OPINION: Bout with fighting spirit

Why do people fight?

That’s not to ask why do people fight in general, the pondering is more specific than that and asks — why do people box?

Actually even more specifically than that, why do some regular Joes, or Janes, who hold regular non-sporty jobs, decide to train and step in the ring for events like the Ringside Rumble in Perth or Fists of Fury in Geraldton?

I can speak from experience and perspective.

After all, I competed in my first boxing match last year, which as you may know I lost.

I also announced after that fight that I would not be fighting again.

The training and the fight itself felt like a means to an end — to raise my level of fitness.

My fitness has indeed been raised and my attention as far as training goes was firmly shifted to CrossFit Geraldton.

But, there is an appeal, which I cannot quite put my finger on, to competitive boxing.

I have sat and pondered the attraction and I have asked others who themselves choose to box even though their jobs and lifestyles do not give any indication of an aptitude for such an aggressive sport.

Perhaps it simply boils down to a primal instinct, to prove oneself in a fighting arena? To rise to an extreme challenge?

Or maybe it’s more complex than that, for the love of the sport?

After all there are ordinary Joes who compete in other combat sports, triathlons, marathons and “tough mudder” type events.

To these people I tip my hat because I have a tiny bit of insight into the levels of commitment and training involved in preparing for such events.

Will I fight again? I honestly don’t know.

Fists of Fury II in Geraldton is certainly a worthy cause, but is it worth getting punched in the head again?

Time will tell. At least that is the opinion of this Pom in Oz.