Holy Losses, Batman!

ENTRY 202

Holy Losses, Batman

Okay. Without going into much detail, I lost to a bed decision again.
I'm telling you. The officials hate me!


Here are some photos from the bout:

Being examined by the referee.

Nice right. Too bad I missed..

Come get some!

Nice exchange.

Quick pep-talk from Coach Richard.

Defense times two.

That one found the target!

A very short rest.

Serious stuff.

Duck!

This Standing-Eight Count came out of nowhere. I didn't even feel getting hit!

Another good exchange.

Another talk from the coach.

Another short rest.

Crap! He dropped his defense, and I missed it!

Still missing it!

See the video here:

http://www.dailymotion.com/ditoprod

Results (Stockyards team):

Matt Standish won un. dec. over Paul Brechbuhler   @ 85 kg

Kofi Sarpong won un. dec. over Justin Lis from TNT  @ 74 kg

Mark Laidman from Ring London won un. dec. over Leo Ronin  @ 88 kg

Trace Easton won un. dec. over Ernesta Portillo from TNT  @ 87 kg 

This was one of the best Fight Nights ever from the Stockyards Boxing. Thanks to coach Richard for a great night!

In the meantime, I asked Leo's opponent, Mark Laidman if he wanted to fight me next month, and he agreed.

I mentioned it to Richard, and he likes the idea also. so I may have an opponent for the next card, and it is not somebody from my own gym for a change.

I was thinking this might be better for me. I was thinking that there may be some kind of a sub-conscious block when I fight someone from my own team, that is causing me to hold back.

It is possible that if I fight a guy I don't know, I may have a better chance of winning.

I never realized how heartbreaking it is to lose. I mean, in this sport, you make a lot of sacrifices, and then to not win is very disappointing.

Honestly, I need a "W". 

Losing is getting boring.

TTC Stands For...

Terrible Transit Crap.

On Tuesday morning, right in the middle of rush hour, service was suspended on Line 2. It took me an hour to get from Kipling station to Keele station.

The reason for the shut down? An excavator dug too deep, and damaged the tunnel.

Okay. How does this happen in the 21st century?

Anyway, it has since been fixed.

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 2  / 1 

Last bout: September 27 / 2014 [Loss by Decision]

Next scheduled bout: N / A
Training schedule: Monday,Tuesday,Thursday,Friday,Saturday-- sparring 2 times weekly

Coach: Richard Soucé
Trainer: Junmar Emon

Resting HR: 62 - 66

Stance: Orthodox  (Left lead)
Style: Technical

Status:  OFF UNTIL SATURDAY OCTOBER 4 [post-fight rest]

--------------------------------------------------

WEIGH-IN

*Daily within 2 weeks of a match, weekly otherwise.

        Sat.  187 / 85               

------------------------------------

CONTACT "THE BRICK": thebrickboxer@gmail.com

Last Entry ?

ENTRY 201

NEXT BOUT: September 27 @ George Bell Arena, vs. Matt Standish

Last Entry?

This will be the last entry before my bout on Saturday. 

It could be my last entry ever, if Standish has his way.

He my tear me apart, stomp on me, and wipe up the canvas with me.

Please come out to support the Stockyards' boxers on Saturday.

Tickets are available at the arena (boxing gym).

I will be off from training now, until late next week.

After which I will be slightly modifying my training schedule. 

I have realized that I have been over-training, causing me to be fatigued, and affecting my performance.

I will be taking at least one day off per week, and cutting sparring back to twice weekly.

Only before a bout will training be increased.

Why You Shouldn't Buy Anything Except Gas At A Gas Station

Well, my buddy at the Esso on Kennedy Road at Steeles Avenue in Brampton, last week charged me $6.65 for a 500 ml of water and a 500 ml iced tea.

Okay, so you have idiot staff working for you at minimum wage, and you are charging that much for drinks?

Saying Goodbye To The Junction,You Will Not Be Forgotten

I will be moving very soon. 

