Jimmy’s birthday was coming up. He was going to be 17 years old next Tuesday, the magic age of amateur boxing. He was now eligible to enter the Senior Open division, by virtue of his age and having fought more than 12 bouts. The senior Open was the highest rank in amateur boxing, and Jimmy couldn’t wait for his first big bout as a senior. Wonder why they call it senior, Jimmy thought. I don’t feel senior. I’ll only be 17 next
week.
Jimmy had amassed quite a record in the past 6 months or so. He had 31 fights, won 30, had 25 knockouts, and loss only 1 bout by a split decision. Some knowledgeable people in the fight game thought he had won that bout, but the judges thought otherwise, and that’s the way it was.
Regardless, he was considered as one of the best if not the best newcomer for his age and weight class in the amateur rankings. Some said that if it wasn’t for his age, he’d be fighting as a professional right now. But he had to be 18 years old to become a
professional, so Jimmy had a long wait. But Max and Izzy were glad that he had an entire year to train as an amateur.So much the better. They were in no hurry. They figured that he could only get better with the extra training he would be getting. They had lots of plans for Jimmy, and Max kept hoping and dreaming that maybe he is the one. Maybe, I’ve got a champ in the making. Maybe, I ‘ll be a bride and not a bridesmaid.
Who knows? Nevertheless, Max had arranged for Jimmy’s first bout as a senior open fighter to be held next month at one of the top boxing arenas in Newark, New Jersey.
“Hey Franky,” called Joey, “didcha know that Jimmy is fightin in Joisey next month?” “Yeah, I know, so what?” replied Franky. “Whatcha mean, so what, dontcha wanta go see the fight.? “Sure,” replied Franky, “but how we gonna get there, and we ain’t got no money anyhow?” “Don’t worry,” said Joey, “there are ways.” “Yeah, what kinda ways.” You’ll see, you’ll see, wait.” replied Joey.
Jimmy had a lot on his mind these days. He spent most of his time down at the gym. Sometimes doing some training like sparring with one of the other guys, or sometimes
just sitting there shooting the bull with Max or Izzy. He was determined to be the best fighter in the world. Oh, only how could he manage to do this. He still had his schooling which took up a great deal of time. He had just recently started to realize the pressure he was undergoing. Getting home after school. doing his homework, and then rush down to the gym to get an hour or two training. He also missed seeing his boys. About the only time that he did was on weekends. He also still missed Pissy, but he realized now that he would probably never see him again, and this saddened him greatly.
It was Wednesday evening and Jimmy was at the gym just doing some punching bag work when he realized that he had an important test at school the next morning. It also dawned on him that he felt he wasn’t prepared for the test. He just couldn’t do both. He had to make a decision. Max and Izzy were across the other side of the gym talking to each other. It seemed as if they were in deep thought and possibly discussing something real important. Jimmy had to talk to Max about this problem he was having, but didn’t know how to approach it. Aw heck, he said to himself, I’ll just tell him exactly how I feel. He’ll understand. Max’s conversation with Izzy was apparently over, and he called across the gym, “Hey Jimmy, got a minute, gotta talk to ya? “ “Sure Max,” replied Jimmy, be right over.”
“Jimmy,” said Max, in a sort of subdued fatherly tone, “I’ve been meaning to talk to ya for a long time now, and I’ve sort of been putting it off. “Putting what off Max?” “Well, your Mother came to see me the other day, and told me she thought you was spending too much time here at the gym, and that it wuz affecting your school work. She also said that she had a visit from your teacher, and she said that sometimes you are not doin your homework, ya know, things like that,” “but, but,
Max,” Jimmy interrupted. “Let me finish, Jimmy, so she asked me to not let you come here to the gym for a while, while you catch up on your school work, and then we’ll talk more about it later.” But for how long do ya want me ta stay away.” asked Jimmy. “I don’t know,” said Max, but I gotta do as your Mama asked me ta do. Your school work is important and it comes first.”
Jimmy thought how strange this talk with Mike, while only minutes ago, he was thinking the same thing, and how he had to make a decision, and how he had to talk to Mike about it.
Gee, he thought, it looks like the decision has been made for me. “Jimmy,” Max said, “You’re nearly 17 years old. You’re stepping up in class. Why in another year you could be turning pro, but this is not going to happen if ya continue this way. I could see whats going on. I could see the concern ya have of what to do. Keep boxing or going to school, and I’ll be
honest wid ya Jimmy, ya can’t do both. Either you quit school and devote all your time to fighting or give up boxing for a while and concentrate on your schooling and getting good grades. I guess that I’ve been a bit selfish. I shoulda had this talk wid ya a while ago, but ya wuz doing so good in the ring that I didn’t want it to stop.”
“Me and Izzy had a talk about this just a little while ago, and we more or less decided that you should not do anymore training here for about 2 months until your school vacation starts. We figured that it wouldn’t hurt ya to stop for a while, and let ya concentrate 100 percent on getting good grades, and when your vacation starts, we’ll start your training again and get you a fight or two in the meantime. How’s that sound, Jimmy?” “If you think that’s best for me Max. Ya know that I’ll do anything ya’l ask me to do, but what about that fight we got booked next month?” Don’t worry about that Jimmy, I’ll take care of that, and dont feel that you cant come here anytime ya want to. come talk to me anytime ya want to, but no training whatsoever, Okay, Jimmy?” “Sure Max.”
“Hi Jimmy,” echoed Franky and Joey, how ya doin?” “ Okay, I guess,” replied Jimmy, looking a bit down in the dumps. “Whatsa matter?” asked Joey, “Had a fight with your goilfriend?” “No, nothin like that,” and he explained to his boys what had transpired between Max and himself. “Well don’t worry about it Jimmy,” said Franky, “No matter what, You’re gonna be the champ of the woild, one day, nobody’s gonna stop ya ever.”
“You can say that again,” said Joey, and that’s the way it was for the time being.
To be continued...
