GET PUNCHED IN THE FACE FOR CHARITY AT FIGHT TO END!
I’M TRADING IN THE COMFORTS OF WORKING ON MY IMAC IN EXCHANGE FOR 16 OZ MITTS, TRUNKS AND HEADGEAR.
On November 9, I will be fighting in a charity boxing event in London, Ontario. This is no mid-day athletic contest. Some dude is going to be trying to knock me out — with a few blows to my head or a well-placed shot to the kidney — and I plan on getting to him first. (You can read about the charity here)
I’ve never been in a sanctioned fight before. Sure, I’ve been in the odd tussle as a kid and a few on ice dances during my short ice hockey career. But I’ve never been in a full-throttle sanctioned fight. Motivations aside, that’s exactly what I signed up for the minute I uttered the four magic words “I want to fight” to the right people.
Happily, the coaches for Fight To End take this as seriously as I do. Marc Pagcaliwangan (Gwapo), head coach of Get Enhanced Boxing, is putting us through an intensive 20 week training program.
I’ve been at this for five weeks now and know one thing for sure:
GETTING INTO A FIGHT IS ONE HELL OF A COMMITMENT
We’ve been doing our group training twice a week at Get Enhanced Gym, where walls are plastered with fight posters and pictures of champions past. Each of my workouts keeps me at Richmond Street for just over an hour — with a variety of things usually including: shadowboxing, pad work, heavy bag, and more.
Aside from clocking in to the gym with the same commitment as what feels like what a part-time job requires, I also knew that my “off” days per week really mean that should be my “cardio days” per week, as an attempt to be sure I won’t run out of energy on fight night.
Additionally, Marc and team have informed us that we’ll start sparing some time in September. Sparring — getting in the ring with another fighter and “free-form” fighting to work on real punches and real skills in a real way — is the best form of practice on a fast track to a fight. There’s nothing that will teach you how to fight better than fighting, right?
After the first five weeks of training, I kind of have a grasp at where my skill level is, my strengths, and my weaknesses pinpointed. Turns out that my hook needs a lot of work, but both my left and right body shots are “decent”, at least in my eyes. I’d say I’m pretty fast, but I’m not patient enough. I have a nice jab, if I do say so myself, but my cross is too slow. Sometimes I drop my right hand and expose my face. I need to learn to counter punches faster. I naturally want to throw head-body combos (which is a good). I hit fairly hard but I don’t place punches correctly — and what’s the point of having any kind of power if you can’t even hit someone?
Needless to say, I’ve got a lot to learn in the remaining weeks of training.
TAKE CARE OF THE NEXT GENERATION
If you are able, I would appreciate a donation of any size, as I prepare and hopefully make it to the big event!
All fund raise go to Joan’s Place (Youth Opportunities Unlimited).
Join the fight by donating! The Fight To End event fights back against a pressing issue in our community...homelessness. Let's take a stand together and knock-out homelessness in London Ontario.
If you can’t contribute financially, no worries… help me out by spreading the word. See below, I’ve done the work for you. Save an image, copy and paste the text and post to your socials:
“So my friend Brian Blatnicki is stepping into the ring for a good cause. Please consider contributing to this undertaking to help take care of the next generation.
https://raceroster.com/events/2022/60824/fight-to-end-homelessness/pledge/participant/15587601 “
