by Ohio Boxing Hall of Fame Welcomes Bryan Gedeon On May 16, 2026, lifelong combat sports enthusiast Bryan Gedeon was officially inducted into the Ohio Boxing Hall of Fame, recognizing decades of dedication and contributions to amateur and professional boxing throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond. Born to Robert and Linda Gedeon, both now deceased, Bryan was raised in Lakewood, Ohio, where his passion for combat sports began at a young age.
A 1998 graduate of Saint Edward High School, Gedeon once envisioned himself coaching at his alma mater. However, life took him down a different path after he began training in mixed martial arts almost 26 years ago. What started as a competitor’s journey eventually evolved into a lifelong commitment to coaching, promoting, matchmaking, and mentoring athletes at every level of combat sports. This latest honor adds to an already impressive list of accomplishments.
In 2019, Gedeon was inducted into the smaller OFSBA Hall of Fame and has continued to play a major role in growing and elevating Ohio boxing ever since. He is a three-time OFSBA Coach of the Year and currently holds Silver Level Coach certification through USA Boxing. Gedeon serves as head coach of The Fight Factory of Cleveland, located inside The Wrestling Factory of Cleveland.
Over the years, he has coached 12 Open Division Golden Gloves champions and more than 60 Golden Gloves champions across all levels of competition. His coaching résumé also includes one national champion, two national runners-up, and even a professional WBF World Heavyweight Champion. Before dedicating himself fully to boxing, Gedeon competed extensively as a grappler, winning dozens of tournaments including the Toledo Open, the Midwest Grappling Challenge, and the Ohio State Grappling Tournament. He also captured four Masters Division boxing titles and competed in more than 50 boxing and kickboxing bouts throughout his combat sports career.
Beyond coaching, Gedeon has earned widespread respect as both a professional and amateur promoter and matchmaker. Through his promotion company, he has helped fighters advance to major stages including Top Rank Boxing, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), PBC, 360 Promotions, Terence Crawford’s hometown fight card, and events streamed on UFC Fight Pass. “The thing I like best now is putting on boxing shows,” Gedeon said. “I love giving the up-and-comers a stage to fight on as amateurs and then watching them become professionals in their hometown. Other promotions come and go because they just want to make a quick buck. We are here to stay and continue making a positive impact on the city and on young fighters, just as we have done since 2019. Twenty-six sold out shows later, we’re still going strong.”
Gedeon also made sure to recognize the people who helped shape his journey in the sport. “I have to thank longtime Cleveland boxing legend Gary Horvath for all of the help and knowledge he has passed down to me. Without him, and my longtime friend Joe Disalvo, I know I would be nobody in this sport. They both taught me more than I could have ever imagined.”
Most importantly, Gedeon credits his family for making everything possible. “None of this boxing life would be possible without my wife, Allegra,” he said. “If Allegra wasn’t such a great wife and mother, I would never be able to be out here impacting so many lives. I also want to thank my kids — Mary, Adeline, and Oliver — for all of their help with our shows and for genuinely enjoying the fight game alongside me and their mom. It’s truly a family affair.”
From coaching champions to promoting sold-out events in Cleveland, Bryan Gedeon’s induction into the Ohio Boxing Hall of Fame represents far more than personal achievement. It stands as recognition of years spent creating opportunities for fighters, building the local boxing scene, and positively impacting countless lives through the sport.
