Fighting Words

"A Boxing Resurrection - Part 2: Chicago"

By BMikeA

I mentioned in the first part of "A Boxing Resurrection" that there were some big challenges facing the sport. Though my observations were not brand new to hardcore fans, I felt it was important to mention them. They are challenges that still need to be addressed in order to halt the momentum that is causing the erosion of Boxing’s popularity and credibility in the eyes of many. You might as well say that the sport is in a fight itself. As in any fight, how the combatants respond will determine the outcome of the battle.

Think about it. Boxing could actually experience revitalization on a national, hell, a world-wide level if it managed to reinvent itself. How? By facing the reality of the current situation, learning from other successful sports organizations and adapting accordingly. Yes, that opens up issues of ego and cutting into short-term profits while attempting this massive undertaking. However, it would set up the potential for greater rewards in the long-term.

It all begins at home. Chicago, in my opinion, has the makings of being a boxing mecca. Why? With local promoters like Hitz Boxing and 8 Count Productions, we have fight cards happening on a fairly regular basis. The frequency of the matches is something any fight fan should be excited by. I remember a time in this city when there seemed to be nothing going on. With these promoters doing their respective best, we fans have more opportunities to see boxing live. And as the old marketing phrase goes, “Boxing is better live.” If these promoters give us fights that are exciting and worth talking about in the locker room, at the water cooler, and hell, “twittering’ about it, then we have the start of a trend of returning the fights as “must see” events.

Since recently joining Cuerus, I’ve noticed that our coverage has been on the major headliners in Vegas and the like. Of course, with a limited number of pages, you focus on the high profile fights that most people may want hear about. However, as a fight fan through-and-through, I want to know about what’s going on here also. Since all of us here at Cuerus are fight fans, we are all in agreement on this. As a Chicago-based paper, we need to facilitate communication with people in the know here within Chicagoland. We still have to use our pages to appeal to the greatest number of fans but we now want to expand with special features and extras that we can include on our web site. So, make sure to visit www.cuerusboxing.com as we get ready to include more on Boxing at every level.

We also feel that it is very important to cover the amateur scene. This is where the professional boxers of tomorrow find their passion for the sport. The journey of striving to be the best begins at the amateur level. We need to promote these events that drum up interest in the sport, provide an opportunity for kids to learn the benefits of boxing training and remind the community that these programs offer a place where kids can spend their time doing something positive. Professional boxing will surely wither if we don’t harness the potential talent that is cultivated in these programs.

Our observations have the potential of reaching thousands of sports fans here in the Chicagoland area. The goal is to help return the spotlight to a sport that some people have not been paying attention to and those writing it off as irrelevant. By being diligent commentators and even offering constructive criticism on things we may not be happy with as fans, our staff will have fulfilled our duties of being an independent paper that loves the sport of boxing. Cuerus aims to be an informative and entertaining source for all things pugilistic.

The effect of change isn’t immediately felt and the entire Boxing community will need to realize they play an important part in the revitalization of our sport. At the local level, we need to make sure we set a standard for putting on the best fights possible. To the promoters, let’s offer fans that are strapped for cash in these economic times even more affordable options. The greatest goal should be to think about ways to nurture and support the park district, independent gyms and new youth programs that will not only give rise to the next generation of boxers, but also give kids a fighting chance to be good citizens. This would be an outstanding contribution by our boxing community. Let’s get started…

Fighting For The Community

The Tepeyac Program

By Bernardo "BMikeA" Miguel

The Tepeyac Program has a goal to create a boxing program and eventually an academy that will provide our youth with a positive environment to harness their youthful energy and give them a place where they feel they belong. Using the positive attributes of the sport as a way to instill discipline, focus, confidence building, goal setting and more, the Tepeyac program is based upon the lessons our founder, Miguel Mijes, has lived through and learned from.
This past Sunday morning (September 26, 2010), I met with Miguel Mijes and special consultant Sam de la Rosa regarding our planning and progress on the project. Discussing the steps to crafting the program and researching other aspects of the program was part of the agenda.

It is obvious that when one talks to Miguel Mijes, the passion for this program and academy knows no bounds. He believes that teaching the sport of boxing to kids will open their eyes to the fact that they can apply those lessons in the gym to the rest of their lives. He feels he is bringing love and respect to them through the Sweet Science. This will require a commitment from our group and the communities that we plan to help. We are also hoping the local Boxing community will come together and volunteer time, expertise and equipment in the coming months. More on this project and needs to come.

Community Collaborations

Recently, Cuerus and Tepeyac Program Founder, Miguel Mijes, and Special Projects Coordinator Bernard Aguirre, met with the President & CEO of U.N.I.O.N. Impact Center, Rafael Yanez. They discussed Rafael’s contributions to the Back of the Yards and New City areas by offering programs that range from guitar lessons, soccer programs and more. Mr. Yanez’s goal is to bring a boxing program to the community and ideas were discussed as to how to integrate the Tepeyac philosophy as the backbone of their efforts in this area.

For more information on Mr. Yanez’s programs and organization, please contact him at:

Rafael Yañez
President & Chief Executive Officer
U.N.I.O.N. Impact Center
4821 South Hermitage Avenue
Chicago IL 60609-
Ph. 773 600.1601
Fx. 773 751.5042

We will share more updates with you on all of these projects next month. Until then, if you would like to find out more information about any of these projects, please contact me at

Bernard@cuerusboxing.com

CUERUS No 161

Palabras Combatientes

"¿Una resurrección del boxeo?”
Primera parte

Por: BMikeA

Dicen que el boxeo está muerto. No es la primera vez que he escuchado esto en mi vida como fanático del deporte. Desafortunadamente, el espectro que ahora cierne sobre nuestro deporte es el éxito de las peleas de la MMA y UFC en el octágono. De mi parte, estoy a favor de los deportes de combate de cualquier tipo. Una buena pelea es una buena pelea. He escuchado a personas debatir sobre los méritos de ambos deportes y por qué la MMA es mejor, entre otras cosas. No estoy de acuerdo con la idea de comparar ambos deportes. El boxeo puede ser un aspecto, o uno de los métodos de lucha en la MMA, pero un verdadero combate de boxeo muestra las habilidades y estilos de pelea que nunca se verá en un confrontamiento dentro de la MMA. Un buen combate boxístico es igual de emocionante como cualquier otro deporte competitivo-y más aún cuando se tiene verdaderos combatientes compitiendo en el ring. Por lo tanto, en cuestión de emoción, la MMA y el boxeo, para mí, van de mano a mano; hay que reconocer a cada uno por sus propios méritos, por ser dos deportes con una gran cantidad de espectadores.

Si se habla sobre el impacto que ambos deportes han tenido, el boxeo se ha convertido en una parte de nuestra cultura de una manera que la MMA nunca tendrá la oportunidad de hacerlo. Hemos visto algunas peleas clásicas que centraron la atención en luchas culturales reflejando los tiempos que se vivían. Por ejemplo, recuerdo los relatos sobre la época de Jack Johnson en el boxeo y sus enfrentamientos contra el racismo; o, ¿qué tal cuando Gerry Cooney fue heraldeado como "La gran esperanza blanca" contra el campeón negro de peso pesado Larry Holmes? En los años 70, cuando Ali perdió su título contra Leon Spinks, continuamente vi referencias en cuanto a la postura de Alí contra el llamado de participación en la guerra de Vietnan – causa que llevara a su expulsión posterior del boxeo por muchos años durante su mejor momento. El boxeo era un espejo que nos mostraba las cosas que no necesariamente queríamos ver o aceptar. Lamentablemente, pareciera como si hoy en día fuese igual; confusión y debacle parecen haber tomado control del deporte en algunas áreas clave.

Volviendo al tema de la UFC, vemos, para bien o para mal, cómo una organización trajo una identidad cohesiva para la MMA. El boxeo podría aprender algunas lecciones de la forma en que Dana White y sus compañeros dirigen la organización. Los ejemplos de mercadeo, la vitalidad de este deporte, y la voluntad aparente de presentar a los espectadores grandes peleas, como la UFC parece entregar cada vez más. De ninguna manera creo que todo en entorno a la UFC y cómo se maneja sea correcto, pero sí debemos reconocer el hecho que el boxeo tiene un problema de identidad grave y necesita volver a conectarse con la imaginación de los fanáticos.



¿Cuántas organizaciones hay en el boxeo? ¿Por qué no podemos ver peleas como Mayweather vs Pacquiao realizadas? Claro, tiene que ver con el dinero, etc., pero las autoridades que "gobiernan" el boxeo deben recordar que los tiempos son otros y el deporte no está en la posición en que antes estaba. Los entrenadores boxeadores necesitan tomar en cuenta que los fanáticos quieren ver a los mejores boxeadores enfrentarse.

Hemos tenido contrincantes dignos que han rehuido a lo largo de la historia del pugilismo, pero el énfasis debe estar en la emoción y costo del dinero que se paga. Sólo porque esto era aceptable en el pasado, no significa que deba continuar. Necesitamos encender el fuego y entusiasmo de tener a los mejores guerreros del mundo traer la emoción y algarabía de nuevo al juego.

