Wilder singing a new tune

[squarering]

Nashville TN is known for, down on their luck, transients that come from all over the world to strum their guitars and serenade anyone that will listen, in hope of "Making it Big" But the only music heard up in the ring when 2008 Bronze medalist Deontay Wilder cracked Ethan Cox with his long straight right hand, was the sound of little birdie flying in circles. It was Wilder's debut pro fight and I wounder if his coach played the same trick on him as I did on my fighter when I would would yell " Where's your Headgear". Also playing the role of sandman on Saturday nights card were past amateure standouts Johnathan Nelson and Fernando Guerrero, who used their pugilistic skills as lullabies by putting both Cory Jones and Geovante Davis into a restful sleep. In fact it was almost like the amateurs class of 2008 reunion in Nashville, with old friends Shawn and Ken Porter on hand. Even Julie Goldsticker from USA Boxing was in town from Co to watch some of the guys that passed through the program. It was a great night of fights and although Wilder got the job done, I think everyone including myself was looking to watch that long graceful jab set things up, not tonight though. Deontay wanted to make quick work of Cox who only hours earlier pulled enough ornamental steel from his nose, ears, lips and face that I'm glad no scappers snook in the locker room. They would have made off with a fortune ( if they could have carried it). Then Chazz beat Swamp, Jermain beat Jeff and we all went to a Kareoke bar where I picked up a guitar and started singing "You broke my heart hell,,,,It was my ribs". All of a sudden the top executive from MCI records walks right up to me and asks if I am interested in a contract to go on the road and make millions.... I looked up at the spinning mirror ball for minute, then back at all my friends and boxing people, Then back at the ball, they always did fascinate me. Anyway, I knew I couldn't leave boxing, even if I wanted to. I handed Mr Chesney back his guitar and went back to the hotel where I cleaned the snot and blood from the spit buckets and dried them. Then I slipped into bed and for a good nights sleep knowing at least I had my shot. True story

[JOEY DAWEJKO]

this was a great story!!! hahaha

[Dennis]

You truly are one of a kind Hal!!!

[JMac]

Yo Hal, you think you're funny D You make me laugh
I bet you're the best singer in the shower
Don't quit your day job.

[boxmel]

My husband has always said that a person has to be certifiably insane to be involved in amateur boxing. Thank you, Hal, for proving his point without a doubt. D D

[squarering]

If you go to a site called Garageband.com and punch in my name you can hear some of work and read my bio. Then, and only then, will you understand how big of a sacrifice I made to stick with boxing, when my true talent lies in a voice that Povorati once proclaimed " In all my life I never heard an audience so quiet during a performance, it was only after they turned up the lights that I noticed everyone was gone"

[squarering]

Jmac, Someday I will show you how I accompany myself when I sing in the shower.


PS Joey please Cover your eyes when you read this, I forgot there was an under 19 reading this.

[Dennis]

Hal you are in rare form. Did Fernando miss the hand pads again and hit his coach? It sounds like it.

[squarering]

I recently had shoulder surgery and have been going stir crazy. Wild ideas creep into my head, like boiling the secretary of state and having a lunch special for $3.99 called Condo Lisa Rice . Help Me!

[Dennis]

Take a muscle relaxer and go to sleep. It worked for me when my back was acting up. It is better than letting everyone on the net know how nuts I really am. D

[scottmallon]

With the exception of that one right hand, Wilder looked terrible. He's got a long, long, long way to go and I hope he's not rushed.

[squarering]

He needs to work jab drills till his arm falls off. Don't feed him if he don't jab and make him write jab 1000 times every day cause when he gets it and puts it together with that right hand you will have a Hearnes knock off .

[Dennis]

You are old school Hal. Today, boxers don't want to spend more than a few minutes on one skill. But I agree, he needs to learn to use that reach much better and develop a better jab.

[scottmallon]

Here lies the difference...in the old days, a trainer said "jump," and the fighter said, "how high?" Nowadays they say, "I think I've done enough coach." And if they're pushed, they say, "I don't like how I'm being trained, I'm going to someone else."

I like Deontay - he's got raw talent, he's a nice kid, he's got a story, and if he ever gained enough talent he might be something in the sport. But he's got a long way to go in a sport that is very unforgiving. I'm crossing my fingers for him but unless he rapidly gains some boxing skills, he's going to have a rough road when he crosses into the next level.

[Dennis]

Having a big right hand helps though.

[squarering]

Scott, You are right, I think that, not only in boxing but in almost everything, we need more people that are throwbacks to old school values, ethics and discipline. As a coach you have to be steadfast in consistency and have the your own discipline to drill something over and over even when a boxer thinks it's enough. The key word is FOUNDATION, spend those countless hours on building a solid foundation and everything that comes after will come easy. Proper position, movement, correctness and punches. Then balance will improve and everything will come together. Ad in conditioning and bring along speed drills after that and you have something to work with. In many cases a stubborn boxer will break a coach, but that is the whole idea, you can never let a boxer break you. like a cowboy you break the horse, it don't break you.

[Dennis]

Remember there are different breeds of horses and some will never win a race no matter how hard you train them.

[squarering]

Dennis I'm not talking about racing,,,,I'm talking about breaking.

[Dennis]

Dennis I'm not talking about racing,,,,I'm talking about breaking.

What's the point of breaking a horse that is destined for the glue factory? D Now if you have a thoroughbred like Fernando or Shawn it is worth the effort.

[squarering]

Wow Dennis, your harder than I am. Speaking of Shawn, I gave Kenny a hand in the corner with him in MS. Fernando, Mark Davis, Shawn Porter, and even Jermain Taylor was there, It is really cool to see things going full circle.

[Dennis]

I sometimes look back at old results and see some familiar names. Kenny told me that you helped him. It's funny how you guys used to be in opposite corners and now you are in the same corner.

[squarering]

In most situations , rivals and advisaries only work to beat each other. But I have read about an experiment that was done at a collage. The two most competive tennis players on the team did not even like each other and worked seperatly to be the best on the team. They were contacted to see if they would be willing to be part of the experiment, but they had to understand that by entering the experiment and working together it could help the other become the better player, Both were confident that if they went along they would prevail as best, believing they would gain more than thier rival. But under a contolled setting they both realized that thier skill level and compitition level was improving at a much faster rate than before. The odd part was that as the rivals let go of who was the best between them and worked together to improve, they became allies and both went on to a higher level in tennis than they believed possible. They also came to realized that it was more important to tap into you potential, than hold yourself down just to outperform one perticular person. I see a day when we work together in camp to make each other better and then let the chips fall where they do if we were ever to meet in the ring. Some people would think that is crazy, but it is important to know who you are working with. Beyond winning a championship, my goal is help my boxer become the absolute best he can be.