The Meaning Of Life...From A Boxer's Perspective

Hi all.

Well, a bit of confusion this past weekend. 

Boxing Ontario was under the impression that Stockyards was actually going to hold a boxing show. 
Of course, it is against Boxing Ontario rules to hold unsanctioned boxing.
The organization called the gym and told us that we could not do that.

That is understandable, but that is not what we were doing.

Stockyards Boxing was having an open house so people could see what we do. 
Of course, when people enter a boxing gym, they expect to see boxing.
Therefore, we had a sparring session during the open house. There was no admission fee, and people were not just sitting around watching. It was a general open house where people could ask questions about the gym and about boxing.
What Richard conducted was Enhanced Sparring. That is where the coach will actually climb into the ring with the boxers. The coach can not be a referee. That is a different certification, with different training and testing. 
However, he can give feedback, as a coach should. The reason for the coach being inside the ring as opposed to giving feedback from the corner is to give the boxers an idea of what it is like to have the third person (referee) in the ring. That is really the only difference between that and regular sparring.
Where an exhibition match is exactly the same as a real competition in all ways, except that there is no winner, and your opponent is usually someone from your own team. 

Richard had a good idea, but I think it was just advertised wrong. I think "Boxing Exhibition" was a bad choice of words. I used it too, because that is what I thought it was.

I don't blame Boxing Ontario, either. They have to tell us those things for liability reasons. Everything is about liability these days. If something were to happen, it would all fall right back into Boxing Ontario's lap. They have to "C.Y.A." also.

I don't think anyone was wrong, just a misunderstanding.
I would suggest that if Stockyards wants to do this again, call it an "open house".

If Boxing Ontario wants to question me about it, I will back Richard. He did not break any rules. He conducted a sparring class using a certified coach, and all the  participants were registered athletes. That is within Boxing Ontario rules.

Richard was so upset by this, he called me to ask me to edit my blog.
I removed all references to "Boxing Exhibition" and replaced them with "Enhanced Sparring".
It was the first time I have ever edited my blog. Generally, when I put something here, it stays -forever.
That goes to show you the rapport I have with the Stockyards Boxing.

Moving on: On Monday, Coach Richard asked me if I wanted an exhibition, or a real bout for the next time.
I said that eventually I want a real match.
"When?"
"When do you think I am ready?"
"You are ready now."
"Oh... Let me do another exhibition first".

I asked for an exhibition for the next show in October, and my first real match in November. That will get everything out of the way before the new year. I don't think there will be anything in December. There usually isn't.

There are reasons why I want an exhibition first.  It is not that I don't think I am ready. I have been ready for three years. That is what started this whole boxing ordeal. There are other reasons.

It is said that the number one question people ask is, "What is the meaning of life?"
I think the answer to that is very simple: Leave your 'footprint'.
Whatever you chose to do in life, make sure everyone knows about it. Some call it the "Fifteen minutes of fame". Whatever you call it, do it. Once you have left your mark, you can relax and "retire".
My mark is boxing. I want to do everything I can that involves boxing. Including an exhibition.
 I am still going to try out for the Pan-Am Games. I have about a year before they pick the team.

That is the another reason why I want to get an exhibition. Sanctioned exhibitions count on your record. Although there is no win, it shows as one bout. Which is one of of the ten you need to become Open Class.
You can't really do diddly-squat in Novice Class.

You have to enter tournaments, and win, before being considered for the Pan-Am Games. You can not enter tournaments while in Novice. Most of them, if not all, allow only Open Class.

Anyway, I hope this clears the air, and any misunderstanding. 

I hope I can get a "real" exhibition next month, and start my 'footprint'.

Oh, and I dropped a weightclass. I made it down to Heavyweight. Let's see if I can stay there.

Cheers.

Final Prep For Saturday's Big Match

Hi all.

The countdown continues to my return to the ring.
I am scheduled to an exhibition bout this coming Saturday at about 7:30 PM.

Stockyards Boxing will be having their 2-year Anniversary, with food and cash bar. There will also be demonstrations, and of course, boxing exhibitions.

Junmar has the card done, and my scheduled opponent is "Dave H".  
Dave is quite a bit older than I, but he is also an ex-Toronto police officer.

It will be 'interesting' if nothing else.

I have been training daily, and sparring regularly.

I wanted to do some sparring on Tuesday, although it was not a sparring day. Junmar was not too happy about it. I realize that the gym has a schedule for a reason. Normally I follow the schedule. If I want to spar, I show up for the sparring sessions.
However, this was a special situation. I have a match coming up. I want to get as much practice in, so I don't look like an idiot on Saturday.
I will not be able to go to the gym on Thursday, because I have another meeting at City Hall to discuss the Nuit Blanche festival for which I will be security supervisor. Friday is also a write-off, because there will be no sparring. There never is the day before a match. They want their boxers to have a rest. Totally understandable.

Anyway, I think at one time Junmar said to me, "His punches will kill you." In reference to my 'unscheduled' sparring session.
Geez. Thanks for the encouragement, Junmar.

This brings up an interesting point about boxing coaches.

One of my goals of writing this column is to get people, especially older people, interested in boxing.
I have found with all boxing coaches, that none of them are encouraging. 
At this point I would like to say that to 'not be encouraging' is different from being 'discouraging'. As I have said before, I have had more than my share of discouraging coaches.
One of the things you will find with boxing coaches is that the are very blunt. 
I think that is indicative of this sport.
Boxing can be a very dangerous sport, and therefore you can not be farting around in the ring. 
I believe this is one of the reasons why boxing is the safest of all the contact sports. The coaches are constantly drilling their athletes about safety.
There is no ass kissing in boxing, only ass kicking. If you don't want yours to be kicked, listen to your coach. Even though he may seem rude at times, don't take offence to it. He is trying to keep you safe.

That is why I am not the least bit concerned about getting hurt. I know that my coaches will not let that happen. I am more concerned about looking like as ass in front of a bunch of strangers.
Seriously, my whole boxing "career" is teetering on what happens on Saturday. If I do not do well, there is a chance, although a slight chance, that I may retire the gloves.
That is why I am very appreciative of Richard to give me this exhibition match before throwing me into the lion's cage. It will gave me a chance to see how well I can do under pressure.

It is important to note that this is an enhanced sparring session.  Not an 'event'. 
Therefore, only members of the Stockyards Boxing will be allowed to watch at this time.

Cheers.

My First Bout...Soon!

Hello all.

Persistence is very important in life. I have just found that out.

As my followers may know, I have been through a lot the past three or so years.  My goal was to eventually get to the Pan-Am Games. 

However, my more recent and more realistic goal was to step into the ring in front of an audience again.

That goal is close to coming true. How close, you ask? 

Less than two weeks.

Coach Rick approached me today and asked me to do an exhibition match for the club's second anniversary.  

An exhibition is the best way to get back into the ring after all this time. It will help me get used to being in front of an audience again.

September 21 is the date. 

I would like to invite all of my readers, however, this event is limited to members and family.

That being said, the "other gym" is doing something "different". 

They are doing something called a "Tonebana Demonstration".

This poster for "Tonebana" is stuck to the mirror in the boxing studio at Bloor Fitness. Next to it is a poster for a "real" boxing show, also scheduled to be at Bloor Fitness.

"Tonebana" is on September 14, and the boxing show is on September 28. Odd coincidence that they just happen to sandwich Stockyards' anniversary show. 

Yeah. Interesting how that works.

Good luck with that "Tonebana" deal.. I will not be there. I will be preparing for my exhibition. 

"You know what time it is?!!!" 

Time to move on to other things...

...Like sparring. Real sparring. 

Richard is only allowing guys in his anniversary show who are registered with Boxing Ontario, and who have been doing regular sparring.

I try to get into Stockyards twice a week for hard sparring. Usually on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Last week, Junmar left the door open, so people from outside could watch.

There was a mother with her young son, and someone else, aunt probably.

Sparring was going on, and they were watching. 

The young one had to be no more than 9. He said, "I want to do that." 

The aunt said, "I think you have to be a bit older, about 16 or 17."

Mom said, "No. I think maybe 25."

I could not help but to laugh.

That is all for this entry.

Cheers.