Creo que hay otro problema. El boxeo parece no estar cultivando estrellas como lo hizo alguna vez. ¿Recuerda cuando De La Hoya fue un prospecto olímpico con una historia de la vida real que tocó nuestros corazones? O, ¿Cuándo Sugar Ray Leonard fue catapultado tras su gloria olímpica? ¿Dónde han quedado estas historias? La comunidad boxística es apasionada y enérgica, pero está disminuyendo. Necesitamos reencontrarnos con las masas con algo de acción contundente que despierte nuestras almas e imaginación. Tal vez sea debido a la falta de financiamiento para el deporte amateur, ¿o es que el boxeo ya no es el favorito de la prensa que una vez fue? Como ya mencioné, parece no haber más esas historias de interés humano antes de entrar en los principales eventos locales y de aficionados. Claro, algunos pueden echar la casa por la ventana si tienen una pelea profesional, donde son explosivos y dan a conocer su presencia en una cartelera estelar donde muestran sus habilidades boxísticas. Por desgracia, aún así parece no haber un apego a ellos a los niveles que hubo alguna vez, porque no le estamos viendo a estos peleadores con el mismo carisma y habilidad mediática que algunos de los campeones de décadas anteriores han tenido. Pienso que incitar el interés de los fanáticos a nivel local con grandes combates podría ayudar a cambiar eso. Convirtiendo realmente a un peleador local en un campeón del pueblo por el cual “Cualquier Estado, USA” hincha; estas son las cosas que podemos hacer cuando nos enfocamos en el boxeo local. Así que la tarea a realizar es encontrar estos prospectos por la vía de el boxeo aficionado. ¿De dónde vendrá el próximo campeón? ¿Cuál será su historia?

¿Puede el boxeo levantarse de los desafíos que enfrenta?

La segunda parte de mis pensamientos se centrará en algunos comentarios sobre la escena boxística aquí en Chicago y qué más se podría hacer para cultivarlo y promoverlo.


bmikea@invictusboxing.com

Fighting Words

"A Boxing Resurrection?
Part 1"

By BMikeA

They say boxing is dead. It isn't the first time that I have heard that in my lifetime of being a fan of the sport. Unfortunately, the one specter that seems to loom over our sport is the success of the UFC and MMA fights in the octagon. I am all for combat sports of any type. A good fight is a good fight. I have heard people debate the merits of the two sports and why MMA is better and so on. I don't agree with the idea of comparing the two sports. Boxing may be an aspect or one of the fighting methods in MMA but a true boxing match showcases skills and fighting styles that will never emerge in an MMA bout. A good give and take boxing match is just as exciting as any other competitive sport out there – and more so when you have truly game fighters competing in the ring. So, for excitement, MMA and boxing, to me, go toe-to-toe. See both on their own merits for being the great spectator sports that they are.
If you want to talk about the impact that the both sports have had, Boxing became a part of our culture in a way that MMA will never have the opportunity to do. We saw some classic fights that put the spotlight on our cultural struggles and reflected the times. I remember learning about the Jack Johnson era of boxing and the challenges of racism. What about when Gerry Cooney was heralded as "The Great White Hope" against the black heavyweight champion Larry Holmes? In the 70's, as Ali lost his title to Leon Spinks, I kept seeing the reference to Ali's stance against participating in the draft during the Vietnam War - his subsequent ouster from boxing for many years during his prime. Boxing was a mirror that showed us things we didn't necessarily want to look at or accept. Sadly, it seems to be that way now too. Confusion and debacle seem to have control over the sport in some key areas.
Going back to the UFC, we see, for better and worse, how an organization brought a cohesive identity to the MMA field. Boxing could learn some lessons from the way that Dana White and his fellows run the organization. Marketing examples, the vibrancy of the sport, and the seeming willingness of great matches to be brought to the viewers, the UFC seems to be delivering each time. By no means do I think everything is right about how the UFC is run but we do need to accept the fact that boxing has a severe identity problem and needs to reconnect with the imagination of the fight fans out there.
How many organizations are there in boxing? Why are we not seeing fights like Mayweather vs. Pacquiao come to life? Sure, it's all about the money etc., but the powers that "rule" boxing have to remember that these are different times and the sport is not in the position it used to be in. The managers and fighters need to understand that the fans want to see the best fighters go at it. We've had "ducking" of worthy opponents all throughout the history of the fight game but the emphasis has to be on excitement and value for the money that is being shelled out. Just because this was acceptable in the past does not mean that it should continue. We need to capture the fire and excitement of having the world’s best warriors bring the excitement and buzz back to the game.
I think there is another problem. Boxing does not seem to be nurturing stars like it once did. Remember when De La Hoya was an Olympic prospect with a real-life story that touched our hearts? Sugar Ray Leonard's rise from Olympic glory? Where are the stories? The fight community is a rabid and passionate one but it is getting smaller. We need to reconnect with the masses with some hard-hitting action that stirs our souls and the imagination. Maybe it is because of the lack of funding for amateur sports or because boxing is not the "media darling" it once was? Again, we don't seem to have those human interest stories before we go into major local and amateur events. Sure people can make a splash if they have a pro fight where they are explosive and make their presence known by putting up a stellar display of their fighting skills. Unfortunately, there just does not seem to be an attachment to them at the levels we once had because we are not seeing these fighters with the same charisma and media savvy some of the champions in recent decades have had.

