ff McClain, one of the most aggressive boxers, won the decision In this preliminary fight and went on to win the 149-pound class medal.
PT, Boxing's No. 1 Foe ES) oxing is one of the most challenging sports in the d) MMA lineup. It is known as a maker or breaker of ien, and that’s before they even step into the ring, where e is a bit easier. But the boxers, or those who make it, ave to endure their No. 1 opponent for at least a month 9fore they even step into that ring. Conditioning will make or break a boxer, says Sgt. 1st lass Thomas Teel, boxing coach. He ought to know, e’s boxed in the Army. And he’s found that his conditiong program, which is straight from the 82nd Airborne Divi on, makes or breaks most of the boxers. For the first two weeks, PT is the name of the game, ide-straddle hops, push-ups, sit-ups, running (up to five iles). After that practices are divided evenly between PT id working on the basics of boxing. When not working i the heavy bag, the speed bag, or working with the iach, jumping rope is the order of the day. “A safe boxer one that’s well conditioned,” says Sgt. Teel. After sparring in the ring of several weeks, which takes ace after the PT session that starts every practice, the attalion boxing tournament begins. Only those who have saten the conditioning opponent, in other words, those in e program, can compete, save one exception. Divided by weight class, the boxer fight three 3-minute »unds. In the end, only the winner receives a medal. But ven the conditioning program, everyone is a winner, lys Sgt. Teel, and there were no injuries, save a few oody noses, several from poorly swung jump ropes. Leading the boxers was Jeff McClain, 149-pound winsr and two-time winner of the Gallagher Boxing Trophy, le other weight-class winners were Luis Garcia Flores, 50; Federico Huesca, 176 and super heavyweight (Sgt. sei let some boxers challenge those one class above
This fight between Paul Tilton and Joel Spurlock, which Tilton won, was one of boxing’s most exciting, said coach and referee Sgt. Teel.
them to increase competition); Dolan Osborne, 107; Ricar do Rodriguez, heavyweight; Guillermo Roel, 126 and 139; and Tom Tabaka, 95. There was no one matching Tabaka’s weight in the pro gram, and Sgt. Teel said he wouldn’t give him a medal without a fight. It was up to Tabaka to come up with an op ponent in his class. Chris Bruns took the challenge, and won one of the fight’s rounds. “It was a good fight,” said Sgt. Teel, “But conditioning made the difference.
109
