No Quebéc Tournament For You and Have You Registered That Body Part?

 

    ENTRY 499 | JUNE 2 /2023

WHY BOXING?

I have had people ask why I chose boxing as a sport, 

It is a very good question that has a very good answer.

When I was younger I was not very athletic. In my teens I was as skinny as a rail and then into my mid-twenties and into my thirties, I started to go the other way. I became overweight. It got to the point when my physician at the time said that if I didn't start taking care of myself, I would get very sick. I had decided at that point that I needed to do something.

I started slowly, going to a fitness center and doing light exercise and some fast walking on the treadmill. As I began to get used to it, I started to pick it up. After a few years of building my fitness level, I decided to become an athlete, but what sport?  

I did try boxing a bit in the past but not seriously but it still interested me. Although, boxing is said to be the world's most challenging sport, why would someone not athletic want to try the most difficult sport? 

Another very good question with a very good answer.

It is because if I learn the most difficult sport first it means learning every other sport would be that much easier. Plus, boxing is one of the best things for you even if you are not a competitor. 

Boxing has been increasing in popularity likely due to people realizing how good it is for one's overall fitness.

Boxing is no longer an inexpensive hobby thanks to its growing popularity. The average cost to attend a boxing gym in Toronto is now about $120 a month, with some as high as $200, and all of the gyms are doing well. I remember a time when boxing gyms could not get anyone to join and now people are lining up at the door to get in. At least one boxing facility in Toronto has had to stop accepting new members because they have reached capacity.

Did I make the right choice in deciding to learn boxing at a competitive level?

Yes, Without question.

DID YOU REGISTER THAT BODY PART???

Another question that I sometimes get is "Do you have to register your hands as weapons?"

I have actually never heard of that. That may be an American thing. I'm not sure where that comes from, but it is definitely not a Canadian thing.

The law in Canada from what I was able to find out is that a boxer must announce that he is a boxer in the case that it needs to be used for defense purposes. I am not sure of the reason for that. I don't think it makes any difference if one is a boxer or not, but the law is the law.,

That being said, hands are not the weapon anyway. In the case of boxing the whole body is used to create power. The hands just happen to be the point of impact. Technically, the whole body is the weapon. 

Besides, how do you register a body part? 

NO QUEBÉC TOURNAMENT FOR YOU...OR YOU...OR YOU...

A few weeks ago Boxing Ontario sent a notice that there would be invites to the Québec Open. 

I was under the assumption that all Ontario boxers would be invited. However, and not surprising to me, I did not receive an invite.

This week, Boxing Ontario released the list of boxers from Ontario who would be going, and, also not surprising to me, not one was a Master. Although Masters are welcome to the Quebéc Open, Ontario is not sending any, so it looks like no Master was invited by Boxing Ontario.

Needless to say, that pissed me right off. It is another example of the general treatment of Masters boxers in Ontario. We are generally forgotten, except when it is time for Boxing Ontario to get paid its yearly dues. They don't forget that. 

We pay the same as the Elite class, but we compete less. Our fees should be lower. USA Boxing fees for Masters are lower than what the Elite boxers pay because Masters don't compete as often. Should Boxing Ontario do the same? 

Yes.

Will they?

No.

That is because everything is about money with them.

...and yes, I would have liked to go to that tournament. It would have been nice to look out the window and see something other than Southern Ontario for a change.

READY TO GO?

Yes.

I feel that I am getting very close to stepping into the ring to compete again.

I have been working very hard with the coach, and I still feel that I should be in the annual Cabbagetown Festival show. As I had mentioned in a previous post, that show should represent all Cabbagetown boxers. The Cabbagetown Festival is in September so I have about three months still to get ready, and I feel that I can do it. Ultimately, it will be up to the coach, but if he asks me how I feel I will tell him exactly how I feel: I'll be ready.

That being said, I am not sure if we will be doing a show this year since the takeover by the Kiwanis Club. 

I don't see anything changing, but you never know. 

I don't want to compete often, just enough to say that I am still in it. I am happy with it once or twice a year.

I do want to be ready because going in there and looking like shit makes everyone involved look like shit. I have a lot of respect for my co-athletes, gym, and coaches to go in there and look like shit. That is why I am giving it a bit of time. Time to tweak and to make absolutely sure.

NEXT ENTRY: June 9 /2023 "The 500th Entry Special!"

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

70 kg (158 lbs.)  

TRAINING STATUS:

ACTIVE

COMPETITION STATUS:

ALMOST READY -- PENDING

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA