Connect with us

Featured Articles

Sparring Day

Published

on

Ring 1 view 2Today is sparring day for the teenage girl with the long brown hair and button round eyes. Gym time starts like it always does at six in the evening. The boxers line up. They are young, old, fat, skinny, brown, black, white–but they share a love of boxing so they’re where they want to be today: among friends.

The warm-up is like it always is. Familiarly named tortures are sorted through scornfully by each vessel under the watchful eye of their trainer. There are push-ups, sit-ups, something called skyscrapers, jumping jacks, etc. Each is meant to make them what they need to be: faster, stronger, tougher.

It seems to be going faster today.

After the warm-up is through, the soldiers are given their orders for the day. Some will jump rope now. Others are on the heavy bag. A lucky few shadowbox. They’re doing the best impression they can of all-time greats. There’s an old, fat man doing his best Jack Dempsey next to a young Marco Antonio Barrera. Two girls are shadow boxing each other. One is Laila Ali today. The other is Claressa Shields. They’ll change roles next time, just like they always do.

Suddenly, the air of the room has gone heavy. Strangers have entered now. They’ve come from a gym no one but Coach has ever heard of. The scruffy, short, gray haired man leading them in is their master. His two sons look like they care more about bulking up to mini-hulks than staying lean and mean, but both of them have deep set eyes that scream they can scrap.

Their girl isn’t as lean as ours. She’s got short, curly red hair and she looks nervous. Her coach takes her up to the ring to give her a feel for things. No doubt, it’s different than the one at her gym. They all are. She scurries across the canvas like a nervous mare. As she does it, he’s telling her secrets we can’t hear.

On the floor, Coach tells our girl what she needs to do. She already knows it. She does it every day on the heavy bag. Jab, jab, cross. Jab, cross, hook. Be aggressive. Be fast. Be first.

It’s time.

The coaches give each other a nod. Coach rings the bell with the sound of his voice. He’s keeping time on his watch.

Our girl comes out like we see her every day on the bag. She glides up to the intruder but doesn’t throw punches yet. It’s different now, she thinks. This isn’t a heavy bag. It has arms and legs. It has a heart and a brain. It’s alive.

The two take some time to get used to things up there. The ring is scarier than they thought maybe. Our girl has had enough of it, so she takes to the lead like she’s supposed to. She jabs still too far away. Everything is fine. She moves a bit closer. She jab, jabs. Good now. Jab, jab, cr—she’s countered!

Our girl knows the score now, but she tries again. Same result. She’s frustrated. You can read it in her eyes. From outside the ring, it looks so easy. In there, though, she can’t see quite see what she needs to see. She’ll be countered every time and she knows it. The threat of it is making her leave her punches short. She’s not as fast as she is. She’s slow, hesitant. She’s lost in there.

Their girl makes ours press the action, then counters. It’s effective. That was the secret her coach told her, we think. The round is over. It’s time to adjust.

Coach tells her to jab. Be first, he says. Be fast! The second round sounds; our girl is wearing a scowl. She’s not as hesitant now. She’s throwing more punches and catching more in return. She rocks her opponent’s head back with a sharp blow. She feels her power now, but she has her own head busted back just in time to keep her humble.

She returns from the round a mixture of devastated and pleased.

The third round is cut to one minute. Both girls are tired now. Their coaches continue to tell them things their fighters can’t really hear anymore. It’s time to fight again. Corner time goes by so fast.

The final round is slower than the first two, even with half the actual time. Both girls have learned much today. They’re almost too tired to stand, but they finish up by trading solid shots to the head. Time is up. They pat gloves like friends and retreat.

Our girl takes her bright red head gear off. Her long brown hair unfurls intact, but one of her button eyes is less round now. She’s proud. She climbs down out of the ring to talk to her friends. She’s telling them all what they just saw. She’s full of emotion. It’s her story to tell and she’s telling it. They’re eager to listen, too.

What she is trying to tell them is what they couldn’t see. She tells them all the things she couldn’t do but doesn’t really know why, and all the things she could do, too. She’s beginning to ramble now, but no matter. The words aren’t telling the story anyway, but they all get the point. At the boxing gym, hitting the bags, performing footwork drills, listening to Coach, what they’re learning is just what it seems: it’s boxing. But in the ring, more is going on than just that – much more. In the ring, they learn about themselves, and our girl learned a lot today.

Comment on this article

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Paro
Featured Articles1 week ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles7 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles4 days ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles1 week ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles7 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles1 day ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles19 minutes ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles1 day ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 days ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles4 days ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles5 days ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles7 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles7 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles1 week ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles1 week ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending