Mike Bazzel and Bruno Escalante have already contributed mightily to Bay Area boxing – and now they are contributing even a bit more. 

Together, Bazzel and Escalante will open the second Aloha Time Boxing Gym, in Pleasant Hill, California, on Saturday. The gym is located at 607 Gregory Lane, and the official opening will be held from 12-3 p.m.

Escalante is a former regional titleholder. He was managed by Herb Stone, an icon of his area. During his run toward the title, Escalante befriended Bazzel, and the two have since become inseparable. 

A native of Sibonga, Philippines, Escalante finished his career with a record of 17-4-1 (7 KOs), losing his last fight to Alexandru Marin. In the fight, Escalante appeared to drop Marin on two occasions, but referee Wayne Hedgpeth didn’t rule either a knockdown. Escalante then decided to hang up the gloves.

Escalante could have been a story of “what if,” but he channeled the frustrations from his pro career into coaching. Something he excelled at quickly. He took to building and running the gym with Bazzel in San Mateo, California. The gym was successful, growing despite its small space. Then, for Escalante, life happened.

“I moved to Concord – and it is a long commute to San Mateo,” Escalante told Boxing Scene. “I was waking up at four or five in the morning to get to the gym to teach morning classes, so I knew I had to find something closer – and we did.”

Now the Aloha Spirit no longer just inhabits Silicon Valley. It has been brought to the suburbs. Escalante, who spent his childhood in Hawaii (thus, the Aloha Time moniker), has infused the gym’s culture with his roots. He and Bazzel have aimed to make boxing accessible to all without sacrificing the world-class training elements that led Escalante to an IBF Inter-Continental super flyweight title fight. That contest headlined the prelims.

“We want to make everyone, of every skill level, feel at home,” said Escalante, then pointing to his young amateur protege Steve Canela. “But we also are building world champions.

“We like to see at this gym that boxing isn’t for everybody. But in reality, this gym is for everybody. If you want to be a world-class boxer you can train with us. If you want to get in the best shape of your life, we can help you with that, too. We value our community and we try to make everyone feel empowered from the work we do together.”

Bazzel, Escalante’s business partner and former coach, was the Top Rank house cutman during the Top Rank Bubble show during the Covid-19 era. He has been in the corner of some of the most famous names in the sport, from Devin Haney to Gennadiy Golovkin. Bazzel has had his share of moments at the top levels of the sport, yet he seems most at peace working with clients at Aloha Time.

Escalante and Bazzel currently serve on the team of just one professional boxer, undefeated lightweight Charlie Sheehy. Bazzel handles the cuts, Escalante wraps hands, and they are joined by Miguel Rios and Javiel Centeno, who serve as trainers.

“We will be doing something unique for the opening,” Escalante said with a chuckle. “Charlie Sheehy will be sparring for the opening. But while he is sparring, Bazzel and Arnold [Dinong] will be teaching classes. So you can watch sparring or you can take part in class.”

That embodies the culture Escalante and Bazzel have created. Professional fighters can come to prepare for their next fights, while the 9-to-5ers can also show up, feel empowered and train in the same space with pro athletes. It’s a unique experience that Escalante and Bazzel have brought to the Bay Area, and is now twice as nice.