SURPRISE: Out Pops An Opponent

   ENTRY 407



OPPONENT FOR THE BRAMPTON CUP: UNEXPECTED

Next weekend will be the Brampton Cup. This is the largest tournament held in Ontario. It is one of very few where athletes from all over North America compete. 
The Brampton Cup is hosted by the Bramalea Boxing Club and has been held every year for a very long time. I can't find the year the Brampton Cup started, but it has been a while.

From the start of training camp I never really expected to get into the Brampton Cup. 
I went to training camp anyway, just in case.
I am glad I did. On the last day of registrations there was an entry in my weight class. A guy from Hamilton.
This caught me off guard. I thought I would not have an opponent. 

However, he does not have any ring experience. His profile is listed as "0" bouts.
That might mean that they may not allow us to compete because of the difference in experience. 
Sometimes they split the division into novice and sub-novice. Up to 5 bouts and more than 5 bouts. If they do that it would put us in different categories.
However, something tells me they won't.

My wife said that this will be "easy" since the guy has no experience.

I do not believe that.
I never assume that an opponent will be easy to beat. That is being cocky. You know what happens to cocky athletes in any sport?...They end up getting their butts kicked all over the place.
If anything, it is likely this guy may end up being super aggressive. It is his first time competing. It is a major tournament, and his opponent is more experienced. 
If it was me I would certainly be aggressive. I'd be trying for a knock-out. 
Seriously.

I have to take this guy just as serious as I did Jack Chisamore and all of my other previous opponents.

Although this will be the last entry until after the Brampton Cup, I will keep you all updated through social media. 

Follow me/Like me on Facebook. 

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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec, Golden Gloves Silver Medalist 

The "F-Word" Ruined Boxing Gyms ~ What Happened To the OBA?

   ENTRY 406


THE "F-WORD" RUINED TRADITIONAL BOXING GYMS

Earlier in the week, I was talking to an MMA guy from X-Couture who used to be a boxer.
The reason he used to be a boxer is that he said that he was having a lot of problems getting decent coaching at other gyms.
Wait.
That sounds very familiar.
This guy was 34 years old, so still not quite a Master.

That is interesting. 
That means that this problem with the bullshit coaching is not isolated to me, or even to Masters.

This led me to thinking that there must be something else that is causing Crappycoachingitis

It really didn't take long to figure it out.

It is the 'F-word'.
Fitness.

Traditional boxing clubs are slowly being replaced or taken over by fitness classes.

This happened at Bloor Street Fitness. Originally it was Bloor Street Boxing. Once 'Fitness' was introduced, the boxing program went right downhill to where it became practically non-existent. 
Then it happened again at Stockyards.
Originally it was called Stockyards Boxing Gym. Then slowly they began to focus more on fitness classes and less on competitive boxing. Then they changed the name to Stockyards Boxing and Fitness.
There is that damn F-word again. As soon as that word appears the trouble begins.

It seems that there is more money in it for the gyms for fitness than for competitive boxing programs. 
Stockyards even went as far as to squeeze the boxers out when a fitness class was on. 

Xtreme Couture is different in that they can offer both equally.
They have people who specialize in fitness and ones who specialize in combat sports. 
That way which ever the members choose, they can get proper training.

Therefore, if you want good coaching for boxing, you need to find a place that is specifically a boxing gym or a place like X-Couture and hope that the F-word does not one day appear on their sign.
Although, X-Couture does have the evil F-word in small print on their sign, it will always be a combat sports gym.

Even then, it does not guarantee good coaching.
Kingsway Boxing Club is specifically a boxing gym and their coaching was terrible when I was there. I mean, throwing all of your boxers into the ring and shouting out a drill to work on and then fucking off for the rest of the session never to be seen again is not the way to coach future champions. 

Anyway. The point is you really can't tell what kind of coaching you are going to get until you try it. Unfortunately, most places do not allow you to 'try'. If they do, it is only for one session which is not long enough to judge the level of coaching.

That being said, since it is the beginning of the year, it is almost time for another "Guide To Boxing Gyms In Toronto".

I am currently working on the next guide, and it will be ready soon.
Look for it here.



CONTINUING STORY: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ONTARIO BOXING ASSOCIATION  AND HAMILTON BOXING CLUB?

