On Wednesday, I was walking home and saw truck painted with an advertisement for a boxing event. I called up the SO really quickly because it had been mentioned that a boxing event would be a very good thing to see. The boxing fight was held at the Oakland Arena and promoted by Biz Productionz which is "Promoting to Another Level". To date, this is the first boxing event I have witnessed.

Choices had to be made as to the seats. Should we go for the $27 or the 47$ or the courtside seats? Who the hell knew? But one thing was known, I have never sat on courtside seats for any event before. So, it was with luck that we spent the money and grabbed the $110 courtside seats. The jump in price was due to the handling fees. Otherwise, it would have been a reasonable $90.

The fight of the night for me was the one between Luis Perez (5-1, 2 KO's) versus Justo Almazan (11-30). This fight taught me that there are boxers out there who make this their living. They go into the ring, scoot around, throw punches and entertain the crowd. It looks from my vantage point as one hell of a way to make a living. I don't think I would last. But they are the modern day gladiators. My body versus your body. My hands versus your hands.

Jorge "Justo" Almazan hails from San Diego California. He was booed because his opponent was from Salinas. Jose Celaya who is part of the main event is from Salinas and a lot of the townfolk came over to come and see the fight. Justo's record is 11-30 and this made me cringe. My first thought was he was going to get killed. I felt sorry for him when he came out. He was about 5' 5" with a body that was not really defined by muscle. I thought he was a patsy so that the kid can even up his record. I figured that I was about to see why boxing is hated by people. This fight will be brutal, bloody and an example of why boxing should be banned.

The first two rounds, the kid Luis Perez looked phenomenal. He certainly had a muscularly defined body and had the invincibility of youth sparkling over him. His punches ripped through the air and slammed into Justo's body. The kid's speed was infused by energy. Meanwhile, Justo just shuffled around, peeked between his gloves, and landed some blows to the left side of the head of the kid.

By the third round, this fight was not going to be a knockout. The kid seemed to get tired. He did not move as much. His punches were slower. The So remarked that this was going to be a 6 round fight. Justo was going to make sure he lasted through six rounds. In the third round, Just made some moves.

It was artistic in the way that a day laborer breaks the earth with a shovel. It was mundane. Boxing was a job for Justo. First and foremost in his mind was to continually give everyone a show. There will be no running away. Each second of each round will be a punching contest. Not too many punches though or he will tire himself out like the kid.

Nope, this boxer is at his job. Jab…Jab… Jab. Go to the ropes. Lean back. Take some of the kids punches. Look for the opening. Right cross. Shuffle around. Give the kid some room to move around. Make sure the people in Section A can see the show. Jab…Jab. Lean on the ropes again. Peek. Shit, here comes a straight. Block that one with the hands. Peek. Right cross to the head again. Hope that the judges are seeing blows to the head. The kid is mainly hitting the arms.

The fifth was a hard round. The kid managed to stagger Justo. Lean more on the rope. Cover up the face and the head. Let the blows fall on the hands. Where's the bell? It's gotta come soon. Justo needs a rest. The kid got a lucky shot in. Pretty powerful shot at that. If the kid learns how to box, he might be ranked some day. Justo peeks and covers up. Finally, the bell rings.

The sixth round was the reason people show up. This is after all boxing. The show has to be given. Dazed for a few moments, Justo needs to put on a show.

Let the arms open to reveal the face. Let the kid see the face of a worker. I've been in this game for ten years. What do you have? Maybe two or three years? You got a long way to go. I was never fast. I was never cocky. It was just a good pay for the family. I do this to feed the kids. Maybe one of them will become a doctor. Then, they won't know what I had to go through.

Justo starts on the offensive. Jab…Jab…Blow to the face. Justo is also tiring. He probably has a second job moving furniture or moving boxes from here to there. After all, how many people actually earn millions of dollars in the world of boxing? 70 percent are just trying to make a living and trying to live. So long as you gon't get hurt too badly, it's a great job with a good purse.

Damn, Justo has to get the show going. The kid is too tired. His punches aren't doing anything. Just leans against the ropes and cover s up. Okay kid, let's see you put on a show. The kid sees the opening after missing so many of them. Punches are thrown. It's not hard since the opponent is not moving. The kid throws a combination. Next thing you know, the kid gets a right cross from Justo. Where is that shot coming from the kid wonders.

The last fifteen seconds is man against man. Punches explode. Time slows down. The crowd is roaring even more. DING!! DING!!! Everything stops. It's over. Where's the kid? Justo goes over and hugs and congratulates the kid. The kid's eyes are glazed over. Who will win? The kid was more aggressive. He shuffled with the magic of youth. Justo somehow managed not to trip when he moved. The kid chased. Justo stood and took the punches to the arms. But Justo also gave some shots to the head.

It's a unanimous decision. Justo Almazan wins the bout. A quarter of the people cheer for the working man who wins one because he is a boxer. Hits to the head are better than punches blocked by the arms. Shuffling off is better than the chase if there are no punches that hit the body.

Justo rejoices. Ten people scream his name. Ten people celebrate the workman efficiency. He's probably got kids at home waiting for word to come from their father. They couldn't come tonight because that would just cost too much money. The trainers take off the gloves. Justo raises his hands to the audience. As he leaves the arena, he hears someone shouting his name. He looks over. A hand is offered in appreciation for his fight. He taps the hand and smiles.

He walks off the building having won his twelfth fight. Where's the next fight again? How many weeks before I can let the swelling go down? Justo will wait for that tomorrow. For now, it's a great night to be a boxer.