Fighting Legends

For the past 20 years, I have been training out of Betances, St Mary’s, Pops, Ft. Apache, World Wide, Juan Laporte’s and John’s Boxing gym. There were seven gyms within a three-mile radius of one another in the 10455 zip code of the South Bronx — the Boxing Mecca. Many have since closed down.

So many memories emerge from these sites of triumph and tragedy, grit and struggle. Diametrical opposites meet in the boxing gym — heroin addicts and heroic world champions, convicted rapists and proven role models, sneaky snakes in the grass and stand-up, loyal friends. Here PTSD-afflicted veterans of the invasions of Vietnam and Iraq, prostitutes, single-parents, thieves, hustlers, 9 to 5’ers, murderers and the ghosts of the murdered come together. You name it — the good, the bad and the ugly — we’ve seen it and we’ve lived it. This is not hyperbole. This is the environment that has given birth to some of the greatest fighters to grace the canvas.

I have strung together a collage of photos and memories so that the reader can enter into our small world — where everybody knows each another. What a journey it has been! I have come a long way as a fighter, father, and man since my first fight at Kingsway Boxing Club in 1999 against a 260 lb. brawler. My story is one of passing from mentee to mentor.

How many local and international legends have come out of these gyms? Here is a sprinkling of the names of warriors who honed their craft in these bare-bones gyms on a daily basis: Kinda “Bombaye” Issouf, Emmanuel Gonzalez, Keith Tapia, Stivens “Superman” Bujaj, Joshua “Hitman” Clotty, Juan Celin Zapata, Nisa Rodriguez, Sadam Ali, Danny Jacobs, the Livingston brothers, Eddy Gomez, and Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko. In the entries that follow, I will take you into the ring — where the young gladiators do battle— but also into the back streets where they came of age. I divided up the “Dollar and a Dream in the South Bronx” series into six rounds, or entries. When the character portraits are less than flattering, the names and details have been changed to protect the privacy of our protagonists.

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Madison Square Garden 2005. I was the Daily News Golden Gloves fighter of the Year. I received $10,000 for this fight.

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Fighting a former Golden Gloves champion out of Morris Park Boxing Club.
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The best part of a fight — when it is over and you can exhale and reflect on all of the hard work that went into it.

Puttin’ in Work

Whenever I am lacing up my boxing shoes to work out, I tell myself “Time to put in work.”  For a fighter, entering the gym is like going to work. It is not a choice but a necessity. Don’t analyze it too much or you might lose steam and never make it in the front door.

When Gary came out of prison after a bid for heroin possession, his first stop was the boxing gym. He came out of jail 40 lbs. overweight and without a dollar in his pocket. I remember shadowboxing and wondering if he had a chance to make it.

Four months later his Riker’s, starch-filled belly was gone. With his six-pack re-solidified, he was ready for a fight. Gary received $800 bucks for a four rounder. He lost but the check earned him some temporary breathing room.  The only money in boxing is high up on the totem pole. Gary was back in jail two months later for possession. This is not Rocky.  This is reality.

Killing Ourselves

Little Soto lived in a shelter. Every day in the gym, he fought for both his sanity and a shower. One late summer evening after Soto finished his sparring session, he felt on top of life. He had just received money on his food stamp card so he sent a younger fighter to buy a bunch of food and drinks for everyone in the gym. The delivery boy disappeared and never returned. Little Soto went into the streets with vengeance in his eyes. There were efforts to restrain him and explain that going back upstate to jail over $50 was not worth it but vengeance prevailed.

A shoot out ensued two hours later on 3rd Ave. and 149th St. The statisticians chalked up the numbers. They added another Puerto Rican to the murdered list. The state sentenced another Puerto Rican to serve life in prison.

Oppressed people specialize in killing one another. Cowering before the insurmountable conditions that tower over them, they take out their anger and pain on those who are closest to them. The boxing world is just one microcosm of a world where unemployment, addiction and humiliation cut people down on a daily basis.

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Boo Boo Smooth and I “getting it in” on a cold January day.  In the Bronx, no matter how bitter and cold it is outside, the fighters heat it up in the ring.

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This is legendary Cuban fighter and my trainer Lazarro Almanzar. I’m proud of Lazarro because post-fighting his weight increased drastically. He lost 50 lbs. in the last year making more conscious decisions about his “jama” or food.  Stay away from those chicharones y tostones asere!

 

1 COMMENT

  1. I’m a fan of boxing, my uncle was a boxer as well. You two have similar stories.
    And also you story proven not everyone will have a good life and clean records. Many people will grow from there mistakes and that will guide them to a better success!

  2. Really enjoyed reading this article. The stories were interesting. I have a question that you ask your self in the article but didnt answer if you knew these men were rapist, addicts, would you still fight them or not ? Just out of curiosity i will like to know
    Michelle Santana

  3. This article was really interesting. I liked the part where you were talking to the man that had stolen your things from your car. Instead of getting belligerent, you approached the situation calmly and tried to see why he had done it. I also liked the background stories of the boxers you fought. I always thought boxers were regular people in the sense that the had not had any criminal backgrounds.

  4. When reading this article the story’s that were being told were very interesting to read about and as you read more and more each line had me hooked. Maybe its because I like boxing but I enjoyed reading this. I think its crazy that someone would actually choose to serve life in prison just to get back at someone , anger can really make you do the most dispicable things. The part that interested me the most was when you was in a fight with a rapist,I think that if you would of known who he was you’ll probably never would of fought him. If you had no choice than you’ll probably would of hit him twice as hard but I don’t know that s my opinion.
    -brigette villanueva

  5. Even Though it was tough for you to remain focused because of all the crime and such, I really liked how u stayed in one lane and not fall out and end up in jail like all the people you know. btw it was a good read.

  6. The last paragraph resignated with me. addicts and people who commit crimes are caged in cells like animals time and time again. When will we end the cycle and rehabilitate these people and get them the help they need? Great piece.

  7. I love reading about the personal experiences. I had no idea the boxing world had so many dynamics. It’s really nothing like television.

  8. This is a very interesting piece. Especially knowing that I’ve grown up in the areas mentioned it’s crazy to think that the area has been the same for the past 20 plus years. To know that you can’t leave your car even in broad daylight was an everyday thing. With reading this piece i learned you can never judge a book by its cover. Who would’ve thought a 7th Day Adventist would be a boxer? People underestimate the talent that can be found in the South Bronx. A lot of people never get seen or heard because of its bad reputation and money situations. Awesome piece ! Can’t wait to read parts 2 and 3.

  9. It’s unbelievable how as soon as you get to the South Bronx and you see hundreds of people. Not just the simple fact that there is many people all around but the fact that as a tourist you run into police humiliation. And the words that come out is matters we’ll leave your phone out all day because it’s an everyday second that something like that occurs in the South Bronx. But other than you speak and write nothing but the truth. Good mind set of opening up people’s eyes with your wisdom.

  10. I really love the fact that you are sharing your story with the world. Most people would be too busy to write and express their feelings and experience what they lived with growing up with their surroundings based on that they are more into their dreams.

  11. Good to hear and see someone who stands up for the people. That cannot stand up for themselves. My favorite part when you said you don’t know what addiction you’ll have if it weren’t for boxing. I say the same about sports. (L.N)

  12. There are many things in our lifes but we don’t really live with them, for example, I know that boxing is a sport but I do not know the real story behind this sport, because i could say it is a “Rude Sport” but people who practice it are not rude at all. People who fight? Everybody fight and will fight but in differents ways and thats the main point

  13. What most of us find as pure entertainment just to watch, is a life for those actually fighting. I think people fail to realize that boxers are fighting for more than just a title in those rings. They’re fighting for respect, they’re fighting to support their families, they’re fighting years of oppression. Most of these fighters grow up on nothing. To them boxing is their only escape. Their escape from not only poverty, but their escape from frustrations, from let downs. A lot of these fighters are built on past anger. Fighting is their release. Although boxing may be a release for some, I feel some don’t know how to distinguish when they are in a ring or when they are not. Some are so built up on anger and oppression that they resort to fighting beyond the rings. This reminds me of a guy I grew up with. He wanted to be a boxer so bad and he’s actually pretty good too. He was raised by a single coke head mother and has faced many life lessons. All he had to look up to were block drug dealers and street hustlers. He was known as a “troubled kid” because he got into many fights. His response to most situations are usually fighting, but he’s not a bad guy though as everybody portrays him to be. Nobody sees the pain that life has inflicted on him. He had managed to get in some boxing gym and while he was doing that he was fine. He was happy and he wasn’t fighting in the streets., but to continue on he needed funds and sponsors, which he could not raise. Therefore he had to give up early on his passion. After so he became real bitter to the world. He tries to portray himself as cool and happy and collected, but you see the hurt and anger he has to the world

  14. I thought the piece was compelling and very well written for they way It takes several different accounts and stories of people from all walks of life and brings them together in the boxing ring, still while displaying that this is “This is not Rocky. This is reality. ” in the South Bronx. I have few friends that loved to fight all through our adolescent years and it really does make me wonder that if they had channeled their energy into something like this they might not be in jail now.

    -RBG

  15. professor it surprises me that after all of those trials and tribulations you’ve faced,you kept your head up. its sort of crazy how you relate boxing to real life situations. you could’ve easily gotten caught up into the oppression. wither its selling drugs, getting locked up or engaging in problems outside the ring. I have a story of my own to share with you and the class, that’s probably as encouraging as yours.

  16. Wow! By reading this, my perspective of how I used to see boxers changed. Those that stand are real warriors. They are life warriors. they fight their corrupted surroundings, misery, they fight to life. Their fight in the ring is their fight for living. I really enjoyed the way in which each idea is connected to the other. It keeps he reader on track, without losing the main idea.

  17. Boxing is a foreign concept to me and reading this article allowed me to see life through a boxers perspective. Your stories are potent, you fought in an arena against opponents but whats most impressive is that you fought for your chance to a better life, against the oppositions that knocks out people. Inspirational. We can truly over come anything that stands in our way, its all about one’s will to fight.

  18. “Oppressed people specialize in killing one another. Cowering before the insurmountable conditions that tower over them, they take out their anger and pain on those who are closest to them.” Couldn’t have said better. They use each other as a punching bag due to oppression, frustration, and built in anger that many minority endure by the hand of society harsh systematic unjust-ness towards them and forcing them to be the product of their environment. The reality of it all is unfortunate but that’s their daily struggle within their community.