I have once again heard of the fate of the Ontario Boxing Association but still can not confirm it.
However, while doing some research I found some very interesting pieces of information.

Sherry Boone who was running the OBA, used to own a boxing gym on Lundy's Lane in Niagara Falls. Her son, Brodie, was the coach.
At that time her gym was under Boxing Ontario sanction.
Based on information I found from the Niagara Falls Public Library, an undated article mentioned that Sherry Boone was banned from Boxing Ontario for being disruptive and abusive.
I have to say I am not at all surprised by this since meeting her, I have witnessed her being quite abusive to people.
That explains a lot.

If she was booted from Boxing Ontario, then that explains her setting up the Ontario Boxing Association under the World Boxing Council. Her son was then able to open the Hamilton Boxing Club on Upper Centennial Parkway under the "new" OBA.

However, although I have not been able to confirm if the OBA has shuttered since as the time of writing this entry they still have a web site and Facebook page.
However, this is not true for the Hamilton Boxing Club. It too had both a web site and a Facebook page. Now, neither exist. If you do a search for 'Hamilton Boxing Club', the link takes you to a Go Daddy parked page. 
The Facebook page has just disappeared into Facebook heaven.

This is an interesting indication of what has happened.

If the OBA did shut down, it would mean that the Hamilton Boxing Club can no longer exist unless it switches to Boxing Ontario. However, with Sherry being banned it is unlikely that her son would decide to sanction under Boxing Ontario.

It is all coming together now.

...and as I mentioned in a previous entry, I am not surprised.

Hamilton Boxing Club



BACK TO HELL

In the last entry I mentioned that the idiots at Bell cut all of my services due to their own error.
Finally, after six days without any TV, internet, or phone services, everything is now back on.

In the meantime, I dropped my mobile phone onto the concrete floor at the gym and smashed the shit out of the screen.
That was the one that I had bought from Amazon after my original Samdung S6 Edge charging/data port had failed and they refused to fix it.
Two smartphones over two years. 
That has forced me to get another, but I wanted a really good one.

The one I originally wanted was out of stock everywhere for a very long time and then when it finally came back it was really expensive.
The Google Pixel 2 XL. $1350 or $425 on a 2-year agreement.
I don't think so.

I decided to go with the LG G6. 
It had specs close to that of the Pixel 2, but not as expensive.
$1000, but I got it for $50 because I painfully and reluctantly agreed to stay with Hell for another two years.

LG G6\

I have to say it is not a bad smartphone.
I have not fully explored it yet, but it has an amazing camera with two lenses. Close-up and wide-angle. I have never seen that on a smartphone.

I also bought a rugged case for it. To prevent the screen smashing from happening again.
Word of caution: Don't buy accessories from Bell. 
They wanted $55 for a decent case.
I got a good case with a screen protector and a belt clip for $23 from Amazon.

Amazing isn't it?

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--Paul 'The Brick', 2017 Golden Gloves Silver Medalist

I Heard It Through the Grapevine

   ENTRY 405


I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

I heard through the grapevine that the Ontario Boxing Association was in trouble and could possibly be shutting down. However, I have not been able to find any information to confirm that.
I don't usually post things like that unless I can find proof. 
However, if this is true I have to say that I would not be the least bit surprised.
I am posting this as an opinion, but if I find it to be true I will post it as news.


BRAMPTON CUP TRAINING

Brampton Cup training is well underway. 
Although there are a few masters registered, none of them are in my weight category. Either too heavy or too light, A couple are really up there at 95+ kg. I could move up, but I don't want to. Nor do I think my coach would like that. 
I want up to that class once, and you all know what happened.
I'm currently at 83 kg which is a bit above my competition weight, but I have found from talking with my team mates that most of them are also usually heavier than competition weight. Besides, it won't take long to drop 2 kg.

I am training with the team four times per week, plus bi-weekly personal sessions with the coach.

There are a couple of things I am particularly working on.
One is that my coach has been noting that I am too flat-footed. I need to be on my toes more.
We have been working on footwork drills.
It reminds me of the scene in 'Rocky III' where Apollo is training Rocky at the Tough Gym, and Apollo is telling Rocky, "On your toes...On your toes..." and they were doing footwork in the ring.
That is exactly what it reminds me of.