I think sparking the interest of fans on the local level with great fights can help to change that. Truly making a local fighter a hometown champion that "Anytown, USA" wants to root for, these are the things we can do when we focus on boxing locally. So the task ahead is to find these prospects through the avenue of amateur boxing. Where will the next champion come from? What will their story be?
Can boxing rise to the challenges it faces?

Part 2 of my thoughts will focus on some comments on what our scene is like here in Chicago and what else can be done to harness and promote it.

CUERUS No 160

Palabras de Combate

Por Bernardo "BMikeA" Miguel

Chicago ha tenido una rica historia con el boxeo. Desde “La batalla de la Cuenta larga” de Gene Tunney contra Jack Dempsey (22 de septiembre de 1927), al continuo torneo anual “Guantes de oro”, la relación entre el boxeo y Chicago siempre está evolucionado. Hoy en día, Chicago tiene la oportunidad de utilizar el boxeo como una herramienta para ayudar a los jóvenes en esta ciudad y así proveerles una vía alternativa para que empleen su energía juvenil como también necesidad de atención y orientación.

En las calles de Chicago, los retos que actualmente se enfrentan son muchos. Constantemente somos bombardeados con historias de crimen y violencia que van alcanzando nuevos niveles de brutalidad y extendiéndose en todas las áreas de la ciudad. ¿Quizá sea el hecho que los medios de comunicación se han dotado del “ojo que todo lo ve” y transmiten éstas historias a un ritmo cada vez más rápido las 24 horas? Algunos argumentan que es simplemente una evolución de los retos que enfrentamos en todos los sectores de nuestra sociedad a causa de las dificultades económicas que hoy en día se enfrentan. Cualquiera que sea el caso, no se puede negar que las cosas parecen estar fuera de control. La lucha constante de tratar y redireccionar la energía juvenil hacia proyectos positivos contra aquellos que se meten a pandillas o utilizan actos de agresión y crimen en general, parece ser cada vez más crucial y para poder ganar la guerra por lo positivo.
En un artículo anterior escrito por Mike Stagner, titulado "Entre las cuerdas", se menciona, " La juventud de Chicago necesita aprender la táctica rope-a-dope y ser provistos de una alternativa y buena razón para mantenerse alejados de las drogas. En Chicago, como en otras grandes ciudades, los jóvenes enfrentan obstáculos, luchas y desafíos; desde hogares desintegrados a estar faltos de supervisión y orientación en casa, puesto que los padres obligados por la economía actual bregan con dos trabajos; los entrenadores, por lo tanto, llenarían ese vacío” Su argumentación no es nueva, pero si establece el punto que el boxeo definitivamente podría ofrecer una vía por la cual nuestros jóvenes podrían encontrar valores de aprendizaje de la dulce ciencia.
La mayoría de personas piensa que el boxeo es peligroso y un daño potencial a los combatientes. La verdad es que al nivel físico juvenil de programas de boxeo, no hay datos que apoyen ese argumento. Además, hay que recordar es que los jóvenes les gusta luchar y liarse; necesitan sacar sus frustraciones y expresarlas físicamente. Por lo tanto, lo mejor sería darles la oportunidad de hacerlo en el gimnasio. Démosle la oportunidad de construir lazos de amistad a través del sudor y esfuerzo en un entorno positivo.
El Distrito de Parques de Chicago ofrece programas de boxeo, pero necesitan más fondos. Sí, todos parecen estar pidiendo más fondos éstos días; sin embargo, ésta inversión en nuestra juventud provee un ambiente controlado y de apoyo donde ellos pueden canalizar físicamente sus dificultades, lo cual los que están en posición de proveer éstos fondos no debiesen pasar por alto. El boxeo ofrece una oportunidad para que éstos chicos establezcan metas, ofrece la motivación de levantarse del sofá e ir un lugar donde pueden hacer ejercicio; un lugar donde pueden aprender el verdadero significado de apoyar a un hermano, o hermana, que pone sus mejores esfuerzo para sobresalir en algo. El boxeo ofrecerá a muchos de éstos chicos su primera oportunidad de establecer metas; un proceso por el cual pueden aprender a enfocarse e invertir sus energías en costales y no en otras personas en la calle. Ellos aprenderán a apreciar los aspectos de aptitud física y el deporte, como también la forma de controlar sus fuerzas y agilidad de reflejos. Nuestros jóvenes darán la mano al final de un enfrentamiento el el ring y respetarán a su oponente, puesto que sabrán lo mucho que también han trabajado para subir por las cuerdas.

Chicago tiene la oportunidad de presionar en el área de fondos de estos programas. Mencionemos estos programas en nuestras escuelas, también. Necesitamos levantar conciencia de los atributos positivos que el boxeo ofrece y debemos hacerlo ahora. Vidas pueden ser cambiadas para bien, pero si seguimos ignorando lo obvio arriesgamos a que a lo largo del camino nuestra juventud no tenga alternativas adecuadamente financiadas. El precio que pagaremos por ello será una escala continua de chicos sin rumbo a quienes nunca se les muestran alternativas. No podemos continuar ignorando ésta situación.
Tomemos acción ahora.

Fighting Words

By Bernardo "BMikeA" Miguel

"Chicago has had a rich history with boxing. From The Battle Of The Long Count pitting Gene Tunney against Jack Dempsey (September 22, 1927) to the continuing annual event that is Chicago's Golden Gloves, the relationship between boxing and Chicago is always evolving. Today, Chicago has an opportunity to utilize boxing as a tool to help the youth in this city with an alternative path to harness their youthful energy and need for attention and guidance.

Our challenges on the streets of Chicago are many. We are constantly bombarded by stories of crime and brutality reaching new levels of viciousness and spreading to all areas of the city. Perhaps it may be that the "all seeing" 24 hour media cycle is now able to present these stories at ever faster and faster rates? Some say that is just an evolution of the challenges we face in all sectors of our society as people struggle with the economic challenges of the day. Whatever the case may be, there is no denying that it seems like things are desperately out of control. The ever constant struggle with harnessing the youthful energy on the streets for positive endeavors versus those that are gang-related or utilized in acts of aggression and crime in general, seems to be ever more crucial in winning the war for the positive.

A previous commentary by Mike Stagnar in a piece entitled "Between the Ropes" mentioned, "Chicago’s youth need to learn how to “rope a dope” and be provided with an alternative and reason to stay off dope. Chicago’s youth face so many challenges, struggles and obstacles. From broken homes, to homes where today’s economy has forced a void of supervision and guidance as parents struggle working two jobs, youth boxing and coaches can be there to fill the gap." His case is not a new one but it does get to the point that boxing could definitely offer an avenue by which our youth can find the values of learning the Sweet Science.

Quite a few people think that boxing is only about danger and potential harm to the combatants. The truth is that at the youth level of boxing fitness programs, we do not have data supporting that this is the case. Another thing to remember is that the young like to "rumble" and mix it up. They need to get out their frustrations and express themselves PHYSICALLY. We should give them the opportunities to do this in a gym. Let's also give them a chance to build friendships through sweat and effort in an environment that supports it in a positive way.

Chicago's park district system offers boxing programs but they can surely benefit from more funding. Yes, everyone seems to be clamoring for funds in this day and age but this investment in our youth, providing a physical outlet inside a controlled and supportive environment is something those in the position of providing funds should not look at lightly. Boxing offers a chance for these kids to establish a goal, offers a place to get off the couch and work out, a place where they learn the true meaning of rooting for a brother or sister who is putting their best efforts towards excelling at something. Boxing will offer a lot of these kids their first opportunity at goal setting. A process by which they can learn to focus and take their energies out on heavy bags and not people out on the street. They will learn to appreciate the physical fitness aspects of the sport and how they can control how strong they will get, how sharp their reflexes can be. They will shake hands at the end of a competition in the ring and respect their opponent because they will know how hard they worked to climb through the ropes also.

Chicago has an opportunity to push the limit in the area of funding of these programs. Let's mention these programs in our schools too. We need to push the awareness of the positive attributes that boxing brings to the table and we need to do it today. Lives can be changed for the better bur if we continue to ignore the obvious, we risk continuing down a road where the young don't have adequately funded alternatives. The price we pay for that is a continued escalation of aimless kids that are never shown alternatives. We cannot afford to turn our heads any longer.

Let's take action now.

CUERUS No 159