Boxer_Daddy's blog
BOXER'S RANT V: Trial by Fire
As a veteran boxer I've been around the gym for a few years. I've seen the rookie faces of hopeful young pugilists to the dejected expression of disillusioned contenders. Throughout my tenure I've watched guys being trained as well as been asked to help train others. Its during that time that I have witnessed a recurring tragedy that shames the sport and those claiming to be instructors of the fine art. A "newbie" comes into the gym to be introduced to the sport of boxing. He finds a coach and/or trainer then asks for instruction. The newbie receives some basic teachings then a week or two later he's tossed in the ring against a well trained or highly skilled jerk of a boxer that beats the snot out of him. WTF?!?! This is WRONG! Even if the newbie asked to have his skills tested, this is FAR TOO soon and NOT the right way to introduce him to the squared circle. I'm sure I don't need to hold my tongue here when I mention how fragile the male ego is. Whether many want to admit it or not. No aspiring boxer (unless he's a jobber, but that's another story) wants to get his ass kicked the first time out. A fighter can be quickly turned off by the sport and never return. Especially given today's "instant gratification society generation" that expects to be Muhammed Ali / Rocky Marciano their first time in the ring. Oh wait, my bad that's WAY before their time, please insert Floyd Mayweather Jr / Manny Pacquaio into those previous champion name slots.
I'd like to believe that the trainer is hoping to unlock a newbie's natural talent. But this is the wrong way of going about it. Being tossed into a gladiatorial arena is no way to root out a person's instinctive skill for battle. Mercifully the newbie's performance is not judged by an audience or he would most assuredly receive a thumbs down and have his life ended. Young hopefuls need to be skillfully guided to the top to unlock their potential. You never know who's going to be the next champion whether they come in early or late in life. Every fighter needs to be handled differently. If one method of teaching doesn't work try another. Don't just toss a guy to the wolves and let him fend for himself to see if he survives.
Another tragedy along the same lines is when a newbie is used as punching bag material for a trainers other more skilled fighters. Again this is another way to turn off a potential aspiring boxer. If a guy gets his ass kicked enough times in the ring without learning anything he'll begin to question the validity of his chosen sport, ponder himself and why he's constantly taking this kind of punishment for no reason.
If you're a coach or a trainer, is it worth the risk to find the next champ given the declining numbers of guys interested in boxing? If you're that "newbie" I strongly urge you to find another instructor. There are thousands of trainers out there. And if you're a witness, pull that boxer to the side and inform him of his options. You'll be better for having helped change someone's life and that boxer will be thankful to you for the rest of his life.
Tallblondwrestler (79)
2012-12-16 23:51I don't think this just applies to "boxing" it applies to life in general.
I work in a profession where it is almost traditional to see young guys or girls finding their way in it bullied by certain types of personality who have reached positions of power. It happened to me when I was younger - and I see it happen to younger colleagues. This is not a justification for such behaviour but it is a phenomenon of human behaviour that appears to exist, particularly in male-dominated hierarchies, although I think it may be less common now.
Boxing is a bit different of course - because rather than being simply psychologically gruelling - it is physically demanding and painful too - but the principle is the same.
Most of me agrees with the tenor of your post. I certainly have and had a "male ego" and sometimes it is fragile. I can remember being knocked back early in my career by bullies - or as your post suggests - guys who, in fact, get some kind of sadistic kick out of "blooding" rookies. In some areas of British male hierrarchies - this "bullying" behaviour is just conisdered a "rite of passage" or "initiation ritual". I think it might be a green card for sadists.
I can also recall by first crushing wrestling demolition - and even though I was familiar with the principle - it took me a bit of time to recover. I survived though. And sometimes there is the thought that if you are going to be any good - you need to demonstrate determination in the face of such extreme bullying to "harden you". I don't believe that though. That's another version of "well it didn't do me any harm" and is, in fact, an argument that can be used in favour of serial abuse, which perpetuates itself over generations simply because it's there.
After all, it remains an entirely hypothetical question as to how many brilliant and talented boxers have been strangled at birth by this behaviour or has it hardened and made better those boxers who were subjected to it and got better?
Discuss.
Boxer Daddy (48)
2012-12-18 04:49Much appreciation for your insightful commentary. While attending college I pledged a fraternity. The "Big Brothers" or veteran fraternity brothers "hazed" my line of brothers but did so with caution. As one member cited… "What is the point of hazing your incoming members to the point that they do not wish to associate with you once they cross line." While I do see the need for "hazing" so that potential members fit a specific criteria for the organization as a whole it should not be done randomly or without care. And it should also be done with the individuals limits in mind.
So yes, I can see how a cruel type of behavior is allowed to perpetuate itself under the disguise of weeding out the fittest. However, Boxing is experiencing another evolution and must adjust to the change or become a thing of the past. I'm referring to the advent of MMA. This highly encroaching sport has steered a number of potential participants away from traditional boxing & wrestling for that matter. As such the trainers and coaches of boxing have to do something to keep the current and new generation interested. Proven methods of the past no longer work in this era. I believe this is a definitive "change or die" situation. The heavyweight boxing division is in a near unrecoverable downward spiral as many young heavyweights are steering toward football (a more accurate name would be "pigskin") than fisticuffs. The quicker rise to riches & fame combined with a team effort collective makes the sport look more lucrative. However it should be noted that American football has an extremely high rate of injury. The rising boxing hopeful Seth Mitchell was a pro football player until he blew out his knee forcing his retirement from "pigskin." Upon turning to Boxing he quickly found the spoils of victory he was looking for.
Now by no means am I advocating that we need to "coddle" or "baby" newbies but a middle ground must be found to keep the sport alive in America. Trainers & Coaches need to be smart enough to match their new fighters in with smart trained boxers that will not "tee" off on the new guy and bring them along. I’ve sparred against a lot of new guys and not taken advantage of them. All of them have thanked me in the end saying that at every one gym, everyone they sparred with just wanted to beat the crap out of them. Many of them still seek me out to help them get ready for up coming fights as opposed to fighting the fighters they train along side.
One day I will become a full time coach but for now my Master’s career is still thriving.