  19. I thought the articles was really great and informative. In all honesty I think it’s pretty cool that my professor is such a knowledgeable guy and I don’t meant to speak for everyone when I say that the article can be connected to the underdogs and just about all the struggles and difficulties that one must go through not only in boxing but in life as well

  20. . In this article you could go into a deep understanding on how tough and dangerous was South Bronx back in the days. Those young adults did not have much to lose because there was nothing good for them out there. In this article you could learn so much about the environment, the neighborhood and the people. At the end of the day, the only thing that many people had to live for, it was boxing. In this article, readers can find many legendary boxers that came out from the South Bronx gyms. Also all the struggles these boxers went through, the sacrifices they made to become where they were at the time.

    This is the type of article, that people learn from all point of view; cultural, sociological and personal. Also people can learn from all the experiences displayed in this article, because though each part of it you can see the perseverance and the passion for the sport of boxing. And not to mention the dedication it takes to be a boxer, and the work someone has to put in a boxing ring. Many people can relate to all the stories this article shows, especially that if you want something in life that is work of having people should fight for it.

  21. i identify with almost all the boxes , because what has become reality to them has also become a reality to me. All of us has are confronted with the same challenges even though it might be in a different format. Furthermore, most of the boxes originated from the so called ” third world” as did some of us too.

  22. Its is surprising to me to see the meaning of this discipline and how meaningful they can be for someone’s life. I honestly couldn’t imagine that so many backgrounds could actually meet and work together to achieve one goal and forget about their problems at least for a little while. I knew that disciplines like dancing(which I practice), painting, even writing were activities that one can use to release stresses but I never thought about boxing in that perspective because for me it was a discipline that you must meet certain requirements, physically, economically and be really angry (as funny as might sound I did thought that). but after reading this piece I see that these activities can help the people that practice it grow as individuals and socially make them more engage with their communities and families.

  23. I really like this article because most of the greater fighter in history have come from the same background as those guy you point at. I think that beside the money, boxing is a way to unburden. Although it is sad to see how many teenage waste their time on things that are not worth it.

  24. All of the parts this article were real and inspirational. Most people get the idea of boxing only from movies and not really see how this places are some what a rehab center for a wide field of men recover from getting out of jail, drugs or just a tough spot in their lives. its defiantly what you applied the word Microcosm because it is a small community where i started to believe it is important mental resource. even though its not the most perfect environment, it seems defiantly somewhere they (the boxers) can go and focus on themselves and it comes out as physical improvement but their state of mind too, If their past don’t get in the way of the progress. your tone is personal and strong because i view that’s the feel of boxing. i unfortunately could not identify with any of the fighters because it will be hypocritical of me to compare my life or personality to any of theirs since i haven’t had a rough life like they have. i can relate to a certain extend of picking up an activity to focus on yourself when life is down but its not as gruesome. i was very unaware of how boxing is a big factor in the bronx male community.

  25. This article was really interesting because you could appreciate what people had to pass through to go on with their lives. Sometimes we said that is difficult to share things with someone that have been in jail for some reason, some of them do things because they don’t have another choice or God knows their reason we are not here to judge anyone, but in the world that we live in now is full of judgement. I don’t know anything about boxing but I watch the fight when they have it on tv. I could say that I identify myself with them because as a single mother you have to get your game straight and do what you have to do to make it in this city. its really hard to start from the bottom without any support, but you just have to have a goal and make it work no matter how hard it is. and as professor Shaw said the boxing world is just a little world where unemployment, addiction, and humiliation cut people down on daily basis. Your tone is calm and you could find some kind of happiness in it by the way you express yourself about your coach and how proud you where of him by loosing all those weights and putting a side his chicharrones and tostones. that is a hard thing to do when you are form an island. is like telling an African-American to forget about fried chicken and soul food.

  26. The “dollar and a dream in the south Bronx: coming up in the boxing mecca(pt.1)”, has inspired me further as a martial artist to try and pursue boxing and add it to my fighting arsenal. Before reading his article i only thought boxing was about the legends we can remember such as , Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and our new generational legend Floyd Money Mayweather. What’s interesting about this text is that even dough these renowned fighters weren’t mentioned you were still able to dive in the world of boxing through an eccentric perspective.Local boxing, where the average Joe can toss gloves with unsung legends in  a ring, and gain real wisdom of fighting after they’ve finished. Also the diversity of men who choose to use boxing as an outlet to relieve what ever drive, stress, fear, or even love they may be facing in life now.

  27. This article was really interesting & brought me to really think how boxing is something that is mostly seen or mentioned in moves. It is not talked about as much in the “real” world. Many individuals are engaged at the gym boxing because of many different reasons everyone’s story is different but yet they all come together for a main focus. To release anger, stress, or to forget about the past and try to move on from what brought them there in the first place. There are those that may do it for fun or a hobby but boxing is a huge part of the south Bronx & reflects us and where we come from, our lives , and the struggle we live.

  28. I found the integration of people into the gym very helpful. The fact that no matter who you are and what your background was didn’t matter in the ring, you were free to do your thing and the impact of boxing in The Bronx. Also when you talked about Little Soto and how he lived but never gave up on what he liked was inspiring because most people when they find theirselves in trouble would rather quit than keep trying to accomplish their goals.

  29. Dang, I feel bad for Little Soto. If i trusted someone with fifty bucks and a food stamp card and that happened to me, heck I’d make the next block a boxing ring. This incident itself exemplifies the South Bronx down to its stereotypical truth. Robbery, Thievery, enduring a poor financial life; these gyms are all in reality, microcosms of an unfortunate area.

  30. Anybody who lives in the south bronx like myself knows it tough out there especially for the men. who struggle staying out of trouble with no money in their pocket. The hustle becomes a job then you end up selling drugs or robbing people. After serving their time they try to find a positive activity and that’s where you end up meeting them at the boxing gym. The box ring is always a good way to escape from the real world and its also relief.

  31. -What I thought about this article is that I agree with the author about South Bronx. I’ve been to the South Bronx before, however, I have never heard of the name “the Boxing Mecca”. I wouldn’t go back to South Bronx if it wasn’t a safe neighborhood.

    -The author had good memories about his boxing career; he was a strong fighter. Some fighters like Kinda “Bombaye” Issouf is African. Emmanuel Gonzalez, Juan Celin Zapata, and Eddy Gomez are Latinos, while the fighters are male Americans or female Americans. I’ve heard about the Golden Gloves; I’ve read the newspaper about the main event.

    -I felt really bad about the fighters who went to jail, but when they’re released from jail they gained weight. Some people like Little Soto is using boxing as a vengeance to fight back from all the trouble they did. I didn’t think that Little Soto had gone from homeless to a boxer.

    -I was shocked about the shootout at 3rd Ave. & 149th St. I don’t think the author made a clear point about boxing world as a microcosm. Boxing a microcosm of the South Bronx reality is not enough; I say it is crucial.

    -I was surprised that the article was a true story about a boxer who prepares himself for the gold. The general tone of the author’s writing was emotional and memorial. The guiltiness in criminals was inspired in me. It felt a little sad about the fighters who changed their lives.

  32. I have never been a fan of boxing, as far as I was concerned these were just a set of egotistical men finding a way of boosting their ego some more. But reading this piece really shed some light on the world of boxing in the south Bronx and what it represents.This was their way of taking themselves away from the reality of life as they know it. For most it was the most positive thing in their lives.

  33. I feel that this portion of the series was enlightening for me because I am not a New York native. Everything I have ever heard about the Bronx, in general, was that it was a dangerous place and that I should avoid it as much as possible. I was unaware of the amount of history that the South Bronx carried in the boxing world, due to my lack of knowledge of the sport.

    • To trained for boxing you have to be determine, but the reality is that some boxers never make it outside the gym. There are many issues that people have to deal with when they live in ghetto areas. There’s always crime and unfortunately certain people think the only answer to resolve a conflict is with violence.

  34. I believe this is a great article showing the link between the life of crime and how people try and stay away from it. Some look at boxing as a way to stay out of the streets and not get into trouble. Unfortunately, some things follow people and and it is difficult for them to handle situations in ways that they are not used to.

  35. Interesting segment, I liked how he told himself time to put in work because that’s is what you have to do in order to survive. I thought it was unfortunate that Gary and little Soto chose those circumstances that led them to bring incarcerated again.

  36. To trained for boxing you have to be determine, but the reality is that some boxers never make it outside the gym. There are many issues that people have to deal with when they live in ghetto areas. There’s always crime and unfortunately certain people think the only answer to resolve a conflict is with violence.

  37. To train for boxing you have to be determine, but the reality is that some boxers never make it outside the gym. There are many issues that people have to deal with when they live in ghetto areas. There’s always crime and unfortunately certain people think the only answer to resolve a conflict is with violence.

  38. This is the first time I take time to read anything boxing related. However I find this piece interesting, informative and descriptive. I had no idea about all the stuff that goes during the training but most importantly; I had no idea about The Bronx having such an impact in the sport. I’m not surprised about the guy looking for revenge because I see stuff like this all the time in The Bronx and like you said in the article “Oppressed people specialize in killing one another” which is very sad and true.

  39. There are many issues that people have to deal with when they live in ghetto areas. To train for boxing you have to be determine, but in reality is that some boxers never make it outside the gym. There’s always crime and unfortunately certain people think the only answer to resolve a conflict is with violence.

  40. Wow! Very interesting article right here. I never thought that boxing started here in the Bronx. I always thought it was just Hip Hop but overall I enjoyed the article. The pictures along with the article kept me interested and into the the article. The part about Soto, I got to say, it was really messed up. I wouldn’t know how to react if that was me in that particular situation. By the way, I think I need to take a visit to these boxing places myself. Something in me always wanted to be a boxer too, except I don’t watch a lot of boxing matched on TV.

  41. A strong opening to this serie of articles! All we know about the sport of boxing is that is a millionaire sport. But nobody knows what is behind. What is behind of those athletes.
    In the article is a part where it says that t is not a choice but a necessity to fight. So, I understand that they fight as way to feel free. Free of they problems focusing on give it all in the ring.

  42. First of all, I liked the way you started. It was so enthusiastically telling these stories. For instance, by giving examples of the people that were around there. It was awesome seeing the collages. I appreciated the moments you passed and of course the tension as well. One of the things that surprised me while reading were the legends that have been there.

  43. I like this reading because I think it’s important that people know that despite having good mind to do things, there is always some behind that not always usually come to light. I enjoy this reading because it shows an aspect of boxing that I did not know and now I know.

