Ambridge-based trainer Tom Yankello set to join Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame

Tom Yankello has been one of boxing’s top trainers for decades. His resume speaks for itself: He has been in the corner of four world champions, two world title contenders and 16 amatuer world title holders.

Yankello will be inducted into this year’s Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame at 4 p.m. Sunday, at Rivers Casino in Philadelphia.

“This means the world to me. It means a lot,” Yankello said. “It was the first sport I was ever introduced to. I wouldn’t be here without the support of my mom, dad, wife and kids. My parents let me live at home to let me pursue my dreams.”

Yankello will be the first boxing trainer from Western Pa. to be inducted into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. But he still has goals.

“My goal is to make it to the international boxing hall of fame. That’s my next stepping stone,” he said.

Yankello graduated from Beaver in 1989. He was a top amatuer fighter but was forced to stop boxing because of injuries to both his shoulder and elbow.

“After I knew I couldn’t box anymore, it just felt natural to become a boxing trainer,” he said. “It was the natural solution. I’ve been around boxing my whole life.”

In 1991, he began training amateurs at Beaver County Boxing Club. He later trained at his father’s gym, Tom Yankello’s World Class Boxing Gym, in Ambridge, where they established a top boxing gym for amateurs and professionals.

Yankello has trained pros such as Roy Jones Jr., who was named fighter of the decade in the 1990s. Yankello trained Jones Jr. for a comeback bout against Mike Tyson.

“Roy is the most talented boxer I have ever been around,” Yankello said. “His gym ethic is incredible. He has very high intensity on an everyday basis and has the most surreal ring IQ. He has fast feet, so fast he can get out of range and counter. Just an all-time great boxer.”

Yankello also trained Paul Spadafora, the first major world champion (1999-2003 from) Pittsburgh since Billy Conn in 1941.

“All my fights with Paul were very memorable,” Yankello said. “He’s one of the greatest position fighters you’ll ever see. No one will ever know how great Paul really was. You really gotta know the game to know how smooth the guy was. He would slip and slide like a snake slithers out of punches.”

Among Yankello’s other pupils are Calvin Brock, Brian Minto, Monty Meza-Clay and Verquan Kimbrough.

Yankello also has made a huge impact in his community. In 1995, he began developing the nonprofit Stay Off The Streets Inc. The program’s mission is to rescue forgotten children from the dangers of the streets, troubling home environments and negative role models. This program has served as an opportunity that equips youths with the proper tools to survive in all aspects of life.

“We are in the gym, and we are learning,” Yankello said. “I try to teach them self-steem, self-discipline and nutrition, things that they can apply to their everyday lives.

“Kids don’t have to box competitively in my gym. It teaches kids confidence but humbles kids as well.”

He also has made an impact on social media. He has a social media following of 110,000 on Instagram and 126,000 YouTube subscribers. Yankello’s social media posts break down the ins and outs of the fundamentals of boxing, things such as body mechanics and technique.

Yankello’s wife, Tina, is his biggest supporter, he said.

“She helps record my videos and edits them and takes care of our kids,” he said. “I work 50-60 hours a week, and they are very understanding and supportive.”

Yankello had a reason for starting into social media.

“I started social media because there needs to be more teaching. Remember telling isn’t teaching,” he said. “A lot of people overcomplicate the basic body mechanics and fundamentals of boxing. Boxing has the same body mechanics and fundamentals as throw and swings sports, and that is a big emphasis on my channel. If people would teach it as such, it would be a lot easier to understand.”