The choice was not any easy one.

However, due to serious problems with my current landlord, and other reasons, after eight years, I will be giving up my apartment on Bloor Street/Dundas Street for one in South Etobicoke.

One of the "problems" with the Junction is that over the past few years the area has become "Trendy", and we all know what happens then. Rents skyrocket, as people want to live in "trendy" areas. 

Rents in the Junction have increased an average of 25% over the last five years.

My studio apartment was $729 when I moved there in 2006. Now the landlord wants $950.

The "problem" is that she can not raise the rent on that apartment while it is occupied (except for annual increases to meet inflation--about 2%).

I think that is why she is trying to get me out of there. I am 'only' paying $815. 

Personally, I don't think that apartment is worth $950, but if she thinks she can get it, all the best to her.

At the same time, she can kiss my ass.

My new apartment will be a two bedroom on Islington Avenue near the Lake Shore.

Rents are very reasonable there.

I would like to thank the Junction neighbourhood for their support, and you can be sure that I will be back to visit.

This also means likely changing my alternate gym. 

I will not leave Stockyards, but I may have to leave Bloor Fitness, as it will be too far to travel.

Ironically, Kingsway Boxing Club is close, but I will never return to that crap.

Also close is Xtreme Couture.

I may do some alternate training there, depending on the fees. 

Everyone I spoke to who trains there are very happy with it.

I won three different auctions (sites) this week. Unusual. Most of the time, I have trouble winning just one.

100 mouthguards. I will be selling some, and the rest I will be donating to Stockyards Boxing, I see so many times guys forgetting their mouthguards, Now there will be lots of extras.

Also, I won a 1000 Costa Rico colon bank note. I have a friend who collects foreign currency. 

I paid $2.25 for it. After looking it up, I found that 1000 colon is equivalent to $2.25 Canadian dollars.

Interesting how that worked out, isn't it?

I wonder how much 1000 colon can buy?

I also won a nice headset for my MP3 player from the police Auction for $6.

It's new, and sounds great.

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 1  / 1 

Last bout: June 14 / 2014 [Loss by Decision]

Next scheduled bout: September 27 @ George Bell Arena
Training schedule: Monday to Sunday, sparring 2 - 3 times weekly

Coach: Richard Soucé
Trainer: Junmar Emon

Resting HR: 64 - 66

Stance: Orthodox  (Left lead)
Style: Technical

Status:  ACTIVE, TRAINING FOR UPCOMING BOUT
--------------------------------------------------

TRAINING 
Friday September 19 Bloor  CARDI, FLR  60 mins.

Saturday September 20 Stockyards  TECH, BAG  60 mins.
Sunday September 21 Bloor   CARDI, FLR, RESIST  90 mins.
Monday September 22 Stockyards TECH, SPAR  60 mins. 

Tuesday September 23 Stockyards  TECH,SPAR  60 mins,  
Wednesday September 24 Bloor  CARDI, FLR  60 mins.
Thursday September 25   [off]  

----------------------------------------------------

SPARRING

Mon  4 rounds.  Focus Defense

Tue 4 rounds.  Focus Defense

-------------------------------------

WEIGH-IN

*Daily within 2 weeks of a match, weekly otherwise.

Fri   187/85   Tue 187/85

Sat  188/85   Wed 187/85

Sun  187/85   Thu  187/85

Mon  188/85                
------------------------------

The 2015 Pan-Am Screw

ENTRY 200

NEXT BOUT: September 27 @ George Bell Arena, vs. Matt Standish

Congrats: 200th Entry !

Thank you to 'You', for supporting this blog, and thus supporting me, and my struggle to make it as an "older" amateur boxer.

Over these four years, and 200 posts, I have been noticing a trend.

The posts with the most views, are when I complain. 
Really? Is that really want you want, is more bitching? It can be arranged...

Also worth noting: Most visitors are from Canada, with the USA a distant second.