  44. I don’t really follow boxing and I’m not aware of the sport very much. I was surprised of how most of the fighters come from a type of criminal background although I feel like some people still don’t know how to control their anger even if they let steam off in boxing.

  45. First of all, you caught my attention since the beginning which it is very uncommon for me; to get hooked up by a reading, when you said you did boxing. In this first part, I identified with Little Soto where it is mentioned that he could get sanity from the gym. It is similar for me since I feel relaxed when I go to the gym.

  46. First of all, you caught my attention since the beginning which it is very uncommon. The fact that you are a Professor and that you do boxing, it’s a combination that I did not expect to see; that is why I got interested. In this first part, I identified with Little Soto who could get sanity from going to the gym. When I go to the gym, I feel relaxed.

  47. Boxing has had a huge impact in my life. I agree with what you are saying, in the gym is where good meets evil, where the worse of the worse and also some great people all get together in one room. When I was in 8th grade I join a boxing class in my school as a elective. I completely felt in love with boxing. even after the class was over everyday i went after school and train for hours. boxing was a way for me to escape from my friends and cousins who most of them were involved with some kind of gand or were always to no good. getting high, drinking alcohol…etc. there is something about boxing, a feeling you get when you hear you punches strike the heavy bag and seeing it move, there was something relaxing about learning a new combination. I have not box in year. however I do miss it alot. so i feel like in some ways i can relate to the fighters you mention.

  48. After reading this article I’m extremely surprise by how boxers really are. For us its just a sport where all that matter is to win or to unfortunately lose. but for the boxers this is way more than winning this is fighting for respect, for power, for proud, for their families, for their friends, for their country, for their life. this made me appreciate boxing for what it means to much of my people. in addition, its a scape for much people that had lose so much in their lives and an inspiration for those like me who didn’t know how much this mines.

  49. Very interesting writing. I love how the passion for the same hobby can bring so many people together! No matter the reasons why all the members where there, you all work together to achieve eachothers goals. Helping eachother out and looking out for others.
    I can identify myself with this piece because I always try to be non judgmental and work with others to get better. And all the members of the gym welcomed others and for that moment you had in the gym, background didn’t matter.

  50. I enjoyed the story a lot. it really was not a ROCKY BALBOA life story it was the real deal. in the Bronx there are million of people that go through the drug life and jail time and very few of them make it out alive and successful. So by giving reading a this story let them know that in life there are two path that we can chose from. moving forward to Success or Setting yourself up for failure and Little Soto had a chose to make.

  51. After reading the article i’ve come to realize how difficult life can hit you. I see how people from a bunch of different backgrounds can come together to fulfill a common goal. It’s a way to channel your anger in a healthy way.

    • I totally agree the boxing keep your mind occupy and remove you from doing the bad. I like the part that he says that Gary came out from prison and went straight to boxing. He try to take anger on something positive.. life give as difficult situation but at the end putting this anger in to boxing is a plus.

  52. Boxing is a very interesting sport,before coming into the US I used to hate boxing. Until I moved to the New York, I honestly can say that now I get to enjoy those fights, specially when the family get together to watch boxing. Reading through this article I learned that boxing is a way to keep people out of the streets and also is a type of rehabilitation for some of them.

  53. This is a very interesting article, it shows how life is really about what we make it to be. Even though times might be hard we have to stay focus and fight to pursue the best out of life. Little Soto did not have that kind of a mentality, its obvious he did not really care much about the positive side of life. I believe he love to be in the prison.

  54. Reading this story I have come to realize how hard life can be. Unfortunately some people have it hard in life. Going through struggles like neglect, poverty, addiction, abuse, etc., you can make choices that mess you up real bad or choices that inpower your being. Its hard on a lot of people to be strong and make the right choice to not fall into a drug addiction and do things that make you happy and give you a better life. Everything that happens to us is a result of a choice we made. Sadly in your story gary went went from doing bad to doing good to doing bad again. Like the saying goes, when you fall get back up, if you fall again get back up again. Same thing goes for little Soto. Its sad when all the perils in a persons life takes over then and makes them make the wrong choices, leading them to death or inprisonment. I can somewhat relate to both of them because I have seen similar things like what happened to them in my life. But I am a strong minded person and I make the choice to move foward in a positive way, preventing to make things worse.

  55. After reading the article I to realize that boxing is really a good exercise that can help people to lose weight and it is an interesting sports. boxing can also serve as a rehabilitation center. boxing can also be a healthier way to let out one’s anger. but sadly some who came out jail return only few months they came out for instance Gray who went back only after two months.

  56. Boxing is a great way to let go of a lot of anger and to really leave everything on the ring. These 2 men would have been able to better themselves through boxing but unfortunately they let their anger and the streets get a hold of them, it could had really changed their lives if they kept working hard at it. It is a great sport to get in shape and stay healthy physically and mentally

  57. A much more realistic take on what happens in the training grounds of those who aspire to become some one in the ring. The perspective really hits you with the truth and doesn’t pull any punches (ha!) in describing the realities one may witness within these laboratories. You never really know what anyone may be upto or what they do with their lives or where they have been in the past. Boxer or not, this article gives you a taste of the lifestyle.

  58. Very inspirational story, it is a fact that people who are going through a hard situation find “a way out” by doing different kind of things such as writing, practicing music (like I do) or like in this case by practicing a sport. However many times the person is not mentally strong enough or not self determined that they end up going back to the struggle again, just like what happened to Gary.

  59. We’ve witnessed many professional athletes rise to the top, many whom come from broken homes, no education and poor communities. Like you mentioned in your article many legends came out from those gyms. Oppressed individuals create a life style to steer away from criminal behavior and turn to sports like boxing to have a chance in life without any struggles. Sadly, they carry on the “street life behavior” when they are actually starting to change their life around and instead make bad choices and take a few steps back from becoming the greatest ever.

  60. Boxing and Wrestling were the two sports that i used to enjoy but then life hit me and had to focus more in school and working. Definitely a sport that gets you going and can take you to places but of course, it’s not for everyone. Very interesting story Professor!

  61. After reading the three part article, “A Dollar and a Dream in the south Bronx: Coming up in the Boxing Mecca”, I can only come to think of how amazing people deal with their own lives and hardships. As a person who has been blessed to have so much, reading through the article I see a new side to boxing and how much it helps people. Before I would always generalize boxing as sport for people who were aggressive but reading the descriptions of people’s lives and how they affiliated boxing to cope with the struggles they are going through, it really is an eye opener of what boxing really is about. I personally can see a similarity boxing is comparable to poems. In both situations you find yourself at a point where you let out your true feelings about what’s going on inside you while you have people around you watching and listening to your story being told while motivating others . Never to judge you, but to only rout you on are some of the things that are even better to have than to have one person to tell your problems to.

  62. its interesting to see how boxing can be very influential in a mans life. The most important aspect of this article is how boxing can bring a mix community of different types of people come together and enjoy the sport of boxing. unfortunately for little soto, he made his decision to confront the delivery guy instead of leaving it all behind. In the world of boxing, discipline is a very important aspect of any fighter.

  63. There’s never been any doubt in my mind that boxing is therapeutic for some people, and this article solidifies that thought and makes it more real. It’s interesting that all kinds meet all other kinds both in the ring and in the gym, and no matter what your background, you become a “family”, in a sense. This article makes it sound as though, once at the gym, all the baggage and turmoil is to be forgotten — left at the door. And that’s a good thing. For people that are reintegrating into society, having been locked up for years (sans the examples you provided, both of which truly ended in tragedy), boxing provides release. For people who are coping with great amounts of despair and stress, boxing is an escape. It’s interesting to see this other side of life to which I have had little exposure.

  64. There are many sports/hobbies out there that not only does it help a person maintain a healthy lifestyle and loose weight but also helps a person relieve stress and tension. Alot people go through many different hardships and issues in life and they turn to sports in order to feel a bit better about themselves. For some people, a sport such as boxing can be therapeutic for some for a little while, but eventually for some reason still end up back where they started.

  65. Boxing is an outlet for the poor and minorities. They can release anger and bond with new people they meet at this ring.

  66. I used to think that Boxing wasn’t a sport. But reading this article, its more than just two people in a ring. It involves skill, strength, and courage. It could be used as therapy for some people. Any sport in general can have a positive influence in someone’s life.

  67. Your story is very inspirational. It’s true that many people find an outlet from their everyday lives. These outlets range from boxing (like you) to writing (like I do), reading, playing sports, etc. And then to see some people rise to the top through their outlet is really inspirational. Especially when its someone who comes from a rough background.

    • To be honest, I really admire you. I enjoy your experience to be a teacher in DR, a boxer and a great professor. Your life is so diversity and impressed. And this is how life supposed to be. And to be a boxer, it is not just fighting and winning money,but more learning. Learning how to struggle with yourself and how to deal with bad condition. Every occupation is a subject that we need to learn a lesson.

  68. Having spent years myself in fighting circles, whether kick boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or Mixed Martial Arts, I can relate to enjoying the mixed baskets of characters that you meet on padded mats. Shaw does a great job in articulating this phenomenon when he writes “heroin addicts and heroic world champions, convicted rapists and proven role models, sneaky snakes in the grass and stand-up loyal friends. Here PTSD-afflicted veterans of the invasions of Vietnam and Iraq, prostitutes, single-parents, thieves, police officers, hustlers, 9 to 5’ers, murderers.” The combination of blue and white collar workers, and everything in between, is part of the fascinating of the fight world. It speaks to the notion that “fighting in in our DNA” and it is healthy to find ways to unleash this desire, safely. Aside from the ass-kicking and exercise portion of the activity, I enjoy getting to know people who are different than me, but also very similar.

  69. There is no mistake that we as a community especially minority “are born into a Kingdom of Oppression” as stated in the article. It sadden me that that very same oppression weighs so heavy to a point where it  influences a lot of crimes and criminal behaviors within our communities to a point where we end up fleeting our homes and neighborhood seeking acceptance in a non-black/hispanic communities that clearly
    wants nothing to do with us due to  stereotypical misrepresentations by the mass media. At the end of the day we are all product of our environment.

