I think for the past few weeks I have just been completely enjoying life. The experience of fighting at the Barclay’s Center was beyond amazing, and it is a bitter sweet feeling now that it is over… there was sooo much preparing for this fight for so many months and it came and went in a blink! Fun, Excitement, Joy…. it was a THRILLING day. I would do it over again in a heart beat.

The day went like this:

Weigh-ins were from 10am-12pm the morning of the fight - Friday, April 18th, 2013 - at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn.  Now, this is one of the newest arenas recently built in the country and it is the home of the Brooklyn Nets. 

I had never been there before and walking in that morning…well…this photo says it all:

A vast arena…although, I knew it wouldn’t be full — it all started to sink in…the whole thing — What a big deal the whole tournament was.  That I had signed up to fight in this tournament for two years in a row and could never participate because of work.  This year all my stars aligned — I was able to register and train properly….and I made it to the finals.  I was actually there. And going down in history for being the first fight to qualify to compete at the new location of the Barclay’s Center. It was all so surreal.

The weigh-in and physical with the doctor went by quickly.  Everything checked out OK and I weighed in at 146 pounds (I was competing in the 152lb weigh class) — I felt pretty light, but strong.  Previously that week I caught a nasty stomach bug and was finding it difficult to keep food down. I was just grateful to be eating solid food for two days at that point. I was ready to throw down! Now or never.

I took the rest of the day…after weigh-ins, to relax at home: watch a little TV and take a nap. Mike, Kimberly and I were do back at 5pm to pick up my uniform and gloves and settle in in the locker rooms before showtime. I was unusually calm. I think I knew exactly what to expect..I had a few fights under my belt and the whole process was becoming more natural to me—with the weigh-ins, physical, getting my hands wrapped..and the whole anticipation of it all.  I felt prepared and knew I would be going up against a really great and strong fighter. I was there to fight my best and giver my opponent a tough fight…and above all - give the crowd a good fight!! I already knew that I had a whole slew of friends in the stands there to support me: win or loose.  They, and myself, were pumped to see me drink after the fight and celebrate my hard work in general.

I met Mike at the WAT before heading to the Barclays to get my traditional hair-do.  Susan always ties my hair back and gives me my last words of encouragement before we ship out. She is one of those positive and upbeat people - who knows exactly the thoughts and feelings I am having before a fight….she can always give me the last bit of excitement and energy I need before the fight.

We arrived back at the Barclays Center and set up camp backstage in the Nets’ locker room.  There all of the girls hung out, gabbed, and sized each other up. But really…the time before a fight is the most nerve racking - so this is the time we nash a little food, chat with some of our friends and sparring partners, listen to music, and get our hands wrapped. Reno is by far the best hand-wrapper around!

I got my nails painted blue and yellow for the fight! I was in the blue corner and wore the blue uniform.  As being a finalist in the Golden Gloves I got to keep my shorts, tank, socks and gloves.

 I was the fourth fight — the perfect number!! I feel like being fourth bout, I am not going on too early as to be nervous about not warming up, and being the first for the crowd to watch….and not too toward the end that I’ve been waiting in the back for too long - plus by the end of the night a good portion of the crowd leaves.  Being fourth, I had just enough time to get my hands wrapped, loosen up, and get nervous enough waiting in the back — it was perfect.  

The most anxious time for me was putting the gloves on and the headgear and just waiting for my cue.  At that point, my opponent Nisa and I are both waiting in the hallway just off of the crowd, listening for our cue. I seriously feel like a gladiator going out to battle in front of the the people. LOL! Nerves….and then just a calmness kind of takes over — I totally go on auto pilot.

SHOW TIME!

At that point Nisa and I walk side by side with our corners (coaches) tailing right behind us…. we are funneled out to the arena through a pathway in the crowd.  It was awesome to walk past my friends who were seated ringside, and see my name and picture on the megatron above head. I was taken to my corner and disrobed. This was it!

Now -  I wish I could give you a blow-by-blow scenario of the fight…but it all becomes one big blur.  Four, two-minute rounds with one minute breaks. It goes by like a flash.  Highlights: feeling very calm and confident in the first two rounds… I got a lot of great shots off and she couldn’t touch me.  It wasn’t until the last two rounds where she caught on to my weaknesses and swiftly stole them from me. She is one tough chick…not to mention tall! It was like fighting a stronger, more experienced me.  She won by decision — and it was an honor to have fought her…especially at the Barclays.  I would never take the experience back for the world!!

Although I did not win the gold gloves…I did win silver, which I wear with absolute pride!

Looking back on it all…. I trained my ass off for the first solid three months of 2013, in the cold ass snow and short days. NEARLY three months of sobriety and “clean living” as Mike Reno likes to call it… I was spending 3-4 hours at the gym almost every single day of the week. I didn’t get to spend much time with my friends outside of the gym for quite a while — and it was so damn amazing to have them come to my fight and support me with bells and whistles!

A big old shout out to my best friend Meg — she organized a group of 20 of my friends and procured tickets and made Tshirts….coining my original fight name “The Reach” — although, recently my teammate Nikki gave me a newly popular name of “The Glamour Hammer” — which I am called regularly at the gym.

As soon as my fight was done and I changed I went to great my friends and I was welcomed with a nice big beer. I cannot even express how amazing that cold adult beverage was!!!  That night ended with more beers and a bit more shenanigans.  Alas…so the shenanigans have kept on for the past few weeks!!

me with TEAM RENO!! Kimberly, Julie, Mike and Nikki

Me and some of the FDNY Bravest Boxing Team - Al, Bobby, Reno, Todd

eating a DELICIOUS quesadilla later that night with Meg

Rockin’ the silver gloves the next day at work on set

So what are my plans…?

Great question!! Right after the fight I took ten solid days and did absolutely nothing. Well…I worked - but didn’t do anything athletic.  I have been back in the gym about every other day — really enjoying my workout. I have no stress, I have to big goals right now and that feels good!  I got up last Sunday and felt like a long run and ended up doing 8.6 miles.  I have had a beer every night since the fight — and it feels good! At the end of the day — this is a sport that I love, that I feel confident at, that I enjoy pursuing and being competitive at — but it is not my profession and summer time is my busy season with work, so boxing may have to go on the back burner for me…unless it fits my schedule.  That’t not to say I won’t be active! I am still training and running, and will be going tomorrow - MAY 10th, 2013 - to see my teammate Julie fight at Gleason’s Gym. So…if you are round - please come by!! She is 16 years old and a little spit fire!!

me and Julie

Thank you all again for the support and following me along my journey to becoming a better fighter. I hope I am able to inspire others to take a path less traveled, you never know where it may take you!!!! This experience for me will forever impact me — it is so special to me.  Just to look back at the hard work, the dedication and the sacrifices taken to get me to where I am now.  I started from absolutely nothing - being super awkward and totally clueless.  Reno used to say I looked like a giraffe caught in a fence…thats how far I’ve come.  Now — every step I take has been a learning experience, and I look forward to learning more, getting more experience and helping other fighters become better through sparring and sharing our experiences together! Women’s boxing is a small community, but a very special one!

Wow.  Who knew two and a half years ago that I would actually be competing in the Finals of the NY Daily News Golden Gloves tournament? I remember watching, in awe, of my teammate Nikki Russell as she fought at Madison Square Garden last year.  I thought to myself, “how amazing would it be to get here?” I am still in shock.

I am in slow season, work wise.  Which has worked out beautifully for my training program for this tournament.  I signed up back in January, and have basically been waking up to train, workout, spar, run….rinse….repeat.  I have been waiting for weeeeks to be called for a fight.  And, it finally came.  The usual goes: excitement: “yes!! I FINALLY get to fight!” slow encroaching nerves: “shit, I am days away… who is coming? will I perform well? who am I fighting? what if I lose?” to just strait up anxiety: “am I on weight? what should I eat before the fight? who is actually going to show up to watch me? why am I doing this? who really cares? win? lose? how man girls are in my weight class?”… and the questions go on and on and on…. it is a constant build up. 

Weigh ins were at 5:30pm….out in east bumble Staten Island.  We leave the WAT at 4pm.  We arrive at Tottenville High School at 6pm.  I weigh in at a solid 149lbs (for a 152 weight class).  I meet with the doc — all A-OK.  Then I play the waiting game.  Thankfully a few of my friends and sparring partners were around to hang with and joke around with and be nervous with as well (some of them were fighting…in the 119 weight class). Fights are to start at 8pm…around 7:15, my weight class is called into a room to discuss the situation. Apparently there were a total of 5 girls in the 152 weight class to initially sign up back in January.  Only three of us showed that evening to fight. What it came down to was drawing numbers for the bi. I pulled the number two and was to fight whomever pulled a one…that happened to be Diane McAllister. So, Nisa Rodriguez got the bi. This was the most ideal situation that could happen for me. Diane and I were to be the first bouts of the evening…

I was feeling confident.  Which was a nice change from the anxious nerves I had been feeling all day.  It felt good to get my trunks, boots, and tank on.  It was exciting to see the crowd filing in and the gym filling up. It is hard to express the deep rooted anxiety that is felt right before a fight…but I like to compare it to how Russell Crowe’s character must have felt in the movie Gladiator before he went to battle before the emperor. Cheesy, but SO TRUE!

I had a wonderful group of supporters make the trek out from my gym and I had a good cheering section.  The fight began and I found my stride and gave the girl a solid standing 8 in the first round. The second round began the same way and I gave her another swift standing 8…at that point the official decided to call the fight.  My very first TKO…50 seconds into the second round. It went by so fast. I was ushered off the ring and had a quick interview with a reporter from the NY Daily News. I then got some hugs from teammates and as I was walking off to change a group of seven of my friends walked in and said, “did you fight yet?” HA!!!!! They literally JUST missed me. Go figure. And, one of those friends was my dear friend Julia —- my friend from Germany who came and trained with me back in the Gleason’s era — I have a whole post about her visit in the archives!

It was a celebratory evening.  My friends took me out for pizza and beer — and my trainer told me to take the weekend off and get fat if I wanted to…but that come the next four weeks it was going to be hard training up until the fight….

So, everyone mark your calendars! April 18th and 19th are the finals at the Barclay’s Center….very first Golden Gloves at the new arena. I am pumped…and I hope to see you all out!!!!

There is also a fabulous article…I made HEADLINES in the NY Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/ignotz-punches-ticket-gloves-finals-article-1.1289329

Jennifer Ignotz punches her ticket to Golden Gloves finals 

The Georgia-born Brooklyn product pulverized Diane McAllister (Yonkers PAL) with two standing-eight counts to take a stoppage just 50 seconds into Round 2 of their semifinal

Two years ago, Jennifer Ignotz started a blog about her life in boxing. After Thursday night, she should have plenty to write about.

Tottenville High School brought the Daily News Golden Gloves to Staten Island on Thursday for the first time in 2013.

Ignotz (Unattached) made tournament history, becoming the first Gloves contestant to earn a finals berth at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The Georgia-born Brooklyn product pulverized Diane McAllister (Yonkers PAL) with two standing-eight counts to take a stoppage just 50 seconds into Round 2 of their semifinal.

“I feel like I did well,” the 152-pounder said. “I was nervous, (but) I felt strong and didn’t break a sweat.”

With the win, Ignotz will face three-time champion Nisa Rodriguez (Mendez BC) in the finals.

“I have a big challenge ahead of me,” Ignotz said. “But win or lose, I’m going to have a good time. Every fight is a learning experience for me.”

** Where to buy tickets to the Finals at the Barclay’s Center:

http://www.barclayscenter.com/events/detail/daily-news-golden-gloves

http://centerbrooklyn.com/Events.php?search_text=Daily+News+Golden+Gloves

Hey all!

After a long absence on the blogging scene…I find it entirely necessary to announce to you all that I have finally been called to fight in the Quarter Finals of the New York Daily News Golden Gloves!

This will be my 5th official fight in my career, and I look forward to it for the experience I am gaining.  I registered and weighed in for the fights in early January, so it has been a long time coming since then!! I am fighting in the 152 weight class and for the past couple of months I have been seriously minding my Ps and Qs — living a “healthy lifestyle” and “eating clean” as Reno tells me. It has been a test of willpower and dedication…But I am looking forward to having a nice cold one following the fight.  As Reno says..”we can share a celebratory beer together on the Staten Island Ferry back to the city!” Hell. Yes.

I hope to see you all out!

xo

JJ

I have really good updates since my fight wayyyy back when in May…

It has been a busy summer, and my goals have been to stay sane, and stay healthy.  I have become more and more involved in the sport of boxing, for better and for worse. With anything you fall in love with, you have highs and you have lows. Our main training goal for the summer was to get more experience in the ring. It has been challenging because work has picked up significantly for me, and I don’t just work a 9-5…. I work in the photography and events industry so I travel quite a bit and work weekends and odd hours.  Luckily for me I have an amazingly dedicated and loyal trainer with a flexible schedule, so we have been able to work around our schedules and get the necessary hours in the gym preparing for the two other fights I finished over the past two months.  I must say…I feel incredibly lucky to have dedicated trainers and teammates in my life, if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be the fighter I am today.  They consistently inspire and push me. I can’t believe how much time has passed since I first started at Gleason’s three summers ago! I am still training hard with Kimberly and Nikki over at the WAT, and boy have they seen me grow! 

Sooo….two more fights down…and TWO MORE WINS!

The first was a club show up in the Bronx.  And of course there was drama attached to it, because it wouldn’t be a boxing match if there wasn’t some sort of drama behind it..so I’ve learned. Story goes like this: Reno was told I was pre-matched..and the weight could be anywhere between 135-142lb…so I fought to keep it in the 140lb range.  We get there, I weigh in at 140, I pass my physical…and I have a slew of people who traveled up to the Bronx for my fight — and my name is called that I don’t have a match. Surprise, surprise. Alas, we approached by a girl that had looked my weigh at weigh-ins, which she was, but she was still technically a JO (Junior fighter) - at 16 years old and 145lbs.  She was looking for a fight that day and our trainers and I all agreed to it and suddenly I had a fight! It was three 2 minute rounds with one minute rest. Of course, it flew by.  And I felt strong and more comfortable in the ring. Nervous, anxious, excited and all those weird fucked up feelings you get before a fight. I must say, it felt really nice to bring home the win!

waiting, nervously, for my bout to be called…alongside my corners Kimberly and Mike

The cutest!! A little girl taking my picture after my win

Kimberly and I

Team Reno!

Fight two, I completed a few weeks ago. This one I was seriously nervous about just because right before it, I had just gotten back in town from an 8 day job out in Palm Springs CA…where I worked 12 hour days and ate and drank my face off. I got my runs in…but felt like a slob…which wasn’t the worst thing because my fight was the Metros Tournament, and we decided to go up a weight class to 152lbs.  As Mike would tell me, “eat what you want, but eat CLEAN” That means no crap and no booze. BORING. But, I got to eat, and eat I did. Damn it’s easy to put on weight! I fought at a solid 150..and I feel healthy and strong, I just feel like a slob. 

