| 20 September 2010
I consider myself to be an extremely blessed individual. After all, it’s the only way I can explain how I have personally had the coveted opportunity to be an accredited member of the combative sports media. I never envisioned such a dream growing up, no, I was content to be a fan and root from the comforts of my couch. Funny how life turns out at times. Over the past three years, I have covered more professional and amateur combative promotions than I can remember. My travels in the world of combative sports journalism have allowed me to do, see, and meet a number of people, places, and things.
Covering sports an official capacity presents itself with a number of challenges. First, you have to refrain from cheering, disconnecting yourself with a fighter regardless of how great your personal relationship with them is. Then, there is the stress of deadlines, and making sure you capture all the detail that would make for a captivating write up. In between all of this, you are constantly networking, looking for news, angles, and building a relationship with the power brokers of the sport. It’s all very much a day at the office, regardless if the perception is that we are just slobs with prime seats, the fact of the matter is we work our asses of. Well, at least most of us do.
All of which is why it was a refreshing change of pace for myself when I ventured down to Austin to catch the Wolfpack Promotions pro-am boxing card put on by arguably the greatest women boxer ever to lace up the gloves, Ann Wolfe.
Austin is unique to most places in America. There is a more bohemian vibe to the city, a wholly unpretentious vibe that was evident from the moment we walked into the outdoor concert venue know as The Backyard. For a small-tier promotion, Wolfe has done a masterful job of bringing in the fight fan. The 13-bout amateur, 8-bout pro boxing card was electric from the start to the finish. Each fight was carefully matched to give fans the most action. It was a stroke of genius, and the fact that Wolfe owns a restaurant/bar that boarders the venue made access to refreshing beer a breeze. I was a cathartic moment for me. To simply take in the fights, brink beer, and root passionately helped me reestablish the root of my love for fistic fighting. It reminded me of why I feel in love with combative sports, and why I do what I do with North Texas Fisticuffs.
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