Why Boxing Gyms Thin Out Sometimes

I came across this picture of Alan and Carlos not long ago.  This is from the 2010 Chicago Golden Gloves.  A couple of days ago, I was out running errands, and I saw Carlos on the bus.  He told me that he and his oldest son were packing up some toys.  His son lifted up the Spiderman toy I had given him a few years ago and said, "Remember when the lady at the gym gave me this?"  I thought it was sweet that his son remembered that.  Carlos said his son liked going to the gym with him.  His son asked when Carlos would go back to the gym.  Carlos would like to, but his girlfriend doesn't want him to do that.

I'm not knocking his girlfriend for feeling like that. I understand where she is coming from. If I was dating or married to a guy who was competing in bouts, or just sparring down at the gym, I'd be concerned about my guy getting hurt, regardless of the fact I love and understand the sport.  A girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse's objection to participation in boxing is one of the main reasons a lot of people disappear from boxing gyms.

Another common reason why people leave the gym is because of work and/or school.  I was in and out of the gym for awhile myself back in 2008 due to a job I had.  I've known of many who try to fit a workout in before or after work/school, but eventually having to stop out because their schedules won't allow it.  Can't really blame people for that.  People have to pay bills, and most people want to get an education.

People drop out due to babysitting issues, and this affects more women than it does men.  When I see a woman showing up to the gym often with one or more of her kids in tow, it's usually not long before she's gone, especially if she's a single mom.  Kids under a certain age can't be left home alone, childcare costs are high, and some people don't trust everyone around their kids.

Some people are dividing their time between two or more gyms.  There are various reasons for this, including wanting to get more workout time during the week.  Sometimes people are weighing the benefits they get at one gym against the ones they are receiving at another gym.  This is especially true if people have an eye on becoming professional boxers, in which case, people will have to come out of amateur gyms and move on to professional trainers.  However, wanting to turn professional is not always a factor.  It's just that people like one gym better than another.

There are people who are not interested in continuing on after they have gone as far as they believe they can go and/or want to go in boxing.  For some people, winning a championship is satisfactory enough to retire from the sport.  Age is a determining factor for others, still other people just get tired and don't have the interest in the sport like they used to have.

There are a lot of reasons, and people can't be blamed for all of them.  We can just appreciate people while they are there, and wish them well when they are gone.