And yes, there was SERIOUS drama with this fight. GO FIGURE. This time it was with the USA Boxing Association…the most unorganized organization. To summarize what has been going on over the past few months…apparently someone very high up in the organization decided it would be a good idea to shit talk women and minority fighters….around the time of the inaugural year of women’s boxing in the Olympics. Dumb ass. Anyways… The governing world body over USA Boxing pushed for the person in question to be let go, at that point USA Boxing did nothing. People cried freedom of speech bullshit…etc.  SO TACKY. ANYWAYS… All of a sudden an official email went out, and ALL BOXING NATION WIDE was suspended until further notice…meaning, no insurance, no sponsorship, nothing.  This happened the Thursday before my Saturday fight. Talk about highs and lows…I have the worst luck. EVER. Thankfully Reno told me not to freak out and go booze it up, that it should be figured out within the week, regardless my fight was going to be pushed.  I came SO CLOSE to grabbing a drink with a friend when Reno called and told me they apparently figure it out and fights were back on. WHAT. THE. FUCK.

The lead-up to that fight was insane…in my mind going up in weight seemed, in my head, like I was going to be like fighting GIANTS.  The chick I fought was shorter than me. I guess I just can’t realize my actual size. It’s something I need to learn. We went the whole of the fight - four 2 minute rounds, with a one minute rest between rounds. I also feared I would be wiped after the third round. I felt fresh and strong. I brought home another win!

So what’s next?

Well, that past fight I won moved me along in the Metros — although, I am not eligible to go on to Nationals if I move on again because I have under 5 fights…and Hurricane Sandy fucked things up in terms of scheduling and the NYC being debilitated. Soooo my fight has been moved to a date that I have a big job booked. Reno is working on getting moved a day early. I may be fighting again on Friday the 16th. Stay tuned!

xo

JJ

I’m so embarrassed it has been a month since the fight!!!! I just haven’t had the time to sit down and write this out.  I should have said something, arrgghhh!!! At least I am doing it now!

Ok…. so the day came - May 19th, Foxwoods Casino in CT, the Battle of the Badges 4. FDNY vs. New England Law Enforcement. FINALLY I get my second fight…after two cancellations the month before, months of dieting and training and busting my ass for this!!!!! FINALLY!!!

The day went like this:

A few of us met at my trainer’s firehouse and I rode up in the big fire van with a few other fighters, friends and family.  My friends were going to meet up with me later — beers in hand! I was a bundle of nerves, hungry, anxious, nervous - but ready.  I had my trainer’s wife, Susan, at my side during the ride and through the whole thing. She kept me calm and laughing and sane. I sincerely thank her for that.

We hit a shit load of traffic and we were about thirty minutes late to weigh ins…we were shuffled through the casinos, down to the depths of Foxwoods, where we lined up in the green room of the Fox Theater for physicals and weigh ins.  My opponent and I agreed to fight at the 141 weight class.  I weighed in a 139. And DRAMA…(go figure)… she weighs in at 128.5 for some reason. USA Boxing will not allow a fight happen if there is more than 10lbs between fighters.  I was escorted into a room with a female official to take my sweats off… I was down to the 10lb difference, 138.5. Mike was freaking out…with the two cancellations that happened in the weeks prior, I wouldn’t have been surprised, but it would have sucked if I didn’t get to fight. SO IT WAS ON! AND…I had 10 lbs on her. Bigger fighter - I had that going for me!

Time to eat — I snacked on some jerky and roasted chest nuts. Light foods. Got my pic in front of the marquee and Susan tied my hair up:

Waiting. It was me and about 15 FDNY guys in the green room…getting our hands wrapped, being nervous, milling around. We suited up and played the waiting game. I was bout 9 of 13….I had a ways to go and wait to get in there. I got my hands wrapped and zoned out - tried to keep calm

Once the bouts began…I felt like a gladiator waiting to out to the screaming crowd.  We couldn’t go out and watch our teammates… we just saw them go, and come back with a medal or with a bloody face. Great thing was that all of the trash cans in the join were stocked with beer.  The goal was beer. iced cold beer. I couldn’t wait to get out there!

GAME TIME! I was up next…had my headgear on, gloves ready and was doing simple drills with Susan to warm me up… we were at the doorway to the theater — all I remember at this moment was seeing a shit load of people, hearing my friends screaming…and it was just an adrenaline blur. I was in my corner and I was announced, with my nickname (whom I would like to thank my bestie, Meghan, for coining my nickname) “JJ THE REACH IGNOTZ” — or as Phil, the announcer, called me: Jennifer instead of JJ. So formal LOL. 