  70. This article was very interesting to read since I was able to learn a little about boxing and how important it becomes to some people. It’s heart-rending to hear about the many people that go through the bad path of life and end up either dead or in jail for most of their lives. It’s hard for many to always trying to do the right thing and not falling under addictions. Those that do barely get out of it alive. It gives me an understanding of all the struggles and hardships each individual has gone through. It also shows that at the end of the day every decision you make has consequences that come with it. It gives you a moment on being thankful for the life you may have simply because you get a chance to see how others have struggled and suffered. Boxing seem to become like a goal for all these people. It was a way to keep off the streets so they wouldn’t back to their addiction. Each and every one of them were different but they were able to share their liking in boxing. Boxing seems like an interesting sport that has helped many.

  71. This is a very interesting article where people can learn that anyone who lives in a difficult neighborhood can overcome any barriers brought upon them and be able to succeed in life. There is a sport for anyone who wishes to use it as an escape to feel free. Boxing can be used as a way of relaxation and positivism in order to prevent individuals from falling back into any addiction they once faced. However, it takes a strong mind and soul to keep pushing forwards after coming out of any obstacles or hardships. It is just sad to see that not all can change their life around like Little Soto. The streets seem to get the best of him. This article showed me how there were some people who did not let the bad influence of the streets get a hold on their goals in life. I feel that boxing in particular gives individuals another chance in life to become a better person.

  72. After reading this article, I could not help but notice that hobbies and life styles does not separate you from realities in which you are surrounded by. As much as one tries to stay out of trouble, trouble sneaks up on them. In this case, the trouble came through the neighborhood they were in. It also supports the idea that bad influences outside of the gym can be stronger than the good influences inside of the gym. That does not mean that people can’t rise above the bad influences and do the good thing, but it takes more of a person and not everyone can do that.

  73. While reading this story, I came to realize that sports like boxing can not only be used as a source of living a healthier lifestyle, however also as a source of exhaling anger and other ongoing emotions that can hinder one’s life. In the first paragraph of the article, there was a description of the Boxing Mecca that was filled with diverse individuals with different backgrounds. The variety of backgrounds from the people who have entered the ring, shows how a sport can bring together a variety of people, who do not base their judgement on each other’s past, but instead enjoy making memories in the ring. Furthermore, the story of Gary of how after he came out of jail and his first trip was toward heading to the ring, displayed how boxing toward these individuals was a new beginning. However Gary, who was changing his life was then back to jail after two months later, which also shows how reality is. A person can change their own selves for the better, and use activities like boxing as a root of letting out negative thoughts, yet it is up to the person for their own self to keep developing that change. This story with the use of personal experiences show the reader more in depth of how boxing is not just a sport, but also a worldwide source of melting pots, where different individuals with different backgrounds who come together in the ring for a few rounds and a few laughs.

  74. While reading this article I found it very interesting that they used boxing as their escape, and a motivation to stay strong. Their using this as another way to express their struggle and the journey they have gone through. By working hard, putting their effort, and giving they’re all to help them stop their addiction or going back to the bad habits they had before. Boxing can help very few people if they are able to stay strong, because if some of them give up they’re back to where they started. So it’s great that boxing is another home for these people.

  75. A Dollar and a Dream in the South Bronx: Coming up in the Boxing Mecca [Part I.]

    Your article is an inspiring note to the history of boxing in the South Bronx. You prove to be a multifaceted person with the first hand stories you write in your blogs and books. I like how you immediately grabbed my attention in the first paragraph. Congratulations on your life trajectory, this article shows me that the great battles are those that we fight with ourselves. The story of Little Soto symbolically describes that sometimes we cannot fight the demons that society instill in us and we end up battling ourselves or our own. You mention “Oppressed people specialize in killing one another. Cowering before the insurmountable conditions that tower over them, they take out their anger and pain on those who are closest to them. The boxing world is just one microcosm of a world where unemployment, addiction and humiliation cut people down on a daily basis.” The oppressed people is Little Soto, is every kid descendant from a minority group, is every ethnic group, and everyone who lives in neighborhood with very few resources to excel (or have a humane living.) The Boxing Mecca is like a Ying Yang, few places where the good and bad coexist, sometimes one or the other survives and sometimes the system puts more weight on the weak minds. I’d like to say that your article has a macro effect on how other systems of oppression around the world operate or function with a mere purpose. Articles like yours, make us see the local problems, our immediate history, and compare that to the global aspect of dysfunctional politics.

  76. After reading this article, it was eye opening to see people of all walks of life come together and set their differences aside because of boxing. Although people like thieves, murders, etc. might have a difficult like they can not only use boxing for the health benefit but also to make a couple of dollars to continue to live life. Gary did not have nothing when he got out of jail he did not have anything but the 40 lbs he had of over weight. Gary joined the gym and was determined to get fit and he did in just 4 months and make a couple of dollars through boxing and he could of continued to make money but unfortunately he was caught and charged for possession. I kind of understood Little Soto anger since he lives in a shelter the $50 that he had might have been the only $50 that he had which can be difficult when someone takes all you have when you plan to use it on something else. This is not a regular boxing story and it is most definitely eye opening when people can come together with all their differences over something small like boxing that they have in common.

  77. There are many people who have been placed in a lot of difficult situations. Sometimes those individuals have to make choices that might not be the best, most are not able to escape this world. While others find places like the South Bronx boxing gym, where they can get back up on their feet. This is a place where they could let go of all their traumatic experiences. The boxing gym allows people to let go of the feelings, emotions and the negative events that they have encounter. Moreover, this is an environment in which people are able to see the real world; the reality that many people from our neighborhoods have to face or experience.

  78. This story reminded me when I was younger, sitting in my Livingroom on a Saturday night with my family ready to watch boxing. In Argentina, this is a popular sport. I used to ask my father why boxing was such a big deal, when the only thing they do is hit each other? My father always replied that the boxers not only had to fight inside the ring but also outside. He used to tell me…watch, read about it, look where they are coming from, now I understand it.
    Boxing is not only about fighting inside the ring, it’s also who’s going to make it outside the ring. As it says in the article, most of this individuals who fight in the South Bronx come with a baggage of their own, and they have to prove to themselves they can make it throughout wherever they’re dealing in life, like drugs for instance and Crime, prostitution.

  79. This article awakened my perspective on boxing. I never understood the great deal and hidden benefits from it. Not only does it keep you in shape and sharp but it also extracts anger from you. It’s also a way to bring everyone together. As the professor explained, no matter who the person is or what they have done they are welcomed into this environment. We always look down on the less fortunate or those in deep trouble and instead of trying to help them we push them away. Boxing keeps people occupied and focused. It releases stress and emotions kept inside of you. It is also hard to accept reality as it is. People struggle and the most humble are those that have very little. For example; Little Soto had no place to live yet when he had a few bucks, he decided to share that with the people around him. Little Soto got furious when he send a youngster to buy food for everyone, to later find out the youngster took off with the money. This would bring anger to anyone that is struggling to survive. Thus, boxing is not just a sport but a connection between various of diverse group of people.

  80. This article made me aware of how gyms can provide people with opportunities to reach groups of people they would not normally meet in their everyday life. Heroin addicts, thieves and murderers are all grouped together in this one place simply to exercise. As the article explains Gary’s struggles of going to jail then returning two months later, it opened my eyes to the reality that other people face. For Gary, and other people at the gym, the gym provided the chance to rebuild a healthier life. Boxing gave people more focus, while controlling their stress levels and balances their emotions. For instance, the article explains how Little Soto lived in a shelter and was living off of only $50 and food stamps. Boxing gave Little Soto an outlet to release the anger from his living situation instead of releasing his anger on other people around him. As this story utilizes people’s experiences in boxing it demonstrates how boxing is not only a sport, but an activity that guides people together and supplies an emotional outlet that people may not otherwise have.

  81. After reading this article, it becomes clear to me that sports are something that can be used as a method for people to escape from the hardships in their life. Even a sport as violent as boxing, as shown in this article, can be used as something therapeutic to help someone get through a tough time in their life. Stories are shown where a sport like boxing can turn someone’s life around and where sports cannot bring a needed change to people. It is hard to read that not everyone can escape the bad influences in their life, but it is inspiring to read that there are people who can use a sport to become a better person and escape all the bad things going on around them. It is nice to read that boxing is a sport that accepts these people and help them.

  82. This article was a great representation of how people living in poverty use athletics as an escape from their daily tribulations. I believe having something where there is visual progress and chance for upward mobility through their own personal efforts, gives people in tough situations a chance to believe in themselves outside of the gym, despite what societal barriers have been set up for them. If more parole officers and rehabilitaters gave these people a sense of pride and self worth through the use of athletic programs, I believe the number of people who return to prison would decrease, especially because of monetary incentives such as the ones mentioned in this article. Sports such as boxing requires a great deal of fitness and mental focus, so by allowing people to have a safe way to release pent up aggression, it could prove quite useful in lowering crime rates within lower class communities as well.

  83. After reading this article, I realized that boxing is a way to keep people from falling back into bad habits. A lot of people that practice boxing have struggled a great deal in their life. It also showed me that this sport helps them by keeping them off the streets. For example, it has helped the boxer Little Soto get “sanity”. I find it intriguing how something can take such a toll on someone’s life. For example, Gary used boxing as an opportunity to take up his time and become physically healthier. But unfortunately, he was taken back to jail.

  84. I found this article interesting since many used boxing as their method of escaping reality and to keep them moving forward. They find a way to cope with their pasts by practicing boxing. These people did not stop in their path on losing their common place in addiction or their old ways. Furthermore, the art of boxing is able to help those who focus and set their minds to it since many use it as a way of turning a new leaf and leaving their old ways behind. In the end, boxing has become a savior for these individuals.

  85. This article tells the tale of what the “hood” life is for some people. The fact that a man served time Heroin, came out with 40 pounds and went to the gym and lost it, it’s kind of inspiring, yet sad. I mean, he ended up going back to jail for the same possession again. Would have though he would’ve learned from his first time but guess not. It seems that professor shaw has seen the mean streets of the bronx and what it’s like while boxing other people. “Diametrical opposites meet in these gyms —heroin addicts and heroic world champions, convicted rapists and proven role models, sneaky snakes in the grass and stand-up loyal friends.” He met and fought some of these peoples leaving him to question and ask them why and how. Professor Shaw didn’t lead that same life they lead due to his son, but either way he wasn’t heading that.

    Something interesting as well is that our Professor also fought in MSG, the same MSG that famous boxers have boxed in and he also won a reward of $10,000 for fighting in that same gym. He’s met iconic men who’s fought in the same gym as him, sparred with famous local boxers, trained with famous boxers and has seen the rough life that some men have to face or will face as they chose to pursue the wrong decision.

