"Keep the fights in the ring" my former boxing coach once told me. Well, that's surely easier said than done. When you consider all the political drama outside of the ring us boxers have to fight with those who are suppose to be supporting us, protecting us and fairly representing us... hello KBC, or should I say KBA now... it's hard to feel like everyday we fight just be able to get in the ring to fight.
I'm eager to get back in the ring and I am still hesitant as to whether I should take this Japan fight or not. Am waiting on word from the very man I am hoping to sign on with, to hear what he thinks about it.
KBA is now KBA, and while many of boxing fans and boxers thought this would bring about a huge much needed change in Korean boxing -- publicity, promotions and match-ups, I can't help but worry about what I am already seeing from them. KBA is very new but they're already making a big loud scene that's causing international reactions. Next weekend they're posing a boxing tournament in which one of Korea's national female champions, who is also an international WBA champion I should note, will be fighting to add another international title to her name. Her opponent, a Thai boxer who only has one fight on her pro record. Dare I ask who you think is going to win?!
What can I say? Exactly. KBC/KBA isn't feeding me any fights so it's not like I'm biting the hand that feeds me but soon enough I hope them to be signing me fights. So what can I say when the very organization my boxing career and those of other boxers depends on so easily short changes some so that it can protect others? I've had my share of short changes but I also know I short changed myself by taking on a coach who didn't speak the same language as me, a coach who initial intentions to making me go pro was so that I could be his cash cow and not because he particularly thought I was exceptionally good. Did he know I had heart and was passionate about boxing? Sure, of course he did. But did he think my passion and drive would make up for my initial lack of natural skill, I don't know. I'm not a natural like Snickers. Unlike him, I have to continually bust my butt at what he so clearly does with ease.
And speaking of trying to keep the fights in the ring, today I involved myself into someone else's fight -- a young university-aged couple who got into quite the spat outside of my club doors. I stood there in the over sized Hulk front window, watching as they argued. He pushed her, few words were screamed out at each other, he walked one way and then she went the other. There were a few of us talking about what just went down when all of a sudden she came racing back down the street, obviously wanting to catch up with him. I popped my head out the club doors and that's when I heard a load slapping sound. Instantly I went running towards the couple who were now about half a block away. The girl friend had surely been hit and pushed again because I saw as she picked herself off the ground and approached the boy,... who hit her again.
There were four of us from Hulk's who ran to intervene. I put my arm around the girl and tried to consol her while two of my Hulkies acted as a lookout for the guy and one helped me talk to her. Turns out she was the friend of one of my Hulkies who had rushed to aid her. We tried to convince her to come back to Hulk's or at least let one of us drive her home. She said she'd take the bus home but when we parted ways the boyfriend popped out from one of the side buildings and headed towards her. We totally blocked his way and one of my members and him exchanged words. "If you want to hit someone then come to our boxing club, hit me." The look in his eyes told me he obviously didn't care what we were saying, it totally didn't phase him the seriousness of the situation, so I stepped in here. I swore at him in Korean. He stopped, turned and looked at me, actually so did many others in the street, but I didn't care. I was not going to let him just walk away like that. "You are as ugly as you are stupid. Hit her again and I'll make you even uglier!" I told him and then I turned and walked away.
I'd like to think we helped in some small way but my gut says she'll go back to him, he'll hit her again and she'll stay and take it. They're probably only 20, if that, so what couple drama could they possibly have? I mean, they're not married, they have no children, they probably don't even own a car, definitely have no house together... so what could their biggest problem be? I suppose in this case it's the boyfriends anger management issues and the girlfriend's lack of respect for herself to get out of such an abusive situation. If she's willing to stay with a guy who publicly slapped her a good 2,3 times and then shoved her into a brick wall so hard she fell and probably will be waking up with a goose egg of a bump on her head, then well, I really don't know what to say but hope that knock to the head knocked some common sense into her.
So ya, I had the drama of KBC/KBA flooding my ears and email inbox as fellow boxers and fellow coaches continued to unleash their opinions, concerns and backtalk about it to me these past couple of days (in particular today) and then I had the stress of wondering what the heck ever happened to that publicly smacked girlfriend on my mind. I definitely appreciate the support and concern of others regarding KBC/KBA and was very grateful for my Hulkies bolting out of the club to help out that girl, but I couldn't help have it eat up the positive vibes I was sporting late in the day.
... and then that's when a spontaneous karaoke party broke out!!!
After late night training, when I had changed play lists and put on some mellow music, one Hulkie started yelling out "I know, I know!" when a particular song started playing. The song was "Hey Jude" by the Beatles so, on that note, I decided to pop up the lyrics and together we sang. "Paris (Ooh La La)", by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, was my song and boy did I belt out those lyrics! "Because of You", by Kelly Clarkson, was Snickers' song choice... he was too cute!
Korea is big on it's norah bangs (singing rooms) but I'm not a fan of anything that solos out my voice for all to hear. I don't even like my voice on the phone. But our in-club norah bang playtime was perfect. We have no microphone amplifying what I already know is a bad singing voice, those present had no idea how many times I totally sang the wrong lyrics and made up my own and we had tons of room to break out some ultra silly dance moves.
I must admit, I was guilty of singing this song twice but I justified it with the addition of some very silly dance moves... and perhaps an over-the-top juice bar hip shuffling. Hey, it's my juice bar and I'll do what I want to, right?! Right. It was just one of those days where I needed to bust loose some silliness or risk seriously snapping on some random bystander as I made my way home after it all.
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