Most viewed entries:

• A Message From Yoda  (664 views)
• "Weighting" the Gyms  (418 views)
• The Last [intelligent] Man on Earth   (373 views)
• Bloor vs. Stockyards (219 views)
• Somebody Beat 'The Brick'  (151 views)

Once again, thank you for your support. Here's to another 200 entries.
Also, watch for my new "companion" blog, coming soon on SETT.


Saturday Sparring

Nobody showed up to spar on Saturday, so Richard did pad-work with me.
He wanted me to practice a "special" combination to use on Matt.
I practiced on my own for a couple of rounds, and will continue to practice all week.

I was just thinking: A closed-casket funeral would be appropriate for Matt?
What do you think?

The 2015 Pan-Am Screw

Okay, so I have ordered my Pan-Am Games Boxing Finals tickets (Since I will not be in it).

Trivia time: How much are ringside seats for the Finals in Oshawa?
I will give you two hints. One: the ticket prices are actually higher than listed for some reason, and two: it is a three-digit number. 
$100.
Yeah. 
Keep in mind this is amateur boxing. I don't even pay that much to see professional boxing.
Somebody is making a killing on these tickets.
...and that is not even the most expensive sport. 
Swimming is the most expensive at $140.  $140 to watch people swim? 
I can sit on the beach, and watch people swim for free...What the fuck?

Also the prices between the Pan-Am Games website and Ticketmaster do not match.
On the Pan-Am website, ticket prices are $ 45-60-75. When you are forwarded to Ticketmaster, prices change to $ 50-85-100. 
So, it looks like Ticketmaster is inserting their own screw. 

The most expensive event is the Opening Ceremonies, with tickets up to $350.

I think I will just watch it on TV.


Stupidity Is Not Restricted To Mississauga

I had to go to my dad's place on Thursday to help him with something. 
He lives on Dawes Road, so it means travelling across the city to Main Street station, and grabbing the Number 23 bus.

Since I was coming right from work, I decided to pick up some breakfast, so I stopped at the Tim Horton's at Main Square.
I wanted to try the new steak and egg breakfast sandwich. How difficult do you think that was?
Very. As a matter-of-fact, it was so difficult, that I never did get to try the sandwich.

This woman...this idiot...could not understand what I wanted. Three times I said "Steak and Egg". Her response was "What number is it?" 
I was trying to explain that there was no number on it. It was a breakfast sandwich special.
Then she said, "Do you want an egg salad sandwich?"

Okay...Why is this so difficult?

I ended up leaving without my sandwich, and went next door to Subway, which ended up being a whole different experience...

I ordered a ham and egg from Subway. 
Oddly, he asked me. "What colour egg do you want?"
Up to this point, I did not know that eggs came in different colours.
I told him, "Green." 
He said, "We do not have green. Yellow or white."

What is the purpose of offering different colours of eggs, if they don't have the colour I want?
Really?
Green eggs and ham on white.
What's wrong with that?


You Hate Mississauga Transit When...

On Saturday morning after work, a colleague offered to take me to the Westwood terminal.
I accepted, although I really don't use that terminal any more.

The easiest thing to do would have been to take a Mississauga bus Number 11. Of course, I didn't.
I took Brampton Transit, which goes in the complete opposite direction.
I took the Number 30 (Airport Road) to Steeles Avenue, and then the 511 Zum Steeles to Humber College, as I normally would.

Doing this, however, did not take any time off my travel, as the 511 I took would have been the same one, as if I did not get the drive to Westwood.

However, I did have a few minutes to spend at my favourite Walmart (Malton). Yay!


New Daytime Drama Serial: 'The Days Of My Life'

Well, my life is full of drama every week, and this week is no different.

Apparently, my idiot landlord is blaming me for the roach infestation.

Really? That's funny how I have been there for eight years, and never seen a roach.
That female dog was giving me crap right in the management office.

I know that (Legally) there is not a damn thing she can do, since there is absolutely no way of proving how bugs get into an apartment.

I realize the frustration it must be for a landlord to have to deal with pests, but how about my frustrations?
It does not help when the landlord is not being very co-operative.
We all have to work together the best we can to help keep pests under control.
"Blaming" does not help. Its childish.

For some reason she does not like me. Although, as you all may know, I do not usually allow myself to be defeated. 
However, I have decided that I have been in that building long enough, and it is time to move on.

I have found another place, and I am going to appeal to the Landlord-Tenant board to rescind the requirement to give 60 days notice to the landlord, and in my case only give 30 days. Considering, that what she is doing is considered harassment.

I have to say, I am really looking forward to my life in my new apartment. 
Although, this will delay my move to Montreal, as I will be locked into a lease.

Stay tuned for more from the dramatic series based on the complicated life of "The Brick"...Right here...next week...

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 1  / 1 

Last bout: June 14 / 2014 [Loss by Decision]

Next scheduled bout: September 27 @ George Bell Arena
Training schedule: Monday to Sunday, sparring 2 - 3 times weekly

Coach: Richard Soucé
Trainer: Junmar Emon

Resting HR: 62 - 66

Stance: Orthodox  (Left lead)
Style: Technical

Status:  ACTIVE, TRAINING FOR UPCOMING BOUT
--------------------------------------------------

WEIGH-IN

*Daily within 2 weeks of a match, weekly otherwise.

Fri   188/85   Tue 188/85

Sat  188/85   Wed 187/85

Sun  187/85   Thu  188/85

              Mon  187/85   Fri  188/85               

------------------------------------

CONTACT "THE BRICK"

Could New Policies Risk The Safety Of Boxers ?

ENTRY 199

NEXT BOUT: SEPTEMBER 27 @ GEORGE BELL ARENA, vs. Matt

MONDAY AND TUESDAY SPARRING

On Monday, I sparred four rounds with Leo, and on Tuesday three rounds with James. Focusing on defense at all times.
I really have no choice. My defense better be on top, A-number one, while I am up against Matt. Otherwise, it will be over fast, and not to my advantage.

No more sparring this week. I don't want to go crazy with sparring so close to a match.
I may do a couple of sessions next week, and that will be all for this month.

I will be training at Bloor Fitness for the rest of this week. Possibly sparring again on Saturday and next Monday.

COULD NEW POLICIES RISK THE SAFETY OF BOXERS?

Well, they, meaning whoever is the super-dooper king of amateur boxing in the world, has been constantly making changes to try to make amateur boxing more like professional boxing.

At first, they changed the designation of 'Referee Stops Contest' to 'Technical Knockout', and they changed the scoring to Ten-Point Must.
Okay. That's fine.

Then they changed the glove size for male competitors from 12 oz. to 10 oz.
That is also fine.

Now, they are eliminating the use of headgear for Open Class competition.
I do not agree with that.
The other changes, fine, but headgear is protective equipment. 
Also, why only for Open class, and not other classes? That will end up confusing people.
Either do it for all, or for none. 
I think it is a mistake to not use headgear. I think we are going to see a lot more concussions in the sport.


STOCKYARDS BOXING ON METROPOLIS TV

Due to problems with false copyright claims and theft of our copyrighted material, all archived Stockyards Boxing videos on YouTube will be unavailable starting next week.
Please watch our boxing archives on our new server at Dailymotion, starting in October.
We will be eventually leaving YouTube entirely.

For the September 27 bouts, we will be doing a couple of new things. 
We will be using two cameras. One locked-off wide shot, and one manned camera. Thanks to Mike for being our camera operator, once again.
In addition to having two cameras, I will also be commentating (post voice-over).
I think this will be the first time a boxer will be commentating his own bout.
It will be interesting to find out how it turns out.

Most of the September 27 bouts will be available for viewing in October on our Dailymotion channel in 1080p HD.

