Avila Perspective, Chap. 98: Prizefighters are Hungry to Fight

Avila Perspective, Chap. 98: Prizefighters are Hungry to Fight

Hunger. That’s what boxing is all about.

It’s time to eat.

While athletes in other pro sports like baseball, basketball and football worry about contracting the coronavirus, prizefighters around the world are begging to find work. Literally begging.

“In this sport they are fighting to get back in the ring,” said Mark Kriegel while on ESPN Boxing this past Thursday night.

That one sentence explains prizefighting.

While the rich and famous of other sports abstain from partaking of their actual livelihoods, the poor and destitute partakers of the sweet science march on despite the dangers. They want to get paid.

Blue collar boxing has taken several hits with various trainers in the USA losing their lives such as Stan Ward, Ali Salaam, Francisco Mendez, Jimmy Glenn, and multiple former fighters such as Carmen Williamson and Hedgemon Lewis. The sport has taken severe hits to its older generation.

Even right now several fighters and trainers have contracted the coronavirus and remain battling the effects. Among those infected are Robert Duran, Fernando Vargas and Henry Ramirez. (The legendary Duran was discharged from the hospital on Thursday and is recuperating at home.)

Ramirez stated he was stricken with severe symptoms for several days and just now has regained health.

“It happened to me on Father’s Day,” said Ramirez, who has trained various world title contenders such as Chris Arreola and Josesito Lopez. “It hit me like a truck. It was no joke. I was down for eight straight days.”

The Riverside-based trainer said he knows he contracted it from one of his fighters who was tested and found to be positive with the Covid-19 prior to a fight last month. That fighter was unable to participate because of the positive test result. Ramirez soon discovered through symptoms that he was inflicted with the virus too.

“This virus is real,” said Ramirez, who trains more than a dozen prizefighters but has remained in quarantine for more than two weeks now. “I’ve been healthy for four days now.”

He awaits his test results to confirm his health.

Gung Ho

Regardless of the danger, fighters are eager to return to the boxing ring. There are no pensions or unemployment benefits for prizefighters. Those depending solely on boxing need to return to the prize ring.

Last month, Mikaela Mayer was scheduled to fight on the semi-main event in Las Vegas. It was part of a Top Rank boxing card to be televised by ESPN. Though she had been training intensely and felt healthy she was discovered through a Covid-19 test to have the coronavirus in her system. She was taken off the card.

“I had trainers and bills to pay,” said Mayer. “I thought we were going to fight back in March but the pandemic arrived and that fight was canceled.”

Mayer’s opponent Helen Joseph also was forced to wait. Both will hopefully face each other on July 14, at the MGM Grand in a bubble created to prevent infection from the virus. Fingers are crossed.

Last week, Riverside-based Joshua Franco (pictured on the right) ignored the dangers of the coronavirus to face the WBA super flyweight titlist Andrew Moloney and won by split decision. Moloney trekked from Australia to defend his title. Both were eager to perform.

Boxers are gung ho to return to the prize ring. It’s all about hunger. No other sport has the appetite for action like a prizefighter. Whether it’s boxing or MMA the prizefighters are always ready to eat.

Sports fans and athletes from other sports should appreciate the one sport that never shies from danger. It’s prizefighting.

Fights to watch

Tues. July 7, ESPN, Andy Vences (23-1-1) vs Luis Lopez Vargas (20-2)

Thurs. July 9, ESPN, Carlos Castro (25-0) vs Cesar Juarez (25-8).

Photo credit: Mikey Williams for Top Rank

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