two months.

Barajas says there aren't many boxers who live in the immediate area of the club, and that the move should not affect them -- public transportation is an option for them once the facility shuts down.

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