All of a sudden it was just me and her - Ashleigh Moore.  The ring seemed HUGE, and I had tunnel vision.  I remember only little blips of it.  I remember trying to keep my breath steady, I remember having a really nice outside fight. Everyone that night fought three, two minute rounds —- which went by FAST! I am used to sparring at 3 minute rounds for up to 8 round in a row.  As they say: “train hard, fight easy!” Before I knew it…the fight was over. Mike was ecstatic….he was thrilled and proud I had done so well.  Phil made the call and my hand was raised — I won!

As soon as I got back I opened my Guinness

The rest of the night was a party — I got to see my dearest friends who drove all the way up to experience this (a lot of them their first fight) — I ate a greasy Fudruckers chicken sandwich, I drank beer, I don’t remember passing out.  It was a fun night!!! The next day I rode back with the peeps and we stopped along the way to eat and hit the beach. SUCH A GREAT WEEKEND.

I got a pretty dope write-up:

JJ Ignotz used her reach and superior boxing skills to win an exciting bout over Mass. Correction Officer Ashleigh Moore. JJ continually snapped Moore’s head back with crisp jabs and straight right hands. 

So…what have I been doing since?! GREAT QUESTION!!

ANSWER: working, traveling, training. Summers are busy as hell for me in my industry of work…we must remember: boxing is my hobby and I have a career.  Balancing them is tough and I put a lot of time into training for this fight.  I am now focusing on work… and I have a lot of work travel coming up.  I have been in the gym a few times a week and I am still sparring.  My goal now is to keep a level of fitness, and when I am back for a while, look for small fights…and lead up to the Gloves in January. I will be keepin on! I love this sport!

HOW DO YOU FIND A COPY OF THE FIGHT!?

GREAT QUESTION!!!…here is how: check out www.gofightlive.com or www.gfl.tv to purchase the whole fight for only $10…here is a link:

CLICK HERE FOR FIGHTS!

_____

Do you have any questions or comments? I LOVE getting messages!! Shoot them over!

xoxo

JJ

To all friends, family and fans:

I finally have a fight. Well over-due….It has been more than a year since my last one. Time to dust off all of the cobb webs and get back in the ring. And…go big or go home!! I will be fighting on behalf of the FDNY in the Battle of the Badges 4 vs the NE Law Enforcement.

Bouts will be streamed live on GoFightLive.com’s website for $10

http://news.gfl.tv/2012/05/streaming-live-on-gofightlive-tv-battle-of-the-badges-4-fdny-vs-n-e-law-enforcement-saturday-at-foxwoods-resorts-casino/

If you are in the CT area and want to make it in person, here is the information:

Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theater in Mashantucket, CT

Saturday, May 19th, doors open at 6:30pm, first match at 7:30pm

Call Foxwoods Casino for ticketing information or online at Ticketmaster.com

$30 General Admission, $50 Reserved Seating, $100 VIP Ringside

Here is the official Battle of the Badges website:

http://www.battleofthebadges.info/

I want to thank you all for your kind and loving support…and don’t forget, that all proceeds go to charities:

 NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY ATHLETIC LEAGUE: ”NPSAL” is committed to fundraising and promoting efficient techniques to promote recreation and sport/physical activities for youths and adults for the purpose of maintaining a healthy and positive lifestyle.  FDNY BRAVEST BOXING TEAM:The organization donates all funds after expenses and has already donated more than $100,000 to various charities includes The Wounded Warrior Project and Building Homes For Heroes. WORK VESSELS FOR VETERANS:  ”WVFV” assists veterans returning to the United States as they being their civilian careers or continue their educational pursuits by donating to them the necessary start-up tools (laptops, vehicles, machinery, tools, commercial vessels, etc.).  The organization was started in 2008 with the donation of a commercial fishing boat to a returning veteran and to date has helped more than 500 veterans in their transitions. 

