The Kids of Today and Boxing . . .

By Rick farris

Everything changes. Today, many children are not taught that there are consequences to actions. Legalities prevent parents from disciplining their children, so it's not unusual for kids to grow up believeing that they can do as they wish until the day comes that they are literally hit in the face with brutal reality.

I'm speaking primarily of kids that grow up in America, where privleges are many, where even in economic challenging times such as these, they have it easy compared to the challenges of children in third world countries, where things are always tough and dangerous.

I was talking with my pal Steve Harpst last night. Steve is nearly 50, and grew up in Arizona where he boxed amateur in Tucson around the time the Baltazar boys were developing into solid professionals. Steve got a taste of boxing when there were still a few "old school" trainers around. Of course, that's all I knew in L.A. Nobody had to "encourage" me to hit the road, because I learned in my first bout what it felt like to run out of gas before the final bell. This introduced me first hand to "consequences".

It's kinda like that "picture that's worth a thousand words." You needn't be a Rhodes Scholar to understand a message punctuated by pain and humiliation. That's how I felt when I'd lose, humiliated, which was far more painful than the black eye I might have taken from the contest.

Today as I help Steve work with his young prospects, I'm adapting to working with as many as forty kids at a time. Certainly this is nothing unique. I'm more interested in working with the kid who has a desire, as opposed to the "natural talent" type that could care less about putting in the work necessary.

Today we have a few girls in the program. Little girls, age ten or so, and a few a little older. When I see a kid, girl or boy, really trying to get their feet under them, really trying, I step in and help. Naturally, you put most time in with those who are training for matches, but I really don't care what their future plans are. I hope most of these kids don't attempt to take their lessons into a pro ring, and most won't, or shouldn't.

A young Armenian girl quietly listens and tries hard. She is respectful and looks you in the eyes when you talk. She listens and she learns, she'll never have a fight, and it soesn't matter. Maybe one day she will be a fan and buy a ticket to a match. This is good for boxing.

I can be a disciplinarian when it comes to working with boxers, I don't sugar coat the consequences. I came up in places like the Johnny Flores Gym, Main Street Gym, Teamsters Gym, Shagrues, Stanton A.C., Sacred Heart Boys Club, etc. etc. These places no longer exist, nor do the men who made them thrive with boxing talent. It's a new world, and not a particularly a good one for young boxers in Los Angeles.

My ears are wide open to questions, however, I will not tolerate somebody "questioning" what I know to be true. A question on "how to" is invited, and I'll always provide the reason "why". But I will not debate the answer with a kid, they can listen and learn, or find out the hard way. I have no patience with today's philosophies on "open dialouge". We haven't the time.

How people live their lives outside the gym I've no control over. However, when I'm teaching it's my way, and my way only. I'm not there to be taught a lesson by a kid. Steve likes this, and it seems the kids do to. I love reading Roger's stories of the kids in his class room. He understands how society has changed, and his hands are often bound when it comes to getting his point across. In the boxing gym, I have no such constraints. If a kid is willing, so am I. That's all I can do.

I don't just teach about jabs & hooks, I talk of boxing history. I tell a brief story as the kids are wrapping their hands. They love it. And so do I. I try to let them know what it was like "back in the day."

Things have changed. We must adapt or die. But when it comes to boxing, if you don't learn your lessons properly and take it to a professional level, you can die. Sounds a bit dramatic, but I've seen it happen. We all have who post here.