THE MAKINGS OF A BOXING GYM

By: Daniel Miltz

Within the heart of East Hartford is a notorious boxing gym known as much for it's dubious reputation as the boxers it produces.  As I walked into the building to the sound of leather gloves smacking leather bags, young kids jumping rope, doing notorious arm sprints, crunches, neck nods, and stretching on well placed mats in a corner, adjacent to smiling spectators sitting alongside a wall observing everything in detail;  and all this while being engulfed with the smell of "sweat" saturating the air.

While I'm strolling around the gym, I see inspirational pictures adorned with the faces of fighters hanging on the walls. On one side, I see a raised gladiator looking boxing ring (considered in the abstract, the boxing ring is an altar of sorts) where a young fighter was jabbing, punching, bobbing and weaving with another young promising hopeful.   Also I see, tall, short, muscular, and thin fighters doing the same routines. During the intermission, I asked one fighting young man: “Why do you want to do this?” Without hesitation he responded, “I want to be the best, I want to leave my mark on the world." 

On the other hand, I'm walking around observing more of this remarkable place - ”I'm saying to myself: "This must be a place where the scholars of the sweet science dissect the manufacturing of prizefighters, capturing "into the limelight, the taste and ache of action" in a prizefighting ring?" 

However, thinking more about the sweet science of bruising (participating here in all phases of the boxer's strenuous preparation) from shadow-boxing drills to sparring; my thoughts go deeper yet - I'm thinking, this gym must function for a young combatant as a sanctuary against the dangers of the street.

In comparison, I realize this is where ordinary boxers in their everyday environment of the gym patiently hone an honorific craft of discipline and morality, share a protective social alliance and seek recognition and redemption in the closed brotherhood of the squared circle. Thus, in my final thought is the compelling portrait of a proletarian bodily craft and a unique vista into life of a pugilist.

To me, this is where a boxer’s relentless desire to achieve the impossible, to beat all the odds against him, to push his body and spirit to the limit to go after what everyone told him could not be done – maybe winning a World Title Belt. The quest to become a world champion boxer.

As I'm concluding my tour and on my way out, I see a trainer, whose training methods are surrounded by the highest concentration that you will come across. His name is Israel "Pito" Cardona a former boxer turned trainer who is devoted to distinct quality and development in high performance conditioning and functional strength development.

In addition, I struck up a conversation with another unique trainer by the name of 'Kasey Coon' a former Army Ranger. He was telling me about his sincere interest in helping today's visionary boxing athlete in their quest for building self-confidence and character amongst setting their goals on possessing a winning style.

As I'm exiting this exciting moment of true passion, I said my goodbyes to the pupils of this notable gym known as "BARE BONES BOXING."

(Miltz Boxing News// www.miltzboxingnews.com >> February 3, 2011)