The Long Night

Neither Mike or Brian got matches at the Golden Gloves last night, but JJ did. However, the organizers took a long time in putting the boxers' names up. Finally, we learned that JJ's match was number 26.

I had arrived around 6:00 PM and managed to get in free. As usual, the happenings didn't start on time at 7:30 PM, but a little later. One of the boxers failed to report to ringside, so he was disqualified; another boxer got a walk over. Quite a few of the matches were stopped because of boxers who couldn't go on after being pummeled.

Steve and I were in JJ's corner. His fight didn't come until after 11:30 PM. When JJ first came out, he was mirroring the odd stance of his opponent, a Russian kid. JJ later said that he was trying to figure out the guy's style. He spent a good part of the match hesitating, waiting to see what the Russian would do. The Russian was nervous about JJ's right hand, because he shied away every time JJ raised it. JJ popped the guy with several good blows to the body. Finally, the referee stopped the fight, and JJ got the win.

Right before JJ's bout was a bout between Lui and another guy. The ref was accused of cheating and making calls in favor of Lui by the people in his corner. The other guy's coach was particularly loud and vocal, so much that Mike Q., the president of the IL Boxing Association had to step in to calm things down.

Besides Mike Q., most of the regulars in the boxing community were there including Shifty, Ted, Kitchens, Gentleman Gerald, Rita, Tina, Alan, Gary and Johnny B. I was looking for Percy, but he wasn't there. But pro boxers Michael Walker and Fres Quendo were.