  86. Boxing has had a great impact in bad and good people as it became a good distraction to avoid taking the wrong path. As I read the article Professor Shaw mentioned how ” It’s not a choice but necessity” when finding a place you feel comfortable and regarding the situation you are in you will feel as if it’s your home. Criminals have found boxing as a savior, all the anger they have held within them could be left at the boxing gym and that is not all they get, they receive an opportunity to start a new life as how having a criminal record will categorize you as a bad human being. Boxing is beyond a sport, it’s a portal to a different world where all people’s mistakes don’t exist and they get the chance to start a family with their trainer and the other boxers that have the same goal. I believe boxing is an experience everybody should try, it’s not a an easy sport but it gives you advantages in many ways not only physically but most importantly mentally.

  87. After reading part one of the articles , I have come to realize that the boxing gym is one of those rare places where nothing else but boxing matters. It was a way for people to escape their everyday life and leave their problems behind. Saying all these prestigious legendary names came out of that gym gives Bronx kids and adults hope , hope that there is a way to escape the ” hood “. That many have achieved it before them and dedication plus hard work is all that is needed.

  88. After reading this article, I realize how difficult life is for all people. Boxing seems to be the power source of so many people coming from all kinds of different backgrounds. This sport is a way that people relieve stress or avoid problems on the streets. As the professor, Shaw stated, “it’s not a choice but a necessity”. For the people who practice this sport, it becomes part of their life. Although it may take over the wrong that people have done in their lives, it can’t change a person completely. In the article, we see this example in Gary who used boxing as an opportunity to take up his time and become physically healthier, but he later ended up back in jail. Boxing can be a great distraction, but I don’t believe it can change your actions unless you choose to change them yourself.

  89. This article was so touching because it allowed me to experience feelings and situations that are different than what i experience in my everyday life.There’s nothing more powerful and inspiring than these kind of stories.
    Shawn is a true example that It doesn’t matter where you are coming from, as long as you work hard, good thing will happen.

    Boxing is a sport that you need to dedicate yourself to and it’s also a good way to keep the kids off the streets and teach them discipline.
    Even though you think boxing is a contact sport, it teaches you more than that, It gives you Self-control, it allows you to see your dedication and hard work, as Shaw mentioned in the article: “The best part of a fight…when it is over and you can exhale and reflect on all of the hard work that went into it.”

    There is a saying that those around you define who you are, but this storie is so contradictory because even thought Shawn was around heroin addicts as he said on the article, he never let that affect him.

  90. I like this blog post. I liked how you incorporated photos of your own experiences at the gym, but also how you made sure to mention that the whole world meets there. The whole world as in heroin addicts to world champions to police officers and so forth and how you all go into a melting pot once inside the gym.

  91. This story was very interesting to me because I was always curious about boxing. When professor Shaw was mentions about the relationship between criminal people and boxing, it was very interesting to me. I feel like boxing is a sport that gives everyone a fair chance to start their new life as a boxer. Criminal records will automatically shutdowns to those people who want a new start in public.However, I can see how people, who are either commit the crime by intentionally or not, they are redeeming them selves by boxing. Of course they are also get paid by practicing enough.

  92. I always understood boxing along with other sports to be something that brings many different people together, from addicts to drug lords. While it is boxing in the Bronx, it is street football in Harlem. The aspect is very similar. The thought of making it big or making it out the hood is legendary for many. Each day I learn something new about my professor, please tell me something you haven’t done!

  93. This article was an interesting article, I enjoyed learning that you did boxing because I have always wanted to learn how to box. I always thought that I could use boxing as an outlet and this showed be that it can be. The article incorporated people of different backgrounds, and how boxing connects them.

  94. “This is not rocky. This is real life.” Words that seem foreign to most who never experienced oppression. Although many people day in and out live through this. We live in places where addiction, prostitution, murder goes on. People don’t have a way out after dealing with being oppressed all their life so instead they become another statistic in the prison system and the life they took, becomes another death poll in America. The same anger that goes with taken a life can transitioned into the boxing rink. Taking it out on someone near you but yet doing so in an appropriate manner. I’ve always wanted to try boxing. A place where you can take your anger out and channel it through someone else and having it being accepted. We all need a stress reliever, a place where we can just let it go. America is known to be “the land of the free and home of the brave.” The same concept can be translated into being in the rink. Anyone is accepted, and only those who are brave, courageous, and hard workers make it.

  95. Acknowledging the untold stories of men from all walks of life was a beautiful thing to me. These men can, for whatever reason it brought them there, fulfill the same objective in mind all under one roof, “Putting in work.” The beginning of this story shows that no matter where you go, who you are, or where you’re from, you can still meet at common ground in a place surrounded by people who don’t have to be anyone else but themselves. Everyone has a story, not all of them have been heard.

  96. This was really moving especially the part when there was attempts to stop the boxer who was trying to get revenge on the boy who had stole his $50 and food stamp card. Sadly he couldn’t be stopped.

  97. Very interesting story. I learn that sometimes you have to let things go. Fighting or doing things when you are angry is not good for you, because you are not thinking clearly about it. Also, that it’s not worth it to lose your freedom over money or something else. In addition, that boxing helps people to stay out of trouble. Moreover, that selling drugs or carrying with you will take you straight to jail for a while.

  98. Boxing is a way to get out your inner demons out, this is a alternative way to box out your anguish. This a common ground where drug dealers, the homeless, convicts,oppressed people and even killers, can meet and square up to get the common stress of life off their backs.

  99. reading this article it come to my mind that you need to work hard in anything you do in live, Also how hard life is for some people who have to pass thru all kind of struggle.

  100. I always had an interest in boxing. It is just two men trying to out alpha the other. You started by saying this is not rocky this is real life. Well when Lil Sotto went out to seek vengeance for his stolen $50 it reminded me of a line in rocky that sticks by me. Your greatest opponent will always be yourself in the ring and in life. We control our own destiny, our own lives and have to think hard about the consequences of our actions. I was also impressed that you boxed in the Garden must of felt like a million bucks after you won. I am going to have to read the other parts because you hooked me.

    • The most important thing of boxing is the training the you most go through. Been mentally strong and wanting to win the fight and showing yourself that you could do it, its an amazing feeling. Coming from from different places and knowing that wining is all the matter and instead of been in the street you invest all the time exercising it’s the best part that I believe its worth it.
      Taking out anger in the ring and giving the best of you its a big step to change from been in the darkness of the negative vibes to a positive outcome, a better you.
      Life ain’t easy and taking does bad days in life in to positive is the best choice. Lets keep boxing.

  101. In my point of view, based on this article, boxing is an interesting sport that helps people in many ways. Additionally, it can be used as a therapy for anger people, meaning that practicing boxing help them take out the anger inside of them and can get them out of the streets. Based on the article, it helps the poor people or the working class and unemployed to get some money For example, the story of Garry, when he got out of jail he had no money and after his first fight, he got $800.In addition to that, he lost weight and that shows that boxing helps you to stay healthy.

    The boxing world has its positives sides. However, looking at Garry and Little Soto there is a pattern of aggression mix with the area where they come from. It is not very helpful for them to move on with their lives and change their past actions. I myself live in the same Zip code (10455) and I can tell that Jackson is a little bit dangerous neighborhood. To conclude, I really liked the article and how it explains a little bit of where some famous boxing fighters come from. Most people see the money that some of the famous fighters get but they don’t really know how hard it was for them to get there. It is hard but with effort everything is possible.

  102. Without reading this article i will never really believe that my profesor was a great fighter in and out of the ring. I agreed with him that boxing is the daily life and only job of certain people and they can not live without it. This may be the reason why little soto killed that delivery boy in 3rd ave 149 street for me he did not killed the delivery boy for revenge may be he killed him because the delivery boy didn’t respect how little soto suffer to get his money. “Time to put in work” is the same word i used when i getting in a soccer field to play and for me like for the author i played every game as if it is my last game

    • Boxing is very interesting sport , where as two opponent battle in two side. But, it can be challenging and tough sport. I happen to get scared, when I watched boxing. But, in other part When Gary came out of gym. He didn’t have any money to live or eat. However, If I don’t have any money to live a comfortable life, Then, I would probably join the boxing to earn some buck whether winning or losing. I like the part “Time to put in work”. This quote reminds me of waking up in the early morning, and going to class in the early morning in college. The article is interesting by the way. It talks about real life of boxing, remembering memories of the past.
      Boxing can make me think you are taking, and controlling your anger emotions over your opponent. Boxing can also helps me think of running, and burning calories. But you would also have to respect your opponent.

  103. I find it really awesome that you have accomplished so many things in life, from boxing to teaching and the many other things that you do, it’s really great. I would also like to add, congratulations on your golden gloves award, even though it was a few years back I think its pretty cool. I hope that your fellow boxing mates are out of jail by now and are on better paths in life.

  104. A Dollar and a Dream in the South Bronx is a very realistic expression. Many people have suffered adversities and challenges in life. However, throughout the hardship many have been able to overcome difficulties. Boxing is a very competitive sport and it requires a lot of dedication and commitment. I admire professor Danny Shaw as well as other boxers because boxing is a very challenging sport, and not everyone can handle the task. Many well known boxers have come from a background of oppression and poverty. Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and that’s exactly what many of these fighters did. Truly I say the ability to bounce back, its not just admirable but it teaches others not to give up. The sport also seems to be therapeutic and a stress reliever, being in the ring fighting and releasing tension in the mind and the body can be helpful for many individuals.

  105. A dollar and a dream in the South Bronx: Coming up in the boxing Mecca in my opinion makes reference to how hard boxers have it in life. Often misunderstood and judge for the many struggles they’ve endured in life. Having some friends in the boxing world as well as reading this article it is to my understanding that this is a way in which boxers let themselves be free and express all the anger they keep to themselves. In some cases this might not be good as some boxers let this anger consume them and this is what they become. With saying that this is not Rocky the author lets it be known that this world is far from perfect, the life these man have, what they go through in life is extremely difficult. At the end of the day this is what they live for, and this is their normal.

  106. Since I was a kid I’ve love boxing, karate and any other sport which keeps my mind and all my body active, I remember the first time a went to a boxing gym, I did not know those punching bag were so hard, when I barehanded punched it almost broke my poor and small fist. It was really nice being there, because even being a child I could forget about anything could be happening out of the gym, and that is why I think governments should invest a little bit more in places where young, adults and any age and gender could go to exercise, develop programs where people getting out of jail, drug addicts and anybody who had made a bad decision for its life could have an opportunity to socialize and make a better one. I say this without wanting to get away of the topic, I say it because it is really sad and at the same time a shame that many people nowadays cannot find a better way out of many issues society is facing every day, like for example: drugs, murders, robberies etc. So we do not want any other Little Soto killing for all the food stamps in the word, or any other Gary going to jail again after dealing with heroin, just because we have places where we can forget about bad or wrong, instead we are working hard to keep our body and mind every day in better shape.

