My mission this week: find myself an official boxing manager.
My mission from this week on: do everything and anything my boxing manager says.
I had a conference call with one of my sponsors and, though it went relatively good, at the back of my mind I can't help but sit uneasy about it because of the end. The issue of me not being signed for a fight definitely was a hot topic as was whether or not I can fight here in Canada on my Korean pro boxing license but there was one question that I got stuck on.
"Who is your boxing manager?", they asked.
"Coach Brown is my boxing coach and my manager...I think, I hope... ya, I'm pretty sure."
"Then how come he hasn't started to line up all your appointments to get your medical checks, tests and whatnot ready for your Canadian license?", was their next question.
I told them that, in all fairness, in addition to Coach Brown managing me he does run his own boxing club and have personal training clients and classes he coaches to juggle. He's a busy man, I get it. I've been there. At Hulk's in Korea I did the books, the administration stuff, organized and ran the monthly socials and holiday stuff, as well as I coached boxing and the crossfit classes. I also ran the juice bar which meant I was also the club cook, had the Pesky Parkers to deal with, and was training too as a pro fighter and competitive runner. I had taken on a lot and had it set up that all Snickers basically had to do was coach and deal with some equipment ordering because I loved it and it was just easier to do as much as I could than ask for help. So ya, Coach Brown is busy and I totally can relate.
"How closer are you now to getting your Canadian license than you were six months ago?", they then asked.
The only closer I am is now knowing that I can't fight with my Korean license and have a hell of a long list of medial tests and checks that I have to do to get my Ontario license.
And then the question that I got stuck on happened.
"When does your manager expect to be finished with all the needed testing for your Canadian license?"
Do I tell them that I've been pretty much left on my own to figure out my Canadian license and set up all the doctor appointments and hospital visits, that it's me calling the Ontario Athletic Association and trying to figure it all out and not him?! Or do I lie and come up with some kind of vague answer; try to dodge the question by circling around it?!
"Ummm.... well", was all I could get out before I was interrupted.
"As a coach, he will get 10% of your fight purse but as a manager he will get up to an additional 33% of your purse. How is he earning that extra 33%?"
And just like that, no sooner had the question hit my ears but I was stuck.
I didn't answer.
There was a long pause on my end of the phone followed by an equally long pause and deep breath of disapproval of my lack of answer on the other end. I took a deep breath in and held it; it felt like I had just been kicked in the gut and had the breath kicked out on me. I let go of my breath, took a big swallow of air and cleared my throat.
The meeting was over.
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