GeorgiaFighters.com has begun a new feature story each week titled “Trainer Profiles”. Each week we’ll introduce you to a new trainer that has helped shape Georgia’s top boxers and MMA fighters.

Last week we introduced you to Adam Singer, one of the state’s best MMA trainers. This week it’s one of the state’s top boxing trainers – Byron Ogelsby!

Tell us the name of your gym and how it got started and how long it’s been in business.
I currently train athletes at Granite City Boxing located at 6924-B Main St. Lithonia, GA 30058 and can be reached at 770-595-2864. Started two other notable boxing programs in the city of Atlanta – Atlanta Art of Boxing with Johnny Gant and Hitsville Boxing with Mark Mack and Romahn Hemingway. Was invited by Coach Jeff Tate to help develop Granite City Boxing into the premier boxing gym in the state of Georgia and will reach that goal this year.

Tell us about what you consider to be your greatest accomplishment in boxing thus far?
As far as greatest accomplishment there really are too many to mention. I’m blessed. Some of my accomplishments that standout the most are: USA Team Coach for the 1995 Atlanta Boxing Classic (Cuba, Russia, Philippines and 16 other countries competed) won 2 gold medals, 1996 Olympic Trials Team Coach (Eastern Trials), Mentoring under world class trainer and outstanding man Malik Muhammad and my father Henry Oglesby (one of the best and accomplished matchmakers in the country), guiding 10 different fighters into top 15 world rankings, Trained 4 world champions (Robert Allen, Travis Simms(2), Luis Collazo) – denied a fourth with a dubious draw in Germany (Randy Griffin) which will be corrected soon, Having trained fighters for 15 world title fights. Having the opportunity to have worked with the best in the boxing business trainer and fighters such as: Emanuel Steward, Freddie Roach, Ronnie Shields, Tommy Brooks and Vernon Forrest just to name a few. My greatest joy as a trainer still comes from working with someone that no one is really paying any attention to and helping develop them into a true world class fighter.

Who should the fans be looking for next coming out of your gym?
Keep your eyes out for top middleweight and uncrowned champion Randy Griffin and the resurgent Hector Camacho Jr.

What’s the state of boxing right now in your opinion? Is boxing on a rise with recent great blockbuster fights?
Really, right now boxing is on the cusp of becoming more successful than ever. World wide boxing is experiencing huge growth and prosperity. The question really is will American boxing interest organize in a fashion to catapult the sport to levels never seen.

What’s the state of pro and amateur boxing in Georgia right now?
Georgia boxing is a mixed bag of good and bad. In my opinion, Georgia boxing can potentially experience success like never before in about 2 to 4 years if a concerted effort to promote amateur boxing to the entire community in innovative ways and strengthening amateur boxing is successful, which Granite City Boxing plans to play a major role. The bad is that no promoter has been able to turn any fighter fighting in Georgia on a regular basis into a bona fide draw in Georgia and this is still the holy grail of promotional success.

How are boxing gyms in Atlanta? Are they competitive with each other or do Atlanta boxing gyms seem to get along?
Boxing gyms in Atlanta are gradually getting better and better. The competition level between gyms has increased and is the primary reason for the overall improvement of Georgia boxing.

If you could match up two Atlanta pro fighters, who would they be in your dream matchup and how do you see it going?
Right now one of the best match ups actually was about to take place between Omri Lowther (young upcoming amateur standout) and Tony Davis (experienced veteran of three world title fights that went the distance). Also, a great fight would be Cedric Boswell against Kevin Johnson.

What separates you and your gym from others? What do you do better?
The separation point between me and my competitors is simple – success. My record speaks for itself. I have been able to repeatedly train and maneuver fighters to success at the elite level and would like to think I have played and continue to play a major part in keep Boxing in Georgia vibrant.

I’m gonna throw 10 some Atlanta names and give me a one-sentence description of each:
Evander Holyfield - Greatest fighter to ever come out of Georgia but missed a huge opportunity to use his name and influence to catapult Georgia Boxing and Boxing in general ie..Oscar De Lahoya
Cedric Boswell - Should have been have been heavyweight champion for sure!
Ebo Elder - Great person. Mismanaged. Should have been a star in the sport.
Robert Allen - One of the most talented southpaws to ever box.
Xavier Tolliver - One of the good guys. On his way to becoming one of the best matchmakers.
Buddy Davis - the ICON of Georgia Amateur Boxing.
Tom Mishou -  a real firecracker but really a good guy.
Sam Garr - should have beat James Page for the world welterweight title, he was the better fighter that night (a little more aggression he would have stopped him). Great person and a credit to the sport.
Byron Oglesby - At the end of the day I just really love all the good aspects of the sport and want to be a part of spreading them in instrumental way.
Vernon Forrest - Great ambassador of the sport, exzibited all the good the sport can bring in and out of the ring, surely would have been a force in future boxing business and lost his life way to soon.

Have a trainer that you want us to profile? Leave comments here or email us at georgiafighters@gmail.com