  107. A dollar and a dream in the South Bronx: Coming up in the boxing Mecca Part 1.
    From what I have learned in this section is boxing is a sport in which you must have dedication and give 100% to each practice, be motivated and mentally prepared. As well boxing is a way to release stress and anger. But for some, boxing is a way to escape a negative reality when it comes to living and personal issues. For some boxers they are not able to control their anger and are not mentally prepared. Gary is an example even coming out of prison still dealt with addiction and could not get clean due to poverty and ended back in prison. It is known in NYC that people who are homeless and struggle with addictions cant get help due to rehab and medications being expensive. Which leaves them either to be dead or back in prison. Little Soto could have prevented his situation if he did not commit murder and just been the bigger person. This tells you how severe the poverty and unemployment rate for past convicted individuals are. Soto and the delivery boy could have uplifted one another but instead turned on each other. They come out of prison with nothing in their pockets and having to live in shelters day by day. Its a cycle that still repeats in urban neighborhoods people killing each other over territory, arguments and money.

  108. First I want to thank you professor Shaw for sharing your experience as a boxer and the real life struggles of the other boxers. I remember when I was a little girl, I sat with my grandfather to watch boxing on the weekends. It was one of his favorite sports. All I remember was my grandfather yelling out ” Dale, Dale, Duro” to the one he wanted him to win. Yes is an entertainment just like everything else we watch on Tv ,but what we don’t know, is what’s behind that boxers life.. Where they come from? What they had to endure to get to that boxing ring? What are their lives like away from the boxing ring? Reading this article gave me somewhat an idea of some the struggles these boxers go through. It’s also a place where they release some of the frustration, anger, disappointments, and also there happy moments. It’s like gathering with the family that they once had but lost for whatever the reason it was. Some do have opportunity to change their lives for the better and others tried but struggle within themselves was stronger than what they could overcome.

  109. In my opinion, this reading is the pure reality of what low income people go through on a daily basis. Get involved in drugs and bad habits in general as their only way out. I personally has never liked or admired boxing. To be more specific, it shouldn’t even be considered a sport. I do not see how can be enjoyable such an aggressive sport. However, based on “A Dollar and a Dream in the South Bronx” I see it as a way to relief stress and anger. Anger of the circumstances that we have to face when nothing but poverty surround us. The case of Little Soto makes me think of a saying that emphasizes the following; “When it rains, it pours.” He was going through hard moments in life. Nevertheless, when he received his food stamps he decided to share with those in need too. Unfortunately this young boy betrayed him. Not everyone knows how to keep a positive attitude while having financial or any type of crisis in life.

  110. Reading this blog recalls the struggles faced by young and aging men of the South Bronx alike. A struggle that often ends in tragedy, such as that of Little Soto, a man facing hardships brought about by oppression and poverty only to be taken advantage by someone considered a “colleague” at the gym. The young man who disappeared with Little Soto’s food stamps, undoubtedly going through his own hardships, became both victim and instigator of a tragedy which harmed the lives of two Puerto Ricans just trying to survive the harsh environment faced every day in the Bronx. Though not boxers, I have lost too many friends to the feelings of hopeless sometimes felt in our neighborhoods, the feeling that things are “either you or them”. The bright side of this article is how professor Shaw is using these stories to speak to the readers a message of resiliency. The biggest takeaway here was learning how boxing can be an escape from the negativity of the south Bronx, and how people always have more to them than meets the eye. Professor and boxer, now I see the connection.

  111. I never thought boxing was filled with so much drama.Yes I know the fighters tried to make their lives better by boxing, but due to uncontrolled circumstances setbacks happen. The man from the shelter who wanted to treat everyone at the gym to food, I feel sorry for him. He didn’t have anything to offer and as soon as he did the guy stole from him. I know he finally was doing something that makes him proud, and for someone to just steal from you… That person violated him and his anger couldn’t handle it.

  112. Professor Shaw demonstrates how oppression and the lack of unity exists in various communities that we didn’t think were possible. From the outside looking in, boxing can be misconceived as a bunch of men brawling as they do. But boxing was an outlet for a lot of many that needed it. Men coming out of jail, men trying to escape jail, poor men, men without a record were going to the gym to box. This gym was a type of community. Boxing provided some with money and served as a source of exercise. This article opens up the minds of those who may have one sided views about the art of boxing or any type of activity that people go to for a release from the real world. An important line that Shaw writes in the article is that “Oppressed people specialize in killing one another”. This is the truth. When we see black people fighting we question why they don’t use that energy to unite and overthrow their actual oppressor. Could it be that oppression can skew your views and displace your anger ? We are so preoccupied with winning small battles that we forget about the real war that’s surrounding us.

  113. I found this ” A dollar and a dream in the south bronx” article to be very humbling and eye opening because it summarized up the way many people in the community lived and got by life when being involved with these types of boxing centers. Boxing is such a good hobby but to these men who dealt with living with issues and problems in the street it was like home. An escape to just be surrounded by people who in a way were all alike. Although like stated in the article there were drug addicts and former people who had been in jail these people each found their way into boxing because it wasn’t an option at this point to them it was a necessity. Everyone respected one another and when they got into the boxing ring it was just about one thing which was that to box and hustle up money to get by. Not to mention but people still box for many reasons like for relieving stress as well as working out. I find that this article showed how positive things could come from boxing because in society sometimes this was painted a bit negative especially because of the injuries one can get from boxing, but to men living in the streets this was very beneficial. Very good to see how in the article they tried to tell the man not to fight because of the food stamps that were stolen from him , although he ended up in jail for shooting the person . The fact that the people tried to stop him showed how much they cared and showed the closeness and humbleness they had for each other

  114. Professor Shaw thank you for letting us Into part of your life experiences which is boxing.
    My mother in law has lived In that area for 20 years trinity Avenue and I myself have witnessed the people that come and go on these streets I’ve seen with my eyes what happens in the darkest corners and for those people to basically leave who they are or what they did and fight it out in the ring is therapy to them. Anger surrounds us, poverty beside us but for however long these men are in the gym they put that behind them.

  115. Boxing is a sport that like many others people turn to them for many reasons such as stress, aggression, meditation, and working out. In the article, it talks about the different types of people that come to box from heroin addicts to champions. The stories of Gary and Little Soto are heart-breaking because these are two people who were doing their best to make something of themselves. Often, boxing is seen as an aggressive sport the same as football but it’s more than that for the people who box for a living. To them, it’s part of their lifestyle because they train 24/7 to compete in fights. Boxers such as Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, and Floyd Mayweather all have different strategies when it comes to the ring along with their own moves that they are mostly known for doing. When a person is oppressed,they fight twice as hard to show that they can be a better version of themselves.

  116. In my opinion and base on the article “A Dollar a Dream in the south Bronx: coming up in the Boxing Mecca”, boxing I think boxing is a good game that help the boxer in so many different ways. Be it releasing stress or dealing with emotional or psychological issues. Boxing is also a form of employment to the unemployed as well as the low income person who needs another source of income to support his family and stay healthy at the same time. An example can traced from the story of Garry, when he got out of jail, he had no money and after his first fight he got $800 and lost all the extra pounds he gain while in jail.
    I use to think that boxing is a harmful sport and can ruin the lives of the boxers and their family. I also use to believe for some reason that boxers don’t turn out to be very bright people because if the pouches they received in the head. But this article has really changed my perspective on boxing. In little Sato case, I think he killed the delivery guy on 149st and 3rd Ave because the delivery boy didn’t respect how he suffer to get the money. That is why he didn’t care about “going back upstate to jail over $50”. This article is really a great article to read. Thank you professor Shaw for sharing this wonderful experience of yours with us.

  117. The boxing is a sport the almost everybody like, but in the same time they say that is to aggressive. The persons who are in this sport have such reasons to go in some of them are to be someone on life and that’s like they last chances of being someone on life but others are interest on winning all the money that the people who are in a big place winning a lot of money but they don’t know that they have to work really hard and to struggle with many things that maybe we are not even close to understand. Also something important is the in the ring you think only on you, you will not care if the other person got a fracture or severed damages because the big fight is with your own because they always will try to be better than another person because the choices that you made you have to predict in a little time but you have to make choices as good you can but if not take the consequences that it will bring with them.

  118. It is very interesting to find out the story behind the show, and also to know the other face of boxing. Many people know about boxing only Mayweather, but behind his successful story are many others that do not succeed. Boxing it is known to be a sport of the poor people, a way for them to succeed in life, but the people who succeed are not many. You have to be good, to train hard, to work a lot and to avoid other temptations that are around every sport, as drugs and alcohol. For most of the boxers, the art of boxing is a way to survive, to recover after bad periods, to resist the oppression, is a way of life. I am sure that boxing creates good characters, educates people and its spirit is noble, however, as we can see from the story of Little Soto, it is not always enough.

  119. After reading the article, I found out that boxing could be an interesting sport for males and females. I learned that boxing can be used as a therapy for those people who can control their anger. According to the article, boxing can help poor people or employment people, they can obtain or gain extra money. Boxing can be a positive sport and can contribute something positive to the society. Maybe having teenagers to practice this sport can help them and keep them busy in something that is good for them. Boxing can be a exercise but also people can do this as a job too and gain money. This sport is benefit poor people because can make them sucessfuf. In order to b come a profesional boxer you have to practice a lot. In addition, this sport is beneficial because help and teach me y people how to concentrate.

  120. I like the fact that Gary was able to lose his jail weight boxing. I have actually been considering going to a boxing gym to help with my weight loss as well as to relieve all the negative energy I have within me. I believe that being a boxer has a positive and negative affect. Spending time in a boxing gym helps one to stay out of the streets where all the bad usually happens and get in shape. while on the other hand, like Gary, one would get a chance to fight and earn some cash then get caught up on drug use and ruin their chance of making it further. Some people use their boxing skills and strength to beat on others outside of the gym. If you cannot control your anger and think of positive ways to manage your issues then boxing is not the type of therapy you need because all that strength will only make you feel like you should beat on anyone that gets in your way.

