Gym Problems

There are usually two types of people you find in a boxing gym:

* Those who have to be dragged into the gym to work out.
* Those who can't stay away from a workout no matter what shape they're in.

David D'Arcy's one of the latter. D'Arcy had a good streak going as a novice but he joined the U.S. Army. He's currently awaiting orders to Artillery School and hopes to participate in the Army Amateur Boxing Team. He expects a tour in Afghanistan, too.

Our loss is the Army's gain.

Boxing Coach Raul Salcido

Here's what Junior Salcido had to say about boxing:

Old Novak; Young Chris

Old Novak's a former cop and current amateur boxing coach. Here he checks the gloves of his young protege Chris. Chris likes school, basketball, and boxing, not necessarily in that order.

R.J Sockwell in a Sparring Session with James Moore

Sparring with James Moore isn't something I'd recommend to anyone, amateur or pro. Moore came to the U.S. from Arklow, Ireland with over 300 amateur fights. He's won most of his twelve professional fights by KO. He's quiet, a gentlemen, a man who doesn't look like the devastating puncher he is.

A Smiling R.J. Sockwell Is Ready for a Sparring Session

We had surprise visitors at the Jesse Harris Gym when I popped my head in one day: James Moore and John Duddy. I recognized both of them at once. Both fought on a card I'd seen at Madison Square Garden. Both are pros with undefeated records. Though R.J's an amateur boxer, he suited up for a sparring session with Moore. Many of James Moore's twelve victories were by KO. Had it been me, I wouldn't have been smiling.

Getting Ready for A Sparring Session at the Jesse Harris Gym In Stroudsburg

Fighter and trainer are from an Allentown, PA Boxing Gym. I jotted down their names and then lost them. Lo siento, hermanos. If anybody knows...let me know and I'll jot them again. This boy and his trainer has visited the Jesse Harris Boxing Gym several times for sparring sessions. They come to fight.

Left Hook to the Body

Here's why the boxer needs lots of ab work and doesn't need Twinkies or Fritos. Inevitably, a left or right hook will get through to the core. This one's slightly low, just above the hip, but it was unintentional and the ref lets it go. Do you ever wonder how it feels? There's only one way to find out.

Instructions from the Referee...

Keep it clean.... Have your fighters ready when the bell rings.

Girl Fight

Camden NJ girl Joycelyn Hinton faced Yesenia Canseco of Vineland NJ in the women's 119 pound class. You couldn't help but be impressed by the accurate punching styles and cool poise under pressure exhibited by both these young women. Their fight had me thinking backward to a year 2000 movie called Girlfight. The movie features a smoldering Michelle Rodriguez as senior highschooler Diana Guzman who grows up angry in a man's world. It's a great movie and worth watching, devoid of the lame, patronizing tone you'd think would surface in this kind of film. The terms "female" and "strong" and "sexy" can fit in the same context. The movie rocks, and the two young women in this Sportsfest 2007 photo showed "how we do."

R. J. Sockwell

I met R. J. Sockwell in a hot and makeshift gym adapted from a spare bay in a mechanic's garage about five or six years ago. He was about fifteen at the time and people were already losing interest in sparring with him. One night I watched with a combination of fascination and trepidation as he worked through about three or four very tough sparring partners. Not all of them were still standing. I declined to be the next one, citing old age. Old age was true but the fact is I couldn't have beat him at any age. He wants to maintain his amateur status for a while longer although he has done very well sparring with the pros. Like Raul "Junior" Salcido, R. J. helps train the more serious boxers at Jesse Harris Boxing.