Summer sparred with James during the youth boxing class at LaFollette Park. James did a little better than he usually does, but Summer got more licks in than he did. I can't seem to break James out of the habit of pushing his opponents with his fists as opposed to punching them. Summer didn't knock him down, however; Donovan did that when it was James' turn to face him.
Later, Summer complained about her head hurting. "That's what happens in boxing," I told her. I still don't get why some kids are so surprised about being hurt that after the first time they spar. "Boxing is a hurt business," I told her, repeating something that I heard a professional boxer -- I think it was Joe Frazier -- say.
Maz and Lauren were the only two who showed up to the teen class. Lauren immediately let me know that she did not want to spar with Maz. She was worried about Maz going hard on her. I sparred with Maz, who like Lauren, is thirteen years old and a little taller than I. He has good footwork, and he moves well around the ring. I was bopped in the nose a few times. We did go light because I had left my mouthpiece at home.
After seeing that, Lauren changes her mind about sparring. But she wanted to spar with me. "Please go light," she said. She's good at swatting punches away, but like James, she loves to hug the ropes. I told her not to allow me to keep backing her up into them. Lauren also has to put her punches out there. She was very hesitant about doing that.
I talked to Steve about canceling out the adult boxing class, but I waited a little too late. If a class or activity is not removed before a certain date, the computer system updates it to appear the next session. There may still be a way to take it off before the end of the year, but I'm not banking on that. I might still have to look at an empty gym during the adult class during the winter season.
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