Before he became the owner of one of Spokane’s most dynamic boxing gyms, Jacob Ruffin spent nearly a decade substitute teaching and coaching before leaning fully into his passion for training.
“I started boxing at 19,” Ruffin says. “My dad and uncles all boxed, and even though my mom didn’t want us to have anything to do with it, it was in me. As soon as I left home, I said, ‘I can do what I want.’ And I went straight to the gym.”
That decision launched Ruffin into an amateur and professional boxing career and laid the foundation for a different kind of fight – one to help others. “I started out with an amateur boxing career back in 2000, 2001 – something like that,” he recalls. “Had several amateur fights, then decided to go pro. I didn’t have a great career, but it was a career nonetheless.”
While earning his degree in health and fitness education at Eastern Washington University – where he graduated in 2006 – Ruffin juggled substitute teaching, football coaching, and personal training, all while pursuing his dream in the ring. He spent nearly a decade working in Spokane-area schools before deciding to focus fully on fitness. “Since I was already in that field – wanted to be a teacher, wanted to be a coach – and then I was participating in boxing, I actually just transitioned from doing the school to just running a gym.”
Since taking ownership of BoxFit in 2021, Ruffin has grown it into a safe haven for aspiring fighters, everyday people seeking fitness, and youth in need of structure, discipline, and release. “Our business is all about fitness and activity,” he explains. “But more than that, we teach people how to better deal with life. Wanting to quit? Not feeling like you can do one more rep? Guess what – life doesn’t let you quit. Neither do we.”
Ruffin’s love for the sport is rooted in admiration for boxing legend Shane Mosley, who became his favorite fighter just as he was starting his own career. “I followed his career pretty closely and loved what he did,” he says. That admiration came full circle in 2023 when Ruffin had the opportunity to spar with Mosley during a visit to Spokane – an experience he describes as unforgettable. He recalls how down-to-earth Mosley was–not using his fame to elevate himself, but showing up with a genuine willingness to engage with the community and be part of the action.
The gym has trained national champions and welcomed UFC fighters like Juliana Peña and Michael Chiesa, but Ruffin’s heart remains with those who come in not to fight professionally – but to fight through life.
“A lot of our members are just looking to get in shape, manage stress, or find confidence. When people are frustrated, they come in here and bang on a heavy bag instead of acting out. That’s real therapy for some of us.”
As an entrepreneur, Ruffin knows that visibility matters, drawing from his own upbringing in Tacoma where 30–40% of his teachers were Black. Having Black coaches and educators throughout his school years made a lasting impact. It was the familiarity that fostered connection and confidence–something he strives to model for young people in his own gym today. That connection, he says, builds confidence and shows them what’s possible.
Entrepreneurship wasn’t Ruffin’s original plan, but it became his calling. “I had no business background–just instinct and a circle of peers I could learn from. I read, I watch, I ask questions. But the biggest thing is discipline. Motivation fades. Discipline keeps you going.” He approaches entrepreneurship through a lens of personal development and self-discipline. To stay grounded, Ruffin follows a daily routine of citing daily iterations of gratitude and inspirational content to set the tone for the day. Even with 60-hour weeks, learning how to balance bookkeeping, and managing training schedules, Ruffin wouldn’t trade it. Instead he leans in.
“To me, entrepreneurship means I’m in control of my future. I’m building something for my family, for my community, and for the next generation.”
From hosting Hard Sparring events that bring boxing legends like Shane Mosley and James Toney to Spokane, to mentoring troubled youth who walk into the gym searching for more than just a workout, Ruffin expresses that you have to have purpose.
“If you don’t feel like you’re working toward something, that’s where the anxiety and depression creep in. Purpose gives you direction. And I want this gym to be a place where people find that – for themselves.”
For him, ownership means autonomy, responsibility, and investing fully in a future he’s shaping for himself and his family.
“If I wasn’t getting paid to do it, I’d be doing it anyway,” he says. “That’s how much I love it.”