Much Love!

JJ

ok…so I know it has been about a week since the finals and I am so late to mention anything about it.  First fight of Thursday night was Tiffany Chen, my recent sparring partner, against Nisa Rodriguez…I only caught the tail end of the fight, but was sad to hear Tiffany didn’t take the gold.

Tiffany vs. Nisa - NY DAILY NEWS ARTICLE

Nikki, my step sister and partner in training, had an amazing fight.  She was in Madison Square Garden against her longest standing rival - Heather Hardy from Gleason’s…a girl we all used to train side by side not more than two years ago. Although Nikki did not take the gold, she was definitely the more classy fighter.  We all thought she had the win, and was a bit of a surprise when they announced Heather winner.  Nikki’s movement was smooth and her hits were swift. Heather is just one of those girls who fights square, packs and punch and does. not. stop.  A bit of a bull, and tough as nails. Regardless, I am extremely proud of Nikki and I cannot wait to see her fight throughout the summer!!!

NY DAILY NEWS GOLDEN GLOVE RECAP

Ohhh boy and then there’s Joe Schiraldo of the FDNY squashed his (17year old) opponent, Raymond Hunce.  After Raymond called Joe out in the paper for just being tough but not an actual boxer - Joe showed him last Thursday.  It was an exciting fight, and Joe brings the boisterous FDNY crowd. He took the gold with pride…and boy was the celebrating after!!!

JOE’S FIGHT RECAP  

Semi finals were this past Monday, March 12 at La Boom in Woodside Queens. Both Joe (FDNY) and Nikki (WAT) were fighting.  This was a big one….the winners all move on to the finals, to be held at Madison Square Garden at the end of the month.  My nerves were on edge thats for damn sure.  

Joe was matched to fight Raymond Hunce…who a few days before knocked his opponent out cold.  But…I must say, Joe has that crazy fight in him, that ability to flip a switch and just dominate…and dominate he did! He is a tall dude, and he totally used his length and strength the other night. His jab was his best friend…he was very successful in keeping Raymond at bay because none of Ray’s attempts at hits were connecting. It was an awesome match up and bout.  Joe, per usual, had an amazing following..lots of fire guys…cheering him on.  So much so at the previous fight I was afraid we weren’t going to be able to hear the bell. The excitement in the room was pretty awesome.

And, Nikki…..that girl has some really beautiful movement.  If her head is in the game, she dominates.  She has beautiful, clean punches and such nice movement.  She isn’t even tired when she is done.  She has made the past two fights look like simple sparring matches.  I am so fucking proud of her, and so glad I have been able to train with her for the past (almost) two years. I have learned a lot from her, and she has pushed me a lot along the way. I cannot wait to see her fight at the garden!!

Info about the NY Daily News Golden Gloves finals:

Dates: Thursday, March 29 - 7pm  &  Friday, March 30 - 7:30pm

tickets available at www.thegarden.com

oh…and ps — I have a secured fight - May 19 at Foxwoods Casino in CT.  More info to come…

This past Wednesday was a day of fights… Golden Gloves preliminaries…leading up to the Garden. My girl Nikki Russell was fighting — first bout. Along with Joe Schiraldo of the FDNY.  Both fighters won — Nikki bringing home title of “PC Richard and Son’s Fighter of the Night!”

Nikki fought beautifully…she wasn’t even tired when she finished (by stopping her opponent in the third round) I’ve seen her spar harder than she fought that evening — she made it look so easy! A much needed and deserved win!

That night also got to see my first full-blown knock out.  176 Males (Joe’s future competitor) dude was out like a light.

Monday night Nikki and Joe fight in the semi-finals…steps from the Garden!! 