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 1  / 1 

Last bout: June 14 / 2014 [Loss by Decision]

Next scheduled bout: September 27 @ George Bell Arena
Training schedule: Monday to Sunday, sparring 2 - 3 times weekly

Coach: Richard Soucé
Trainer: Junmar Emon

Resting HR: 64 - 66

Stance: Orthodox  (Left lead)
Style: Technical

Status:  ACTIVE, TRAINING FOR UPCOMING BOUT
--------------------------------------------------

TRAINING 
Friday September 12 Bloor  CARDI, FLR  60 mins.

Saturday September 13 Stockyards  TECH, SPAR  60 mins.
Sunday September 14 Bloor   CARDI, FLR, RESIST  90 mins.
Monday September 15 Stockyards TECH, SPAR  60 mins. 

Tuesday September 16 Stockyards  TECH,SPAR  60 mins,  
Wednesday September 17 Bloor  CARDI, FLR  90 mins.
Thursday September 18   Bloor   CARDI, RESIST, BAG  90 mins.  

----------------------------------------------------

SPARRING

Mon  4 rounds.  Focus Defense

Tue 3 rounds.  Focus Defense

-------------------------------------

WEIGH-IN

*Daily within 2 weeks of a match, weekly otherwise.

Fri   188/85   Tue 188/85

Sat  188/85   Wed 187/85

Sun  187/85   Thu  N  /  A

Mon  187/85                  

------------------------------------

CONTACT "THE BRICK"

Things You Notice When You Are Bored

ENTRY 198

NEXT BOUT: SEPTEMBER 27 @ GEORGE BELL ARENA, vs. Matt

A STROLL THROUGH GEORGE BELL ARENA

This past Saturday, thinking there would be somebody there before 10 AM (there usually is), I went to Stockyards Boxing, but to my surprise, it was locked up tight.
It was okay, I just waited. 
Since it was raining, I waited inside the building.
Of course, there were no chairs around.

Not knowing how long I would have to wait, here I am sitting on the floor of the George Bell Arena, in front of the entrance to the gym.

You know, it is amazing the things you begin to notice when you are bored stiff.

09:56 am: Arrived at the arena, noticed gym was closed, sat on the floor under the pay phone that nobody uses.

10:04 am: Realizing that it was the first day of hockey season, and a bunch of kids walking by me to get ready for a game, and all of them looking at me like I am an idiot.

10:07 am: Began to think about how great of a blog entry this will make.

10:09 am: Noticed that the Stockyards Boxing Gym sign was not properly centered over the doors.

10:14 am: Got up to look for a chair. Did not find one.

10:17 am: Arena manager walked by me, and said `Hi`. I said `Hi`back, but forgot to ask him for a chair, as I was thinking about how great of a blog entry this will make.

10:19 am: Noticed that my ugly mug of a face was on the door of the Stockyards Gym.

10:23 am: Matt (my opponent) came in, tried to get into the gym, couldn't, and left. Didn't notice me sitting there (Ignored me).

10:26 am: Pondered further about how great of a blog entry this will make.

10:30 am: Noticed a box at the main entrance to the arena with a sign on it that read, "Please do not donate expired helmets".

10:31: Pondered about how a helmet could have an expiry date, or is it just a "Best Before" date, like on food? This helmet is 'Best Before MR 16'.

10:32 am: Pondered about what would happen if you used a helmet that was past its "Best Before" date.

10:33 am: Pondered about how great of a blog entry this will make.

10:37 am: Wandered the arena, discovered nothing interesting, returned to my "seat".

10:41 am: Counted the number of songs on my MP3 player. 124.

10:43 am: Counted the number of Foo Fighters songs on my MP3 player. 12.

10:45 am: Realized that I had accidentally added the song "The Final Countdown" twice, after Richard had expressed how much he hated that song a week ago.

10:48 am: Thought about how great of a blog entry this will make.

10:51 am: Looked outside. It was still raining.

10:54 am: Decided to wait until 11, and if nobody showed up by then, I would leave.

10:59 am: Junmar opened the door to the gym.

11:02 am: Richard showed up.

11:15 am: Got ready for sparring, which I was hoping would have been earlier.


