Page 12 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 33

12
Amateur boxing Changes
By Jorge Luis
he Pan-Am games are currently
Ttaking place in Toronto,
finishing up July 26th. This great
event has been covered by TSN
and CBC. Among the many great
sports and events is International
Olympic Style Amateur Boxing.
The Pan-Am games are a qualifier
for the 2016 Olympics. The IOC
only allows a maximum of 24-32
boxers per weight division from
around the globe. In order to qualify
an amateur boxer must be more than
the best in his country at his/her
weight. They must win or medal
in the top 3 at the top tournaments,
such as the World Championships,
the Commonwealth Games, and the
Pan-Am Games. At these particular
Announcement
Due to health
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Rene Emond
has sold
LUCKY WORMS
effective immediately.
Rene would like to thank
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If you saw an ad in Sports Energy, Please mention it to our advertiser.
games the countries to watch for in International Association has gotten next day and is out of the tournament.
boxing are the Cubans (always!), the rid of the computer scoring system Not good for the boxer and not good
Americans, and the Brazilians. The which made the boxing more like for boxing in general.
Brazilians have benefitted greatly fencing than boxing. Believe me the
Where does Canada stand in all
from a Cuban National Coach and extra 3 minutes makes a difference
this? And how is Canada faring?
Cuba training methods. The USA, both in strategy and in conditioning.
Our boxers represent themselves well
despite its economic woes, still puts The scoring is based on the Pro-like
and with respectable performances.
a generous amount of funding into its scoring system, whereby the winner The last really solid favourite we had
sports programs and has a deep talent of a round is awarded 10 points the
on the Canadian Team was Custio
pool, though they have not medalled loser 9 points. This can be subjective Clayton at 69 kg (152lbs) who has
much at recent Olympics. And Cuba, because some judges are scoring on now turned pro. What’s lacking in
despite its poverty, continues to have aggression and impression, while
one of the best boxing programs in others are watching for clean scoring Canada at the moment is unity. Once
the world. They benefit from great blows and defense also. Adjustments the National Team member starts
coaches and unity throughout the need to be made and more education boxing internationally their personal
country. They all seem to be on the is needed as many judges do not have home coach no longer works with
same page, so when an athlete wins a boxing background or experience. them. The “national” team coaches
the nationals and becomes a national work with the athlete. Some of these
team member, his training will not The other difference is there will coaches are excellent, but are not
differ too greatly at the national be no headgear being used. This is familiar with the athlete. Our system
training camp. supposed to be more appealing to the could be more like the Cubans’;
mainstream boxing fan, but it’s a new absorbing the National Team
So, Boxing fans, here’s what you rule that I don’t like. The headgear is members into a national training
may have seen or what to look for meant to protect the boxer from cuts base, where they train year round and
in the next couple days. Boxers will and abrasions and to protect the ears. attend school and get familiar with
box 3 rounds of 3 minutes each, Remember these boxers are boxing the coaches and coaching methods.
no longer 4 rounds of 2 minutes 2-3 times maybe 3-4 in a week. That We start pushing our home town
each. This is good, it separates the means if they get injured they cannot coaches aside at the nationals and at
men from the boys and requires continue in the tournament. It’s not the International level they only work
more training and conditioning and like a pro boxer who will not box with national coaches at occasional
strategy. A big thumbs up from again for a couple of months. AIBA training camps. Back in the 80’s and
me in this department. Also the the International body governing 90’s boxers such as Lennox Lewis,
amateur boxing has erred in my Shawn O’Sullivan, Willie DeWitt
estimation and taken a step backward and others all had their personal
in safety measures. The real reason home club coaches in their corners at
AIBA endorses this is because they the Olympics. The results were clear
have started their own pro league to and proof was in the pudding. We
keep boxers in their ranks instead of have many good coaches in Canada,
turning pro. Just a few short years but they are not being used properly
ago they were charging exorbitant and I attribute that to our lower level
fees to “test” and “approve” your of performance and calibre at the
brand of equipment and headgear. International level. Our athletes need
Only certain brands were used, not more experience, more funding from
because they were safer or better but government, and the involvement of
simply because they paid the high their coaches. Trace our history. I
fees, while most companies opted rest my case. Boxing fans, I hope
not to pay. Now they remove the you have enjoyed watching boxing
headgear! at the Pan-Am Games. Enjoy any
happened at other major tournaments, free boxing on TV and support your
So it is quite possible, and it has
local boxing club.
that the best boxer in his division can Yours in Sport
suffer a head butt injury and be unable Jorge Luis
to pass the medical examination the
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