I took in a little boxing action Saturday afternoon at Central High School as I watched a young man from our church make his boxing debut. I’m pretty certain it wasn’t his first fight, though; just the first one with a referee and a bell and people watching who wished him well.
I’ve known the kid since he joined the family of some friends of ours as a foster child when he was little and was later adopted. I’ve encountered him regularly at church and through some of his schooling and from when his father would bring him to our men’s ministry functions. More recently he’s been part of the youth group my wife and I lead. I think he loves his family and wants to do right and do well, but he’s also been impulsive, oppositional and stubborn since the beginning and ready for a scrap, including times — such as a few years ago when I insisted upon a little one-on-one sit down with him — when I’m pretty sure he’d even have liked to take a couple of pokes at me. In a way, however, you almost couldn’t help but admire his will and the way he’d bow his neck and resist and endure any correction, no matter how long it lasted. You could tell there was something mighty inside that would make a tremendous foundation if it could ever be channeled in the right direction.
He’s 17 now, and several months ago he met up with former pro boxer Sankara Frazier and his Circle of Discipline gym. Frazier’s a hard-nosed guy determined to help kids use boxing to get their act together physically, emotionally and, in particular, spiritually through discipline, focus and hard work. Since then it has been as if a light has gone on in this young man’s head, a light so bright you can see it in his face. It’s as if all the instruction, correction and encouragement he’s received over the years have come together now that he can see a practical application. Since he’s been working with Frazier he’s not nearly as volatile, and his natural charm and wit have come to the fore.
Last Wednesday he was telling me about his upcoming bout and I could tell he was excited. I may be reading too much into it, but I think he was happy not just for the chance to compete but also because he realizes now that people are interested in seeing him do well. I told him I was going to come to the fight, but that he had to be sure to make the fight last long enough to make it worth my trip.
So what does he do? About a minute into the first round and after exchanging a few flurries of punches with his opponent he gets a left jab in, followed by a right hand that knocks the other guy to his knees in a corner. The referee stood the other kid up, wiped his gloves and gave him a standing eight count. When the kid didn’t raise his gloves by the end of the count the ref called the fight and our young boxer and most of his sizable cheering section left our feet. As he moved through the group afterwards we hooked hands and the first thing he did was to laugh and say, “I know, you told me to make it last longer but he just kept leaving it open so I just kept feeding him my right hand!”
“It’s alright – you did well,” I said. “Congratulations!”
It may be just one round, but I think the young man may have finally heard the bell.
