My First Fighter

**donnydarkoIRL** · 09-15-2007 11:22 AM

Last Monday nite i was training at our club, i began to realise that the general age of boxers had dropped and they have begun to train under 10's. As i had been out 3 weeks of the season with the broken foot, i had missed this n had only been messin at home. The lil kids were allowed spar which im not sure if i agree with but they loved it.

So the next night i bring my little bro up, hes 8 and he's enthusiastic but never did any training except the pads with me n watch fights with me. But i brought him up the club n we trained away, i did the pads with the kids i usually cater for n jus a round with my lil bro. And then they asked him to spar, i said no but then to my surprise he goes,"Awh Alan, please, i really wanna." so i said ok three one minute rounds thats it.

This meant he got to spar three other guys his age. Now i was brickin it, the club is in a tough area n my bro is quiet n softspoken, we're from the country so to speak. But my bro hopped in pretty cool. The others had already started to spar and they were throwin heaps of messy punches goin for each other n my heart was in my mouth!

N the Iain (my bro) stepped in. My jaw dropped, he was little me!!! He didn run for him like all the rest didd at each other. He tapped his head and began to circle right as the other kid flailed at him. n then he jus threw a straight right n tagged the other kid. (no power obviously but COME ON an eight year old throwin a stright right rather than floppin like a fish in there!!!) He kept away and jabbed jabbed jabbed, and when he got into exchanges he either threw 4 and ran or clinched. Later i asked him how he liked it and he said "I dont like gettin hit, but its easily stay away from dum coz dey're really stupid."

I'm so proud right now. I mean he's not a prodigy or anythin but he's got a good grasp of whats goin on and eager to learn.

**Chris Nagel** · 09-15-2007 11:59 AM

That's really good to hear donny.

It sounds like he has more sense than some kids that are more than twice his age.

I'd have been proud too.

**donnydarkoIRL** · 09-15-2007 02:04 PM

Thanks Chris, i was really chuffed because he got tagged a couple of times and he jus stepped back. Also, i never suggested he come boxing, i mentioned to him the age has got younger and he exploded he was so happy.
One things for sure he's gunna b taken care of a lot better than me!

**Chris Nagel** · 09-15-2007 02:10 PM

I think that the main thing about being a boxer is just about loving to box, everything else comes after that.

**donnydarkoIRL** · 09-15-2007 02:45 PM

Thats what Roy Jones said, "When you love what you do its easy to be the best."

**DaxxKahn** · 09-15-2007 11:02 PM

Thats the best age to get em Donny.....They are eager to learn...the older kids ten to think they know more then you because they watch fights on TV and insist on trying to copy the style of their favorite fighter before learning the basics....

At my gym we have an after school program for kids 9-12 they work harder then the older guys....

Plus he is your little Brother so it must make you really proud....CC to ya