Guty Villa probably could have been content continuing his work as owner of G’s to Gent’s Barbershop in Kennewick.

He’s happily been cutting hair and running the shop for seven years now. It’s a successful shop with plenty of customers and barbers.

He also has a great family.

But something was missing: Boxing.

“I love everything about boxing,” Villa said. “From the moment you put on the hand wraps, the gloves and the head gear, at that moment you’re a boxer. But boxing is more than beating each other up. You have to use your brain. You have to know why you think you’re throwing this punch.”

For years, Villa and his longtime buddies, Jose Limon and Orlando Retana, had talked of starting their own boxing gym.

But it wasn’t until this past year that it actually changed from a dream to reality.

Villa has a client named Brandon Wilson, who for years was a linebacker and defensive lineman for the Tri-Cities Fever indoor football team.

“Brandon said ‘I’d like to do some boxing,’ ” Villa said. “I told him about a year and a half ago I’d like to own a gym. So he gave me the space.”

Wilson and his wife own a gym called Mission Accomplish Fitness, and the couple made room for Mano A Mano Boxing Club, which opened June 1 with its first class.

It took Villa about 60 days to launch after doing all the paperwork and buying boxing gear, like bags and timers.

Two months in, Villa says he feels their expectations have already been exceeded.

“On June 1, we started with one class for 15 people, and we filled that one class up within two weeks,” he said. “We started our first class in June with no kids.”

Villa said they kept getting requests from parents to allow kids 8 years and older to box.

“Now, in July, we have two classes, and we started taking kids as young as 8 years old – which is the youngest you can have in the gym,” Villa said.

The gym currently has 22 boxers of all ages and gender training in the gym.

Classes are from 5-6:30 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m. Monday through Friday. For now.

“Jose has a 9-to-5 job. I have the barbershop,” Villa said. “I haven’t told him yet, but my goal for (Jose) is I’d like for him to be able to retire (and run the gym). He’s better than I am with the training.”

But they both can do it.

“We had this dream for so long,” Villa said. “The only thing that has changed from day 1, when (the boxers) came in, was ‘Now, what are we going to do?’ Now we have a program set up. We like to develop on the fly. We evaluate the boxers, then set them up with a program. Everyone is different.”

For adults 18 and older, it costs $175 a month to be a member.

“Brandon gives them a key for 24-hour access to MA Fitness,” Villa said.

The cost for boxers under 18 is $150 a month. Because they’re underage, they can’t be in the gym unsupervised, so they don’t get a key.

Villa and Limon (Retana is no longer with the gym) want to train boxers of all ages for tournaments, such as the Golden Gloves. Recently, they took a group of boxers to a Yakima gym to spar with their boxers.

“We do want to create professionals,” Villa said. “At least get them educated enough to get them to the next level. We’ve got some troubled kids. Boxing draws them. But it’s a place for them to open up in a way. They can get their aggression out. Boxing teaches self-control and discipline.”

But Mano A Mano has rules to boxing, Villa said.

“When we train someone for a fight, there are two key things: Make sure the boxer is safe, and respect that you’re representing us,” he said.

Whether it’s running a barbershop or a boxing gym, Villa said it’s all about customer service.

“When I run the barber shop, I still get to meet so many people,” said the 31-year-old. “And similar in the way I can transform their look as a barber, boxing transforms them as a whole.”

Now, with the barber shop, his family, and the boxing gym, Villa’s days are non-stop. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I love my life. It’s like I’m never going to work.”

Mano A Mano Boxing Club: 5601 W. Clearwater, Suite 107, in Kennewick; 509-607-8447; Facebook @ManoAManoBoxing.