Boxing, Bikes, and Building a Legacy

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Stephen Frank is a fighter in every sense of the word. As the founder of HTD Boxing Gym, he's built a name in New York’s boxing scene as both a trainer and community builder — someone known for turning raw energy into real discipline.

His journey begins where many great stories do — with family. His introduction to motorcycles wasn’t born from a need for speed, but from watching his father ride. “My dad got a bike and taught me how to ride,” Stephen recalls. “I started with a Ninja 250, but it wasn’t long before I needed something bigger just to keep up.”

Over the years, Stephen’s garage rotated through Yamahas and Suzukis before landing his dream bike: a Ducati. He’s spent years riding in the city and taking weekend runs to Bear Mountain, but lately his focus is shifting. “I want to hit the track. I don’t need to ride fast on the street anymore—I want to learn how to ride right.”

But Stephen’s story isn’t just about bikes. It’s also about a legacy of boxing.

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With a grandfather who trained all seven of his uncles, a father who fought amateur, and an Olympic boxer in the family, the ring was inevitable. “Boxing just felt natural,” Stephen says. “I loved fighting. The training, not so much — running, hitting the bag — I just wanted to get in the ring.”

When asked about what it feels like in the ring, Stephen dismissed the typical “tunnel vision” narrative in favor of something more grounded. “It’s about being calm,” he explains. “You’re present. You’re reading the other person, reacting. Riding a bike is similar — you’re scanning the road, staying relaxed but focused.”

Stephen has no plans to slow down.

On two wheels or in the ring, his vision is clear: ride for life and help train the next generation of boxers. “My goal is to reach a place where I can focus entirely on coaching and help shape the next generation of fighters from day one.”

That vision is already in motion. What started as a pandemic-era outdoor class with one client quickly turned into Stephen’s first boxing gym. Now, with a second location uptown and a rebrand underway from “Hit the Deck” to “HTD Boxing Gym,” the future looks promising.

“From one client in the park to two gyms in the city — I’m building this from the ground up.”

As for what’s next on two wheels? Stephen’s eyeing a cruiser. “A Harley maybe — something I can chill on, ride long distances. But the track still calls.”

Stephen Frank is building a legacy — one ride, one round at a time.