Page 29 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 90

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #90 July 2020 29

Can Covid-19 KO Boxing?

close and personal. With regard to the equipment is used and worn, the still did so. That will now be a
the pandemic, this makes our sport sweat stains are real, and knowledge thing of the past. No more passing
doubly dangerous, in the ring and is dispensed sparingly until you gloves and headgear from head to
out. earn your stripes. But the advice is head. All members must have their
By Jorge Luis The first place the impact of sure and battle tested. It’s a place to own equipment, as in other sports.

COVID-19 starts its devastating bring your pain and leave it on the Social distance between members

effect on boxing is at ground level. heavy bag and floor (Oh, I forgot to will become the norm, at least for
How can we open and run our gyms mention “floor work”, commonly the time being. In many ways I am
ello boxing fans! It’s June safely? Boxing gyms are not The called calisthenics). You leave they saddened by this, saying goodbye
H2020 and as I write this, I am Ritz. Boxing gyms are places of gym feeling better, and you become to those things I mentioned that
thinking of my mother. You know hard physical work and, with almost better both in skill and fitness, but made traditional boxing gyms
the old saying, “Mother said there all equipment used being made of as a human being also. special places, places with character
would be days like this” ….well, leather, boxing gyms are places COVID-19 has put boxing down where special people trained, and

my mother used to tell me Leap that smell of sweat and leather. in a way it has never been hit before. champions of the ring were forged.
Years brought great things or great Members do not perspire lightly The virus does not play by the rules It remains to be seen how this
calamities. So far 2020 has brought - they sweat! Boxing gyms have and nor play fair. It’s contagious virus will affect the competitive
great calamities! character and by nature carry a little and dangerous. Will the boxing side of our sport as it has sport
It will be a year to both remember dirt and grime. As my friend Russ gym survive? Can the boxing gym officials very perplexed because
and to forget. A virus by the name Amber used to say to his boxers, recover? Can we run the boxing of the close-up nature of the sport.
of COVID-19 ground the world and to potential future members, gyms like we did before? The The solution, much to my dismay,
to a halt and will perhaps forever “It’s a boxing gym. It’s supposed to simple answer is no. A lot more may be a vaccine. I am not a big
alter the way we live, work, smell, and not be too clean!” cleaning will be required, not only fan of vaccines (I have my personal
and play. This virus will have a Please understand that basic by gym owners, but by members. In set of beliefs), but in the amateur
profound effect on every aspect of cleaning is regularly done, but years past boxing gyms have always ranks it may take a vaccine to keep
our lives, including how we play boxing gyms are places of sweaty, been cheap and affordable. Many the competitive world of boxing
sports. Boxing and combat arts physical work. Gym training is boxing gyms provided equipment going. There are many questions,
have been profoundly impacted in referred to as “gym work”, while such as gloves, headgear, shoes, etc. but few solid answers.
a way that no punch could have. jogging and running outside is since many youths could not afford In the professional ranks, no
Boxing is a contact sport and a referred to as “roadwork”. Real to buy their own. Champs Eastside province in Canada is sanctioning

sport where the contestants get up gyms don’t have fancy equipment: was one of the few gyms left that Continued on page 35
South Branch Garage presents

“Game On” in South Glengarry

Meet our Athletes

Wyatt Zimmer

Age:15 Grade: 10
School: Char-Lan District High School
Hometown: Williamstown
July’s Game On athlete was born in Lethbridge, Family Owned and Operated for 40 Years
Alberta and he lived in Cardston, Alberta, until he
turned 4. Wyatt started playing baseball at the age of We have Diagnostic Tools for
7 in Cornwall and is currently a starting right-handed Domestic & Import Vehicles
pitcher for the Ottawa Nepean Canadians U15 squad. • Offer All Mechanical & Electrical
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has a wealth of experience on the diamond: he’s Current Snow blowers, 4 wheelers etc.
played for the Cornwall River Rats, the AA Seaway
Surge (where he won the MVP award in 2017 and the ONLY $ 00

top pitcher award in 2018), the AAA Ottawa Knights 60per hour
of the Fergie Jenkins League, and the Fergie Jenkins All-Star team of 2019. This
year, Wyatt will play the Canadians of the Premiere Baseball League of Ontario, and U-Haul Rental Location
his immediate goal is to improve his game and win a PBLO championship. Import
Wyatt has started to enter the scouting process and hopes to be recruited to a Division
1 college where he’d like to study criminology or law. He intends to pursue a career 18364 County Rd. 19, South Glengarry, ON

as a police officer.