  121. The truth of boxing is to release the stress and anger of a person. This article talks about a lot of things that aren’t really known about those that box. It is interesting to read about how people use this as an escape of reality. A dollar and a dream in the south bronx, this means that people seak their dreams in boxing as a way of getting away from their past and trying to be somewhere in life. The thought of coming out of jail and having no where to go or having no money makes these people search for a dream. The struggles of those that aren’t a part of anything gives these people a push to stick to this sport that makes them feel like someone. These boxer set them self free by boxing and they show their expressions in their passion for boxing. The south bronx is place where everyone is striving for success to be in a better place and have a better future.

  122. The fact that you mention that this is real life and not something out of a movie is essential. People have this perception of how movies portray boxers to be but, there isn’t always a happy ending. Fighting might clear their mind and resolve their problems for the time being however oppression is not a for the moment thing. Although boxing and the various boxing gyms in South Bronx may be a reaction in hopes to combat the criminal activity it is hard to fight against oppression like one might fight their opponent. People still have to continuously fight their environment, society, and their inner demons outside the ring.

  123. ” A Dollar and a Dream ”
    The was a boxing gym in my home town located on 25th street and mermaid in Coney island . All the killers and dealers would go there to either box or to watch local people handle their disputes like real men. I notice you were a orthodox stance , for such a tall guy you had to fight from the outside. those type of fighters were dangerous. you can pick an opponent off without him touching your face. Danny Jacobs is my dude so is Joshua Clotty he had a tough jaw. But the amount of talent that came out the gym some of it had to rub off on you.

    “Putting In Work ”
    A term I like to use when I’m at the gym. Id turn my music up loud and hit the weights. Its unfortunate that Gary had to go through that coming out of jail and struggling to make ends meet. The major of inmates who come out of jail were struggling with employment at time , programs were minimal for folks with his status. So it forced him to do what he knew best to make money.

    ” Killing Ourselves”
    you would think a sport like boxing would solve disputes. take out your anger in the ring. lace up and go toe to toe with who ever you have a problem with. But unfortunately the gym cant solve all problems. No man likes to take a loss or an L as the hood would call it. The shooting was done out of pure ego in my opinion. But it takes a heartless person to murder some one over 50 bucks.

  124. A Dollar and a Dream Part 1

    When first moved to the neighborhood even though a lot of the building were abandon the gyms still was standing strong. In the couple of years I noticed they have disappeared. I guess with the change in property valve and a change in the complexion of the neighborhood a lot of the old business leases are being doubled and they can no longer afford to remain. It a shame because these gyms gave people a home away from home.

  125. Boxing is something more then just a sport to some people. According the stories of both Gary & Little Soto it is heart touching knowing that this was a lifestyle for them, this is what they lived for. It is heart breaking to say that these two individuals come from nothing and tried there best to seek a future in the sport of boxing. I’m a boxer who fought at 114lbs and i’ve heard many people speak their story as to why they choose to box. The reason i had to stop was because i had gotten diagnosed with Hodgekins Lymphoma Cancer. But boxing has taught me to fight through my struggles. unfortunately my reason didn’t match others but i always tried to give a helping hand as to when it was needed. I wanted the best for everyone, cause one wrong move could put you in a position you wouldn’t be able to get yourself out of.

  126. I believe that Boxing is a very important sport because it can help so many people in different ways; like losing weight.With effort and dedication, boxing could be a successful career. there are many people who get out of prison that want a new life and went to change just like listed in this article. No everyone has the same luck or can control themselves. To change topic, I think that ex-prisoners feel like they don’t fit in, they just want to be part of something but it’s not the same when you go to prison because a lot of people would judge you and maybe they would not give you a second opportunity or chance to show them that you did change.

  127. Places like a boxing ring, and like for example a church, are places that it doesn’t matter what you did and who you are its about what you’re doing. This is a very interesting story to see a lot of different fighters come together under one roof to be better for themselves. A boxing ring is like one’s life, some start from nothing, at their lowest point, and something happens and it’s time to turn it all around and be better and bigger. This world should be one big boxing ring, doesn’t matter who you were, what you did, it is all about what you are doing now to be better.

  128. I’ve always see boxing as a sport of discipline, both inside the ring and outside the ring. boxing is a game that I admire because it is different from many others sports, many boxers uses this platform to express how they feeling on the inside. many try too escape their troubling life and some it’s their passion. many people can relate to boxing or boxing film because the showcase an array of serious topics such as death, depression, imprisonment and ultimately- victory. Also boxing show somehow the reality people go through in life, environment, society, alienation, hopelessness and redemption as human we constantly fighting this issues throughout our journey.

  129. I do kickboxing and I totally understand when you say that ‘it is not a choice it is a necessity’. You go back again and again and in a while you just feel that you really need it. The work-out gives you something that makes you come back: relief, strength, confidence. Different reasons bring different people to the gym. For some it is a lifestyle and for others just a get away from problems. Some people go to church some turn to sport. It helps to release stress. Boxing is one of the hardest. People struggle to make their way out of poverty and oppression. But only few succeed and those few become the greatest.
    When life weighs burdens on you it turns out into anger and stress and I think that sport is the best way to take that out. I know that from my own experience. But after that you still go back to your life and you feel it all over again. Fighting the life circumstances is not the same as fighting a person in the gym. Life hits hard and you have to stay strong inside in order to stand your ground and not to let it take you down because hooks and uppercuts will not help in this case.

  130. First of all I am impressed to learn that my professor Shaw was a boxer in the Bronx and I would love to see a boxing video! It is a very demanding sport were it requires a lot of discipline, specially laying off los tostones. As an ex high school wrestler, I know first hand how much work is required to become fit, the dedication to persist and maintain that physique and the mentality to not give up during the painful battles. Sports in general are our a safe haven for some us too. They help to forget the cruel reality that we live in, that is how I perceive the title of the blog. For some it eventually becomes a path to becoming a legend in the sport and for others it can at least make them feel great in the inside. I also agree that sometimes we commit acts without thinking of the consequence. You never know how life can just change in less than a second. That is why we must continue to do what we love and enjoy life because it is unpredictable. I also want to thank you for sharing your experiences to teach not only the young generations but everyone as well, Thank You!!!

  131. Its Incredible in my opinion on how boxing not just helps people to stay fit or anything, but also how it actually motivates people into being dedicated to something great such as boxing. I know how boxing is not easy but with enough effort and so much dedication to it, boxing just motivates a person a lot. I’m not gonna lie knowing that Professor Shaw boxing?! That is really cool honestly never had a professor who boxes but not only that but shares out his experiences and motivations and how he motivates everyone in the class. Sports, yeah they are in general something to relieve ourselves from some type of anger or depression or something, but they also motivate us to keep doing better then who we are and what we do everyday. I’m glad to read this awesome experience from Professor Shaw and his boxing skills hope one day to see him in action.

  132. I’m always so intrigued to know peoples background because I believe everyone has a story to tell. So when I found out that my professor Danny Shaw was a boxer I was surprised. I’m not really familiar with the sport of boxing and I always just thought that it was a couple of dudes just fighting for money and that was it, but it wasn’t until spoke with my father that he explained that it takes a lot of dedication and practice. On another note, I believe that this sport is able to provided disciple to those who have not been exposed to it.Garry and Little Soto are stories of people who have dealt with a lot of negative events in their life but have not heal from those past experiences so they keep dragging their anger, hate and pain and can’t seem to find a way out.I really enjoy reading this part of the series because it gives us a different perspective of what this sport is able to provide for neighborhoods like the Bronx.

  133. I really enjoyed reading this part of the article. I never had thought that you professor Shaw was a boxer. I think that what you said in this article is the truth, that’s the reality of the people in South Bronx. You are not exaggerating, that’s whats up every day over there. I felt very sorry for Gary and little Soto, I know they were not bad guys they just did what they were used to do. If there is no job, no money, no food, no future people have to do anything to survive in this cruel and mean world. Most of the time revenge is not the key, sometimes forgiveness makes up better by proving others that we understand that living a rough life sometimes is not easy and that money sometimes makes people do things that there are not ok. Honestly, I do not understand that much about boxing but I got interesting of knowing more about it after reading this piece of the article.

  134. When it comes to sports, it is all about the passion you have and giving it all you got. if you got the talent and the skill in whatever sport you do, then it will give you an incredible satisfaction. Boxing for instance is the exact same thing. However there are factors when it comes to boxing. Everyone hears the same typical stories when it comes to the boxers themselves. Born in to a family with its love for the sport, watching the sport and fell in love with the sport and got in to it. Also you hear people saying that the sport itself is good for fitness. But there is so much more than that. Boxing is one of the sports that helps release stress, help with anger issues, depression, personal pain and such. So yes, these professionals got success stories, but a lot in reality got various stories to tell.

  135. I enjoyed reading about how boxing helps others cope. You made great points and gave everyone a story of their own. You didn’t just merge everyone as the same because they all play the same sport, but you introduced each one with their past and explained how they got into boxing. It seems as though boxing wasn’t only a hobby for some, but a coping mechanism to take their mind of the “now”, and focus on their “right now.” You merged not only boxing, but their dreams, and oppression of what their life looked like before, during, and after boxing.

    It showed that boxing can be an outlet for aggression, but sometimes they take the sport to the street. The story of Little Soto and his vengeance showed he had to take revenge into his own hands and no one was going to make a mockery out of him. This post made the reader want more and know more about the personas, “did they go back to boxing after jail?”, “where was their family?”

    It was also interesting to see as your student, what past you had, it makes you more human, and less authoritative when in the classroom. Not many professors like for their students to know what it is they have done prior to them becoming a professor, but instead like to keep it as just that. As a student I appreciate you sharing with us a bit of your lifetime to help understand you as a person.

  136. In today’s society, everyone is so wrapped up in technology, work, and school, that being able to find the time for the things we love becomes almost an impossibility. There are still people who can balance sports or hobbies with their professional lives, but it is not as easy as it was years ago. Especially in boxing, there used to be all these gyms, and a stigma to want to put your aggression into a positive outlet. However, today I have seen many of these gyms close down, and not as many people go to boxing anymore to release their aggression. I agree that certain connections between people can create the most unlikely bonds, as exemplified, the heroin addict, the prostitute, or the stand-up guy, no matter who they were all were able to come together for a hobby they loved. This does come with its downsides though, as we form a bond with people that we believe care for us as we can share love for the same one thing. We learn to love just more than the sport or the hobby but the people who help us achieve our goals in said skill. That is why when I read the section of “Killing Ourselves”, I was able to understand in a sense why he wanted to murder the delivery boy. For someone who is going through hardship after hardship, and to have the sense he is in finally a “safe space”, only to have that be taken away by another’s action can lead to these outcomes. “Oppressed people specialize in killing one another”, is a very true and real statement. This is true because oppressed people mostly go through the same hardships, therefore when we are surrounded by people who understand our struggle, we do not expect them to make things worse for us as they should understand the consequences.