My life has become a Rocky Training Montage.


STOCKYARDS CARD

My former club, Stockyards Boxing and Fitness will be hosting a card later in February.
There are a couple of masters training in there, so if Richard puts out a request, I may be asked to compete on that card. 
Of course, I will do that,


COUTURE CARD 

My coach has been talking about putting on a show at our club. 
However, I am not sure when that will be happening. Once I find out, I will post it here.


LIVING IN THE DARK AGES

This is one of those "Not A Damn Thing To Do With Boxing" segments that I like to do occasionally, 
This one is a bit annoying, a bit funny, but most of all it is intended to be informative.

My buddies at Bell. Remember Bell?
I used to work there before I got a job at a real company.
I haven't talked about them in a while because I didn't have to.
Well, now I do.

For the past few months Bell has been claiming to not be receiving payments. 
Every month I have to show that a payment was made. This of course, is completely and totally unnecessary and a huge pain in the butt, so I stopped doing it.

A couple of weeks ago, I received a message from Bell billing indicating that I had an account balance of $863. It also said that if payment had been made to ignore the message. Since I was caught up on my payments I did what the message said to do, ignore it.

All was fine, so I thought. 
Tuesday I found that I had no Bell services at all.
No landline, no mobile, no TV, no internet. No access to Bell email.

After a typical day of talking to many people at Bell by using the phone at the Stockyards Bell store, I was finally able to do what many find impossible. I managed to get Bell to admit to making a mistake. 
Wow!

They credited the account what I had paid and said that they would put the services back on within a day.
Here we are six days later, and still no services from Bell.

The thing is Bell is not allowed to disconnect home phone service as per CRTC ruling.

I figured they would at least get that working.

Nope. Nothing.

I would happily say goodbye to Bell, but the wife likes them.
I have no idea why. They have the highest rates and the worst possible customer service of all of the telecom companies in Canada.

The thing about not having TV does not really bother me. Not having cell service really doesn't bother me too much either.
Although, I find that having the home phone is really important. Since I work and may need to contact them, or they may need to contact me. Plus my wife has a medical condition and may need to call her doctor. Not everything is an emergency, but is still important.

Above all else, not having internet access is the most annoying to me.
I do everything over the internet.

Right now my internet access is restricted to me using the wifi at the Jane-Dundas Public Library whenever I can.
I tell you, I have spent more time in the library over the past few days than I have all my life.

I can also use the wifi at work during breaks.
That is not too often, although I did get some things done.
I still have some banking stuff to do, but that has to wait until I get my own service back. There is no way I am providing banking information over a public network. 

This whole situation is pissing me right off.
First of all, it isn't even my fault, and why is it taking so long to put the services back on?

I think I am going to be sending a nice little note to the CEO of Bell. 
George A. Cope. 
Hi there. 
My name is Paul 'The Brick' Brec, and I just wanted to let you know that your billing department are idiots.
Thank you.

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--Paul 'The Brick" Brec, Golden Gloves Silver Medalist

Oops, Weight Crept Up Over the Holidays

   ENTRY 404

Now that the holidays are over and a new year has begun, it is now time to get back into the grind. 
Back to regular training.

Not much happened over the Holidays, except that I gained a bit of weight.
Not a problem, I can lose that in no time.

The team is now going into Brampton Cup training.
I am not sure if I will be in that tournament, but I am part of the team so I will be training just like the rest.
I will do my best, but due to work I will not be able to attend every training session.
That is a piss-off because I want to attend every training, but I have to work.
Look at it this way: If I don't work, I won't have money to go to training in the first place.

Wednesday I did four rounds of good sparring.
Lots of technical training on other days.

Even if I don't go to Brampton Cup, I am getting good training.
There will be club cards coming up as well.
I have not done one of those in a while, and I am looking forward to doing one.

I know there are a few Masters out there who do not enter tournaments. 
My old gym, Stockyards has a couple, and I know there are more.

I will keep working at it the best I can.

By-the-way, my wife once again asked when I will be retiring from boxing. 
Again, my answer was, "When I feel like it, and I don't feel like it right now."


--Paul 'The Brick' Brec, Golden Gloves silver medalist

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