The Northwoods gets its first boxing training facility

Chris Rugowski

Contributor

November 10, 2025

RHINELANDER – The Northwoods now has its first-ever boxing gym.

Tyler Olson – who co-owns Hodag Den (located at 3839 Country Drive) with Robert Schramke and Aden (AJ) Bergman – said the Rhinelander gym seeks to introduce boxing to both youth and adults in the area.

Opening a gym, Olson said, was part of his broader plan to build a career in the sport, while also managing his own business.

A self-described active person, Olson, 20, said he grew up wrestling, but after high school and college, he realized there were limited career opportunities in the sport and decided to take up boxing – a sport of which he was always a fan.

He said his interest in combat sports dates back to as early as age 12, when he watched boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) matches with his parents.

That early exposure, he said, became a turning point, solidifying his desire to be part of a boxing gym.

However, he said access to quality boxing facilities in the Northwoods was limited, which forced him and his training partner to travel to larger gyms to compete.

For the past five years, to build up his skills, Olson said he trained in his basement and made trips to other gyms for competitions, until the opportunity arose to open their own gym.

“We’ve always had the plan of opening our own gym in Rhinelander and trying to bring the sport of boxing to the Northwoods,” he said. “Along with that, we’ve been working really hard trying to give better opportunities to the youth and people in general who want to participate.”

Olson said the goal with the Hodag Den is to build one of the largest combat sports facilities in the Northwoods, offering training in boxing, MMA and jiu-jitsu.

With years of experience in competitive boxing and martial arts between them, the founders said they saw a need for a dedicated space where local athletes could train, develop and compete.

Making Hodag Den a reality

Olson said the Hodag Den – which officially opened Oct. 7 – represents the culmination of months of effort by him and his co-founders.

Having long been drawn to boxing for its history and status as a foundational sport, Olson said he cites fighters like Conor McGregor as examples of the dedication and work ethic he hopes to bring to Hodag Den.
Finding a location for the gym, he said, was the biggest challenge.

“It took a year or so – everything was so expensive,” he said. “We were struggling to find the perfect spot until we found this place. I saw the building come up for lease, called up the owner of the property and within a week, we had the lease signed and [were] ready to go.”

Olson said they completely renovated the building’s interior to achieve the look they envisioned.

Renovations, he said, included the replacement of the wood paneling with black wood finishes, installing new lighting – including hexagon fixtures for a modern touch – and adding wallpaper. 

To outfit the gym, Olson said they even drove to the Madison area to purchase a boxing bag mounting system from another gym owner.

There, he said, he learned valuable lessons from someone who had been in business for 25 years, which proved extremely helpful for him and his partners.

“Jorge at Defcom in Watertown, where we bought the bag mounting system, gave us a rundown of all the mistakes he made, how to avoid them and gave us some really great tips for things to implement and watch as we grow,” he said. “It is nice to have other gym owners want to see you succeed.”

Community reaction

Olson said community reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing excitement about the new gym. 

A standout moment, he said, came during the first week, when a family stopped by to say they had been waiting for a boxing gym to open in the area.

“They were about to move out of the Northwoods because their grandson is such a big boxing fan,” he said. “They said when they opened up their Facebook and saw a boxing gym was coming here, they were lost for words and very excited.”

Olson said it’s rewarding to see his vision come to life and witness the excitement unfold in real time.

He said he knew opening a gym in the area could introduce an entirely new sport and hobby for people to get involved with.

Bringing both the sport and the gym to the Northwoods, Olson said he knew it would “take off,” especially among the generations who grew up watching boxing greats like Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali.

Overall, he said he is focused on reaching a wide audience, with particular attention to youth and sports enthusiasts.

“It’s really all come together, everyone’s loved the look of it so far,” he said. “It’s definitely something special in our area.”

Renewed interest

An avid boxing fan, Olson said he felt the sport had reached a plateau in popularity, but has been gaining renewed attention in recent years.

Events like the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight on Netflix, he said, have sparked interest among younger audiences, drawing them not only to watch boxing but also to participate in the sport.

“I think boxing is going to keep gaining popularity,” he said. “We’re going to break the plateau. It’s going to skyrocket to a new level with all the Netflix partnerships and make it a lot more accessible for the average person to watch. Same with UFC and Paramount Plus.”

Before opening the gym, Olson said, though he did his best to maintain a positive outlook, he struggled to find matchups as an amateur in a lower weight division.

With the Hodag Den, he said he now has a space to train, establish credibility and work with community leaders to organize a boxing event at the Rhinelander sports complex.

“We’re hopeful to get a show in Rhinelander soon at the Hodag Dome,” he said.

A peek inside

Olson said the gym offers programs for a variety of ages and skill levels, including youth boxing for ages eight to 12, beginner classes for ages 13 and up and advanced boxing.

For those who prefer to train on their own schedule, he said Hodag Den will also offer 24/7 membership access, except for 4-8 p.m., while classes are in session.

In the youth boxing program, Olson said participants learn focus, respect, discipline and confidence.

Sessions, he said, cover the fundamentals of stance, footwork, balance and technique – the core pillars of boxing – as well as bag work and mitt drills to build coordination and timing.

Strength and conditioning exercises, Olson said, are also included, designed to be both safe and engaging.

“Our coaches make every young boxer feel supported no matter their experience level,” he said. “Whether they’re training to compete or just learning the sport, we give them the same championship attention.”

Olson said Hodag Den’s beginner boxing program focuses on building skills from the ground up.

Unlike a typical workout, Olson said participants start with the fundamentals – similar to the youth program – but place greater emphasis on footwork patterns to sharpen movement and angles.

Punching technique, he said, is refined, so jabs, hooks and uppercuts develop both speed and power.

Olson said classes also introduce boxing IQ – which teaches participants how to read opponents, control distance and set traps like professional fighters.

The advanced boxing program, he said, focuses on complex combination sequences and takes participants’ boxing IQ to the next level.

In addition to classes, Olson said Hodag Den offers membership options that include key-fob access and personalized training.

Winter in the Northwoods, he said, is a perfect time to try a new hobby or sport – noting that they plan to roll out holiday package deals for those interested.

For more information and gym updates, head to Hodag Den’s Facebook page.