  137. Incredible to hear one of my professors actually learned the sport of boxing. I myself learned and loved it when I was younger in the Bronx in Morris Park and it later led me to my love of MMA. One has to be patient and have respect for the sport.

  138. For many people the ring is a place to forget about the tough moments they experience on a daily basis. The boxing ring is a gateway to unleashing anger against personal problems. For some people it is part of their culture to box, and they do it for pride. For some people boxing is an opportunity to better themselves in life. For others like Gary for instance, it helps but not as much. Boxing can help in many ways but it doesn’t change one’s decision making.

  139. Part one expresses how a boxer though, and how they value not only the sport but what the sport gives them. “Putting in work” was determination, the mindset these boxers had before getting in the ring, the way they felt about the work they were about to put in. Gary who had just got out of jail and how his weight gain didn’t stop the determination he had to get “work” in at the ring for the money earned. He did what he had to do to get money for survival, taking into consideration how he didn’t have a dime to his name. “Killing Ourselves”, people do what they need to do to survive but sometimes may go above and beyond because of what they did to get what they have. Little Soto trusted someone to get food with money Soto earned and when the delivery person never came back with the food, Soto felt the need to take matters into his own hands, which drove him to spend the rest of his life in jail. The ring was not only a hobby but where people want to let off steam and you happened to see those things first hand, you saw how boxing affected them positively and the way they lived life although had boxing in common.

  140. It’s interesting to see how small the world is. In 2005 and 2006 I also went to the Morris Park Gym. I knew two people who trained there who also made it to the Golden Gloves later on in their life. Being in the gym I realized the amount of dedication and time it takes to become a good boxer and I grew a respect for my friends I didnt have before. I became interested in boxing and MMA and thought about starting my training. I went on to do a few weeks of training and realize that I couldn’t fit it into my schedule as much as I wanted to.

  141. Boxing is a crazy lifestyle, it used to be one of the best sports to watch, however now it has died. Like Mike Tyson said, “I was a fighter, Now they are businessman”. This blog was very interesting. I like the way that you put together the reality of life into boxing. The story of little soto really got me. He really dedicated his life into boxing. He literally fought for his life. Then ruined his second chance after getting out of prison because of his pride. he let it get in his way and let him get back to prison for $50, which in the end is not worth it. By the way, fighting in Madison Square Garden, life accomplishment.

  142. Amazing! Is so interesting how boxing can be a good hobby for people.This blog really showed me that even though you go through obstacles you can overcome it if you are really into overcoming it. Really nice expirience you have right there with boxing it really teaches you to never give up and to keep on trying which is a great thing.

  143. I’ve always wanted to box growing up. Watching movies like “Rocky” and witnessing Mike Tyson in prime, man my eyes were glued to the screen. I had an opportunity to give it a go, but I didn’t follow through. I had a football coach in high school who was heavily into boxing when he wasn’t on the field with us. He would try to get us to go to the boxing gym with him all the time. He kept saying that it would do wonders for our stamina throughout games. I wrestled as well and I thought our preparations for tournaments and matches were brutal, but I can’t imagine what a boxer goes through. You hear stories about all the grinding and mental fatigue boxers push through just to prepare for a fight. This post has given me an insider’s view on the culture of boxing in the South Bronx. I especially enjoyed the description of the type of people you see boxing in the gyms. People from all over the area and from different backgrounds gravitate towards the ring with the intention of conquering their opponents. Ironically, the sorry suggest that the toughest opponent for a boxer might actually be themselves and not the person across the boxing ring. No matter what your background is and economic status, in that ring, you communicate with your fist. Everyone is equal in the gym and hard work is the currency around those parts.

  144. I grew up idolizing boxers. Rocky was one of my favorite movies and watching Mike Tyson box was an exhilarating experience. When you are a kid, you figure that you can do just about everything. I wasn’t aware of how much blood, sweat, and tears was expended behind the scenes just so these boxers could perform like they did. As I got older, I told myself I would try it out one day. I went to the boxing gym and man, I was a mess. I found an even deeper appreciation for the sport. The Floyd Mayweathers of the world are the elite, the select few you could say. Boxing in essence man in gritty, tough,and brutal in many cases. When Professor Shaw talks about it being a war, i wholeheartedly agree. This post was an awesome read. Just hearing about things like “putting in work” and his journey in boxing was very informational. It’s rare to hear about boxers coming from privileged lives. Because of this, its only natural that most boxers come from a tough upbringing. Boxing isn’t for the weak of heart and you have to put your all into it. The boxer across the ring from you is coming to knock you out and in some cases, you are the only thing standing between them and maybe their next meal. The comrades you gain and the relationships you forge through struggle and pain are real. The South Bronx encapsulates this feeling as well. Everyone wants to have more and be better. Like looking around a boxing gym, you could look around the South Bronx and see people from all over the world doing there best to escape poverty or oppression. We are constantly fighting, learning, and training to defeat our next opponent.

  145. Boxing is more than a sport, is a career, life, income, an addiction to the majority of guys in the late 19th century (South Bronx), Professor D. Shaw went through an unforgettable era. In this article I was able to learn that boxing can be a good sport for a whole variety of reason. In this article I learned that boxing can be a sport that can teach a person moral and discipline even to the ones that have been in jail in the past, Drug addicts, “Sneaky Snake in the Grass” and so on, no wonder why the boxing ring is where some of the legends tend to be born, thou sometime life can be a struggle too. I’m going to read Part three to see where it goes.

  146. I did not expect Professor Daniel Shaw to be a boxer. That came to me as a surprise. I’ve never been a big fan of boxing but I know that most people use that sport as a way to relieve stress and not only does it maintain good physical health but it also maintains mental health. It is also a sport that maintains discipline. Boxers use boxing as an outlet of anger. It is also intriguing how people that you have met use boxing a form to get back into the community. Ex-prisoners can use this method of boxing as a healthy way to relieve all the malicious behavior that builds up to them from time to time. It is a great sport to do in order to restart a new way of life. Everyone deserves a second chance.

  147. In this article the stories bring a sense of reality to the reader. Many broken lives found a release in the boxing gym only to reminded that escaping reality wasn’t going to be so simple. It appears their fight wasn’t only in the gym but within themselves.

  148. Luis Barcelo
    It is sad to see that so many young people in our ghettos end up living in poverty, dead or in prison. It’s true what the professor says, many cannot escape or survive in this kind of destructive environment. Many are surrounded by the lost and the wounded from day one. Some people are born into broken homes and many others into no home at all. They often experience violence in their households and in their streets. The school system fails them, the police, and their local government. Many of these people feel alone and abandoned and their children are growing up fatherless, because so many fathers end up behind bars or 6 feet under.
    If you are brought up in a world of violence, where you never really feel safe. A place where you are neglected and poor, of course you will choose to do whatever it takes to survive. So many people end up selling drugs or guns, because its in high demand in these neighborhoods. And a vicious cycle occurs, giving the police an excuse to lock up so many behind bars. It’s not the people it’s the system. it’s the intentional disregard, the racism and the poverty that this system creates, that brings about so many problems.
    The professor and some of his friends were fortunate to find a great outlet, boxing. But even with boxing at their side, he shows us how many of them, still couldn’t make it out of the hood. But I still find it interesting to see how boxing could provide some structure and purpose in the lives of these people. Boxing created a hope and a dream, a world of its own for these guys. Something this country has failed to provide them.
    In this blog, we see how boxing allowed these guys to let out their frustration, their anger and their hurt. But boxing also brought some pain of its own, the brutal beatings these guys took, the Injuries and the hospital visits. All a price they paid so willingly, for a sport that provided them with only a glimpse of hope. The professor states that only about .05 percent of these guys would actually make it in boxing. But boxing was less painful than their reality. Even if it was only an hour away, from a world that seemed to offer them almost nothing.
    I’m glad the professor and his family were able to make it out of there alive, but just like the professor said, many people can’t. We do need to work together as a community and stand up and fight for the rights of our people. Too many minorities are silently oppressed by our government. Which is why we need to find ways to make sure that everyone here in America, can live in peace and have a chance to succeed, no matter who they are or where they live.

  149. A dollar and a dream in the South Bronx: Coming up in the boxing Mecca in my opinion refers to the hard lifestyle of a boxer. To me boxing is a way of escaping reality. Boxing is also a way of being free and expressing yourself, whether your dealing with anger, anxiety, or stress. Boxing is basically your stress reliever and a way of calming yourself down. It sure does feel good getting your anger out and punching a bag. In addition, I love the game of boxing because it motivates me and helps me mentally. It also gets you in great shape. You just keep fighting for that dollar and a dream.

  150. Life in the South Bronx is like a boxing match, two boxers fighting in the squared circle to win. The streets become our boxing ring. I was raised by a single parent in the South Bronx and I lived in the projects. I can relate to this article because a large portion of my friends from the neighborhood tried their best to survive but ended up taking the wrong path. In your article, you mentioned the struggles Gary faced when he was released from prison. I have several friends from my youth who also went to prison because of drug possession and struggled when released from prison. It is extremely difficult for someone to come out of prison and begin their life again. You have to be fighter; continuously fighting to stay on the right path. Like Gary and others who are released from prison are faced with the reality of little to no job opportunity, which results in not having money. How are they supposed to win the fight of life when most windows of opportunities are shut and won’t open for them?

  151. Hearing you speak with high regards of the boxing ring reminds me of my older brother and how he viewed football, boxing and the gym. Growing up as a young man those 3 aspects of life are major. Just like boxing, how it helped you growth yet view so much within your community growing up. It is very true how the boxing ring can be such a close analogy to ways of life on the streets. You get all kinds of different backgrounds and people stepping in that ring, all battling the same or different elements of life. Mentioned in your article about Little Soto was a great example because I believe we may all know a “Little Soto”. It is an everyday struggle of the oppressed. For his life was taken away due to self vengeance, as you recall. But one thing we must continue to never lose is to never stop being the fighter! We must continue to fight the fight.

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