You can read all about it at NY Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/raymond-hunce-nicole-russell-joe-schiraldo-heather-hardy-advance-daily-news-golden-gloves-tournament-article-1.1035228

The locker room at the WAT is a place of camaraderie and chit chat… I so happened to talk up one of the Mauy Thai fighters, Pheonix.  I so happened to be in Vegas a few weeks ago for work and put some training time in at the Wand Fight Club with Mike Smith - who was Nikki Russell’s first trainer when she was 13 - and was also Pheonix’s boxing trainer back when he was living in Brooklyn and training at Gleason’s.  That said, I brought up Mike with Pheonix and that snowballed into a lovely conversation about how small a world boxing is, especially female boxing.  She then mentioned she had an extra ticket to some seminar or lecture on women’s boxing and the Olympics..etc. She wasn’t too sure what it really was, but she had an extra ticket and invited me. I had the night open, shit, why not?

It turns out the event was a live podcast for WNYC: “WNYC presents in partnership with The Greene Space: Women Box: Olympic Boxing is No Longer A Man’s Sport” Hosted by Rosie Perez…who it turns out is a big advocate for female boxing and grew up a huge fight fan….out here in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY (right down the block from me here out in Williamsburg) The show was based around three women boxers: Alicia Ashley: a 44 year old, 15 year professional boxer training out of Gleason’s; Heather Hardy a single-mom and amateur champion on the National Team;  and a 16-year-old from Flint, Michigan, Claressa Shields, who is the youngest woman competing for the spot on the first female Olympic boxing team.

The talk was interesting…it all basically revolved around the idea of females in the world of boxing.  It is 2012 and this is the first year women are allowed to fight competitively in the Olympics.  Questions were asked directly to the fighters about how they conduct their day and fit training into their schedules, what drives them to want to fight, how it feels to hit and be hit….etc.  I suppose the most curious questions that people have about boxing or any other combative sport….especial directed towards women who are interested in contact sports.  People find it hard to imagine women wanting to fight or being good at fighting.  As much as women finally being recognized for this sport is a movement in the right direction for women’s rights…. my trainer Mike Reno makes a good point: that with all this women’s rights mumbo-jumbo flying around…he believes a good fighter is a good fighter regardless of sex.  I agree whole-heartedly with this idea…but if there are so few women fighting because it has not blossomed or become popular amongst the majority of females, then there will be a small group of fighters out there. I do think female boxing is under appreciated and looked at with skeptical eyes, and it will take more of a “women’s right movement” to help propel the sport.

Boxing is much more than beating someone in the face…or whatever outsiders like to believe it is. With all martial arts or combat sports there is a lot of technique, skill, footwork, patience…and as one of the girls put it the other night “a meditation, that if you break could have consequences” It is a test of will and a test of athleticism and restraint.  With all sports you may be interested in…boxing is one that tests your body and push yourself to your limits.  You keep going back for more because there is something about it that challenges you and it is nothing but addicting.  The atmosphere, the camaraderie, the way we all push each other and support each other.  We are a community. We come in every day and each of us having better days than others…beating ourselves up, pushing each other and challenging each other to be best we can be.

Being a female boxer is something of a challenge.  Some people don’t get it, or they are intimidated by it…or they automatically put me in a box — as some sort of tough brute.  All I can say is, “only if you knew, only if you could only experience what it is like.”  I feel that most people are too afraid to go outside of their comfort zone…even if boxing were something of interest to them, they would be too afraid to pursue it.  I am grateful for falling into this sport.  It is something that challenges me…something that I hate a lot of days but keep coming back for more.  I am not ready to give up yet.

That said…if you actually want more information on the WNYC interviews and more information about the fighters and the talk on female boxing in the Olympics check the following link:

WNYC with ROSIE PEREZ

There are fights tomorrow night:

Wednesday, February 8 - 7pm

35-50 158 Street, Flushing, NY 11358

and Nikki Russell fights next week:

Wednesday, February 15 - 7:30pm

7100 Shore Rd., Brooklyn, NY 11208

Come on out and watch the prelim fights - I think entrance is $20 at the door, if you bring your USA Boxing book, I am pretty sure you get a nice discount.

Hope to see yall out!

xo