Rumble in the Jungle returns to Idaho Falls with biggest card yet

IDAHO FALLS – A local boxing club is gearing up for its eighth annual Rumble in the Jungle tournament.

Razor’s Edge Boxing Club, a nonprofit formed in 2006 for at-risk youth, is hosting its annual fundraising event on Saturday, July 25 in the activity center of the Bonneville County 4-H complex at 1542 East 73rd South in Idaho Falls.

The gates will open at 3 p.m. and the first bout will start at 4 p.m.

The headline fight is yet to be determined, but head coach Holly Gregson tells EastIdahoNews.com at least 27 bouts will take place at the non-ranking USA Boxing event.

“Some of my elite, or older, boxers who haven’t competed in a while will be making a return to the ring,” Gregson says.

Several elite teams from Colorado, Nevada and Oregon may be participating and Gregson says she’s excited about her athletes who will be matched up to fight with individuals on those teams.

Gregson says the large number of open fighters from all over the region who will be competing makes this a milestone event.

“They’re going to put on some (metaphorical) fireworks,” says Gregson. “We’re going to have a lot more elite (participants who are 19 and older) bouts on this card, not as many little kids. We have 10 or 11 boxers from our own club who are matched up and scheduled to fight.”

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Razor’s Edge has at least 75 members between the ages of 8 and 35. The club is affiliated with USA Boxing.

Club members train to compete at the regional, state and national level. Practices are held weekly at 757 South Woodruff.

Practice typically begins with a running or jump rope routine. Club members then break out into stations with a boxing bag. Those training to compete work with a coach one-on-one. The night usually ends with a sparring session.

Gregson told EastIdahoNews.com in 2019 that the nature of the sport requires a lot of commitment to be good at it. Those who train competitively follow a daily exercise routine and a restricted diet.

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While membership fees fund the club’s operating costs, Gregson says Rumble in the Jungle creates what she calls a “slush fund” to help buffer finances at different times throughout the year.

“On the months where the ends don’t meet, it helps us pay our bills, order gear, pay for coaches’ travel to tournaments and events that the kids want to attend,” Gregson explains.

Rumble in the Jungle has historically been held in August. Gregson says she’s hosting the 2026 event earlier than usual to avoid potential conflict with upcoming tournaments.

“I tried to put this in between a few USA Boxing calendar events that I thought might discourage participation,” says Gregson.

Gregson says she’s excited to see how things play out at the 2026 Rumble in the Jungle.

“We’ve thrown our hat in the ring with some tough competition and we’re excited to get in there,” she says.

General admission tickets are $20 for adults or $15 for students. Kids 5 and under are free. Razor’s Edge will be serving hamburgers and other concessions at the event. Other vendors will also be selling food items.