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The Boxing Years in Eugene, OR
Learning how to fight helped me be more confident in life.
I learned from Rocky Marciano to get out of the game before you lose. With a 3–0 amateur record, I hung up the gloves and headgear and called it good.
Actually, I didn’t even know who Rocky Marciano was when I started boxing at 21 years old. I come from a time when the internet and smartphones weren’t a thing and we never had cable, so I wasn’t a depository of information like the youth today.
The Boxing Idea
It was around the year 2001 when I had the idea to box and started scoping out boxing gyms in the Eugene, Oregon area. I found two gyms to choose from.
I chose the smaller gym with fewer boxers; it was located close to the downtown area yet hidden behind some commercial businesses in an old metal shed. The West Eugene Boxing Club.
Going to community college in the area right after getting out of the Air Force, I felt the need to learn how to fight better.
I was a security forces member in the AF (military police) so I did learn some techniques for fighting, yet I hadn’t been in many fights in my life and wanted some experience. I had a fistfight only one time in high school.
