Cape Breton's Magazine

There was no other sport for me. And once I got in the boxing, I knew that's where I belonged, because that's where I fit. I en? joyed doing it, and it came easy to me. So therefore I knew this is where I'm going to stay. (Do you consider yourself fast, or are you more of a slugger, just waiting for your opening?) I'd say more or less boxer. I box, I don't slug. Sometimes I slug when I'm tired, I mean, everyone's going to do that. (What do you mean by box?) I'm going to move a lot. I use maybe a jab, that's all. I use a jab a hell of a lot. When I get a chance to get my right hand in, I get it in and I'm gone. And if I score with the right hand, I'm going to hit you with a left hook, and a right hand again. There are a lot of guys that don't think, but the real winner is a thinker. It's a thinking game. It's not just go out there and slug. You have to be able to think. You have to be able to be smart. Have to anticipate j'our moves. (How is it when you do get punched like that? How do you train yourself to take that kind of pain?) I don't think you train yourself. You get used to it. You get used to it. And right now it doesn't even bother me any more. I get hit. After awhile, and when you're in there, I think you're so tensed up and stuff like that, that it doesn't really bother you at all. Except for maybe if you get a swelling. It distracts you. It distracts your breathing, or your vision. Then it kind of bothers you a little bit, it kind of puts you off track. But if you're just hit with a re'u- lar shot, it's not going to do too much to you. It doesn't do too much to me, an3nA;'ay. The pain is not that bad. I think the greatest fear in a boxer, it's not of his opponent--it's losing. That's what bothers him. You don't want to lose, you know. 'Cause if you were afraid of the other fel? low, you wouldn't be in there. You'd be home or you'd be in the crowds in the stands, watching. It's the fear of not win? ning the fight and coming out with your hand raised. That's what the fear is. If I was ever afraid any time, it would be of that--not winning. (Boxing's) an art. It's like learning a trade, learning an art, and perfecting it. And that's just the way I look at it. Like, a hockey player puts the puck in the net-- and I put my glove in his face! Something like this. That's the way I look at it. No one can tell me that it's any rougher than football. There's rules. And you're pro? tected. The referee will let (the pros) go a little bit longer. But with the amateurs, when he senses that you can't control your? self, or you can't fight back, you're not punching back--he'll just stop the fight. You're always protected. He's the third' man in the ring. You have a good coach in your comer. The gloves--you're not get? ting hit with a bare fist. We wear a head guard. Padding. It fits just like a helmet. That stops a lot. It's absorbing some of the impact of the punch, anyway. If there is a cut, they'll just stop it. Even for a nosebleed, at times, they'll stop it, if it's that bad. CONTINUED NEXT PAGE HEADINVENTS THE RADIAL SKI. /- -'Jl ' Skis that are more fun, turn ,/ '' easier, ride smoother, handle >: better and simply perform beyond anything you've ever seen or skied on before. See the all new Head Radials at 189 Townsend St., Sydney, N.S. -539-7165 THE MOST FAMOUS NAME ON SKIS. CHOOSE FRESH CHOOSE WENDY'S HAMBURGERS - CHICKEN "' CHILI SALAD BAR * BAKED POTATOES - A11 Prepared Fresh Daily- K-MART PLAZA 300 WELTON ST SYDNEY (87.)