SATURDAY SPARRING REPORT

After waiting over an hour on the cold arena floor, I was full of piss and vinegar for sparring.

Sparred four rounds, all with the small guys again. Two with Newton, and two with Dharius.

Kicked both butts royally. 

Realized that I needed to do that to Matt. 
Also realized that I had less than two weeks to prepare.

Weigh-in at Stockyards in front of Richard, and I was (still) 188. 
Matt's weigh-in the day before was 195.
That's a possible problem. It's too great of a difference.

Used that as an excuse to pick up Harvey's on the way home. Double with cheese and bacon, fries, rings, and Pepsi. (I need to gain two pounds).

Weigh-in on Sunday: 187 pounds. Damn it.

TAKING 'APPLES' FROM THE ORCHARD

Well, my buddies at ScrewTube are at it again.

There is this production company out of New York, that are harassing ScrewTube users by filing false copyright claims in order to make money off of productions that are not theirs.

The company is called The Orchard, and there are complaints all over the ScrewTube forums about them.

Well, they have claimed all of the (Metropolis TV) Stockyards Boxing videos as theirs.

Wow. 
I did not know that my production crew and my production equipment actually belong to a company in New York called The Orchard?
It is amazing the things that just go right over your head, isn't it?
Well, geez, you know, I am really sorry for any inconvenience I have caused them.

Anyway, the idiots at ScrewTube don't seem to want to do anything about it.

I was told to take up the issue with The Orchard myself.

Excuse me?
ScrewTube are the ones that are allowing this to happen.
Fuck them. They can lick my sweaty groin after sparring.
I do not charge anyone for producing these videos. I rely on income from ScrewTube to help pay production costs.
ScrewTube is fixing this. For every day I lose revenue, ScrewTube will be responsible.

Ever since Google took over ScrewTube, it has been a mess. Just like everything else Google touches.


'AMAZING' LANDLORD

I have lived in my unit for seven years, and have never seen a bug.
Last month, I saw a cockroach. One, so, no big deal. Then I saw two, then three, now I have a damn infestation.

I told management, and a week later they just happen to send a pest control contractor in to "inspect" for pests. Just in case the cockroaches are just a figment of my imagination.

On an interesting side note, some of the biggest pests are the pest control contractors. 
Anyway, I told the contractor that I had a roach infestation, just as I told management a week before.

Two days later, I get a notice from property management, that read, "The pest control contractor has determined that there is a cockroach infestation".

What? 
I told the contractor there was a roach problem. The pest control contractor did shit.

Anyway, sparing anymore ridiculous details, my apartment is being sprayed on Thursday afternoon, and I will have to be out of the unit. 
That will be interesting, since I will be on night shift. What the hell would they like me to do? Stay at work?

Its interesting that when pest control comes to where I work, they can do everything they need to do without obstruction. Nobody has to leave, nothing gets disturbed. 
Why can't they do the same for an apartment?

The things that make you go "Hmmmmm......"

...and for this my rent keeps going up...and of course the elevators that never work, but that is a whole different entry...

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Sometimes, I find something interesting I want to share.
This is one of those:

Film crew in Toronto waving at the Google Street View Camera:

...except for that grouchy old geezer walking in front of the tracks.

-----------------------------------------------

"The Brick", member of the Stockyards Boxing Team

Stockyards Boxing and Fitness, 215 Ryding Ave., Toronto

STATS

Record: 0 / 1  / 1 

Weigh-in on September 14 / 2014 @ 85 kg / 187 lbs. {down}

Last bout: June 14 / 2014 [Loss by Decision]

Next scheduled bout: September 27 @ George Bell Arena
Training schedule: Monday to Sunday, sparring 2 - 3 times weekly

Coach: Richard Soucé
Trainer: Junmar Emon

Resting HR: 64 - 66

Stance: Orthodox 
Style: Technical

Status:  ACTIVE, TRAINING FOR UPCOMING BOUT
--------------------------------------------------