In this case, the great sport of boxing.
Some do it for the shot at bigger paydays in the future.
Some for the attention, the roar of the crowd.
Others, strictly for the love of it.
The latter is the case for Colorado's Randall Schuckman who made very clear what it is about 'The Sweet Science' he likes most.
"I just love boxing. It's the s#%t. I love the challenge of the chess match. I love the movement, hand speed, and relaxation it teaches me. It's a zone I feel only when I box."
At the time of this writing, the Aurora native was was fresh off a 2012 Colorado Golden Gloves run that saw him take a state title. He was also busy training for his fight on the 'X-Plosion Legacy Of Warriors' card the night of March 11th.
He talked about what the Golden Gloves tournament win meant to him and what it took to get to the podium.
"I pray a lot and I think God gave me a blessing in that win.
"I weighed 133lbs and I fought him (semi-finals opponent) at 141lbs but I was a little shorter, a little more compact, and harder to hit. I ended up stopping him in the second round with an eye injury. He couldn't see out of his right eye and the Doctor said no more.
"The guy I fought in the finals, it was his tenth boxing match, my fourth match. He came out blazing on me. He had said his experience would bring him through it and that he was going to knock me out.
"I just kept bending at my knees and dodging his punches when he came at me. I stalked him down and got him peddling back with my head in his chest and I bombed on him every time he tried to punch.
"He eventually broke to the pressure, taking four eight counts in two rounds so the referee said no more."
When I've had the chance to speak with a boxer who also fights MMA, I'm always curious how they view boxing's role in Mixed Martial Arts compared to Muay-Thai.
Schuckman sees the art as an integral part of the fight game.
"Boxing is one of the main things that has helped my MMA beyond belief. I've done Muay-Thai also since I was fifteen. I think boxing goes hand in hand with Mixed Martial Arts. Boxing is very functional with MMA.
"It teaches you to move, the proper posture. And the fight always starts on the feet, you have to exchange with your hands. That's where a lot of MMA fighters are failing. That's what makes my wife (Lacey Schuckman) eighth in the world as a professional. Her boxing."
Schuckman trains out of the popular 'House Of Pain' gym on Federal Blvd headed by Steve Mestas. An all boxing spot with that "Rocky" feel that's hard to find now days in all the glamour and glitz of the newer gyms.
"It gives you that old-school feel, we have posters of Bernard Hopkins, Corky Gonzales. We have posters of all the classic boxers hanging around the gym. He's (Mestas) had the gym since 96' and has been training people since he was fifteen.
"Steve's a world class trainer. He'll show you the best fundamentals and basics. He really teaches an effective style. You'll win boxing matches if you listen to coach."
Mestas is also the promoter for Friday night's noted 'X-Plosion Legacy Of Warriors' event put on by 'Airtight Boxing'. He seems to have found the ticket to growing the promotion by giving fans mixed combat cards, i.e. MMA, boxing, BJJ, and kickboxing all at the same event.
Schuckman talked about the fans reaction to being exposed to a night of quality boxing after growing accustomed to MMA over the last few years.
"May 11th is 'Airtight Combat Sports' second show that does boxing, MMA, kickboxing and jiu-jitsu. In our first show, the MMA fans said we want to see this again, we forgot how exciting boxing is."
And for Schuckman's future boxing aspirations?
"I want to go to the 2016 Olympics. That would be a dream come true."
Stay tuned...
Tickets are still available at the door of 'Red And Jerry's' and also by calling 720 298 1954.
If you liked this, check out the links below:
http://www.colorado-mma-colorado-boxing.com/2012/05/2012-national-golden-gloves-results.html
http://www.colorado-mma-colorado-boxing.com/2012/05/more-than-fight-for-team-ibarra.html
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See you at the fights!
