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by juan c allyon.
Given the media hype surrounding the sport of boxing nowadays, you’d think that boxers as a whole are irresponsible at best or, at worst, downright sociopaths.
Take Evander Holyfield, for example. Outspoken about his faith, at last count, he’s fathered—what—nine children out of wedlock? That’s a fine start on a small suburb or perhaps a mega-church, either of which he should be able to govern or shepherd, at this rate, when he finally retires from boxing. Talk about a founding father! Stranger things have happened.
You also have Mike Tyson, notorious for noshing on Evander’s ear, impromptu sparring sessions with ex-wife Robin Givens, his fabled one-night **** with Desiree Washington, and re-arranging an elderly man’s privates following a traffic accident. That’s not to mention the millions he frittered away on pigeons, exotic cars and women and other necessities. You know, things befitting a premiere athlete. With so much time between major fights, what’s a boxer to do anyways?
Against such drama flies this tidbit: boxers often live responsible and disciplined lives. As French sociologist Loic Wacquant suggested in his book, “Body & Soul,” many boxers live quiet, Spartan lifestyles balancing life’s demands with the rigors of their sport. Frankly, most simply have little choice. Very few fighters make enough money in their sport to survive on. Bottom line, they have to be disciplined to hold down a job, train and diet to compete in boxing.
And, another thing: fighters, as a whole, tend to be a pretty humble and friendly lot. Chicago Tribune boxing writer Michael Hirsley once attributed it to the nature of the sport, that at any given moment, they could be knocked out. That’s pretty humbling stuff when you think about it.
Take heavyweight contender Fres Oquendo (26-3, 16 KO’s), for example, who is slated to fight Evander Holyfield on November 10th. Eschewing prized nicknames such as “Pimp,” “Mo-Fo,” or “Killa,” for example, friends have cruelly nicknamed him “Soccer Mom,” for the fact that he shuttles back and forth to his children’s sporting events. A devoted father and husband, he’s still married to his high school sweetheart, Stacey. Imagine that. In between fights, he pays the bills with income from his real estate business.
“I ended up purchasing commercial property and I’m pretty successful at being a landlord,” said Oquendo. “Each and every fight, I put money away in property so I can expand my income and my kids can have a better life growing up.”
Such talk is apt to ruffle feathers of extreme sports fans everywhere looking to live vicariously through exploits of their idols. Who does he think he is, anyways?
He’s a heavyweight contender, for one thing. For another, he’s a boxer who’s taken to heart lessons in the ring—self-discipline and sacrifice in pursuit of the prize. It’s about the struggle, overcoming doubts and fear and, ultimately, an adversary that wants to take your head off. There’s a little celebration, but then it’s back to work, training and taking care of business. And those they love.
That’s not exactly the die cast by the likes of Holyfield, Tyson and other hyped boxers you’re likely to hear about in the news. Frankly, those guys represent maybe one percent of all boxers.
The fact is most fighters are a lot like you and me. They go to work, they compete in the marketplace, struggle to provide a living for them and theirs, and indulge what little extra they can in their favorite hobby. Only theirs is a bit more demanding and violent than most. That doesn’t make them irresponsible or sociopaths. That just makes them boxers.
Given the media hype surrounding the sport of boxing nowadays, you’d think that boxers as a whole are irresponsible at best or, at worst, downright sociopaths.
Take Evander Holyfield, for example. Outspoken about his faith, at last count, he’s fathered—what—nine children out of wedlock? That’s a fine start on a small suburb or perhaps a mega-church, either of which he should be able to govern or shepherd, at this rate, when he finally retires from boxing. Talk about a founding father! Stranger things have happened.
You also have Mike Tyson, notorious for noshing on Evander’s ear, impromptu sparring sessions with ex-wife Robin Givens, his fabled one-night **** with Desiree Washington, and re-arranging an elderly man’s privates following a traffic accident. That’s not to mention the millions he frittered away on pigeons, exotic cars and women and other necessities. You know, things befitting a premiere athlete. With so much time between major fights, what’s a boxer to do anyways?
Against such drama flies this tidbit: boxers often live responsible and disciplined lives. As French sociologist Loic Wacquant suggested in his book, “Body & Soul,” many boxers live quiet, Spartan lifestyles balancing life’s demands with the rigors of their sport. Frankly, most simply have little choice. Very few fighters make enough money in their sport to survive on. Bottom line, they have to be disciplined to hold down a job, train and diet to compete in boxing.
And, another thing: fighters, as a whole, tend to be a pretty humble and friendly lot. Chicago Tribune boxing writer Michael Hirsley once attributed it to the nature of the sport, that at any given moment, they could be knocked out. That’s pretty humbling stuff when you think about it.
Take heavyweight contender Fres Oquendo (26-3, 16 KO’s), for example, who is slated to fight Evander Holyfield on November 10th. Eschewing prized nicknames such as “Pimp,” “Mo-Fo,” or “Killa,” for example, friends have cruelly nicknamed him “Soccer Mom,” for the fact that he shuttles back and forth to his children’s sporting events. A devoted father and husband, he’s still married to his high school sweetheart, Stacey. Imagine that. In between fights, he pays the bills with income from his real estate business.
“I ended up purchasing commercial property and I’m pretty successful at being a landlord,” said Oquendo. “Each and every fight, I put money away in property so I can expand my income and my kids can have a better life growing up.”
Such talk is apt to ruffle feathers of extreme sports fans everywhere looking to live vicariously through exploits of their idols. Who does he think he is, anyways?
He’s a heavyweight contender, for one thing. For another, he’s a boxer who’s taken to heart lessons in the ring—self-discipline and sacrifice in pursuit of the prize. It’s about the struggle, overcoming doubts and fear and, ultimately, an adversary that wants to take your head off. There’s a little celebration, but then it’s back to work, training and taking care of business. And those they love.
That’s not exactly the die cast by the likes of Holyfield, Tyson and other hyped boxers you’re likely to hear about in the news. Frankly, those guys represent maybe one percent of all boxers.
The fact is most fighters are a lot like you and me. They go to work, they compete in the marketplace, struggle to provide a living for them and theirs, and indulge what little extra they can in their favorite hobby. Only theirs is a bit more demanding and violent than most. That doesn’t make them irresponsible or sociopaths. That just makes them boxers.
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