When celebrities open businesses, it usually means another restaurant or clothing line.
But Mike Epps chose something different.
The comedian and actor just opened Right Jab Boxing Gym in Indianapolis, and this move feels bigger than business. It feels personal.
More Than a Gym
Right Jab is located at 3717 Sutherland Avenue, near the Indiana State Fairgrounds. On the outside, the message painted on the brick says it all:
“Don’t stop and look. Come get this right hook.”
That energy sets the tone.
Inside, the focus is not just on throwing punches. It is about discipline. Direction. Mindset.
Epps has been a longtime boxing fan, but this project is about more than the sport. He has teamed up with former world heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster, who is helping train and mentor young fighters inside the gym.
And their message is clear.
Champions are built in the mind first.
Redirecting Energy
According to the original FOX59 report, Epps said he sees young people learning how to redirect their energy and thoughts through boxing.
That matters.
In a lot of communities, especially in cities like Indianapolis, young men often grow up surrounded by pressure, distractions, and limited options. Spaces like Right Jab give them structure. Accountability. A place to build something instead of breaking something.
Brewster put it plainly. The goal is to help young people think like champions.
And sometimes, that means teaching them they do not need a weapon to feel powerful.
From Comedy to Community
Mike Epps has built a career making people laugh. But this shows a different side.
The gym is filled with photos of legendary fighters, meant to inspire anyone who walks in. It is not about ego. It is about example.
Right Jab opened shortly after the new year, and Epps has already hinted that this is just the beginning of more neighborhood-focused efforts.
This is what impact looks like.
Not a tweet.
Not a speech.
A building. A ring. A place where young people can step in and work.
Why This Matters
Boxing has always been tied to culture. It is one of the few sports where discipline can literally change your life.
From Muhammad Ali to Floyd Mayweather, the ring has been a path out for many. Now, in Indianapolis, Right Jab might become that same path for someone who just needs direction.
And when someone like Mike Epps invests back into his city instead of just profiting from it, that is worth highlighting.
Because sometimes the biggest punch is not thrown in the ring.
It is thrown against the odds.
