Golden Gloves Boxing

Author's note: My grandson is fighting his second bout tonight. He won his first fight a few weeks ago at 170, and now this week he is fighting at 160. For the first weight class, he had to gain weight, and for this class, he had to cut weight.

I was set to watch him fight tonight, and asked his Grandpa to go instead. I will handle his obligation so that he can go. His Grandpa is a boxing fan and has boxed himself. I watched his first match on a YouTube channel and couldn't breathe in the first half of the first round.

Brandon was a wrestler, and we attended the majority of his fights in high school. He went to state and nationals in wrestling. He has maintained his strength by working with concrete and by running and working out.

His advantage in his first match was that he was taller than his opponent. He appeared to have a longer arm reach. In the first half of the first round, he was hit hard a couple of times. He wasn't told about how the other guy did in his first seven rounds until after the fight, when we found out he won half of his matches.

At one time, he weighed 200 pounds, and it may have been all in his arms. My husband says his advantage is that he wrestled during high school, and his disadvantage is that some of the boxers have been boxing since they were six, making them more familiar with boxing than someone who hasn't boxed before.

He believes that a long time boxers advantage would be having the endurance necessary to get through the three rounds.

To learn basic boxing terms, I went to Google.

Basic Punches

Jab: A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand to measure distance, set up combinations, and score points.

Cross: A straight power punch from the rear hand, often following a jab in a one-two combination.

Hook: A short, arcing punch aimed at the side of the head or body, generating power through hip rotation.

Uppercut: A rising punch from below, targeting the chin or solar plexus, effective at close range.

Overhand: A looping punch thrown over the opponent’s guard, often used by shorter fighters to close distance.

Body Shot / Liver Shot: Punches aimed at the torso or liver to slow the opponent and set up head shots.

The terms listed do not make me feel better about boxing. I didn't expect they would. I want to be supportive and, at the same time, keep him in my prayers and send him Reiki as often as possible. My preference is that he doesn't box. He is, however, an adult and gets to decide for himself.

The grandson says he has a few more fights back-to-back after this fight. Apparently, he is in tryouts to advance to the Upper Midwest Golden Gloves Championships. He said that he was told he would box his first opponent again before he finishes this advancement.

It sounds like too much fighting to me, and then all of the practices. It was good that he had a day off when I saw him yesterday. I will be in a meeting when he is fighting, so unless they tape the fight as my daughter did his last fight, I won't see it.

It will be okay with me if I don't see the bout. After reading this, please give a quick thought for my grandson's safety tonight, and maybe a prayer too.