the cage boxer's dummy

the cage boxer's dummy

fiction
edward w pritchard

The cage boxers were unable to find sparing partners. You can't practice to be a cage fighter half go. No-one wants to get the hell kicked out of themselves so no one applied for the opening at the gym for cage fighting sparing partner.

Bo- fly Robertson was a Black piano player who couldn't read music, a heavy drinker and a one time prize fighter. At sixty years old he was down and out and applied for the sparing partner job at the cage fighting gym. He could use the 37.50 per round being offered for sparing.

The eleven young men who trained at Barnes' gym were against Bo-Fly getting the job. He was old, short winded, had a bad left wrist and couldn't throw a straight right cross anymore. He got the job because no one else applied.

Bo-fly was a gentle sort. He mostly drank cheap wine and people usually took advantage of him.

The cage fighters all worked full time and dreamed of fame from winning the area cage fighting championship. They needed their new sparing partner to challenge them to excellence. They wanted viciousness from their sparing partner.

Bo-fly didn't bounce when he fought and didn't move forward or back. He stood in the middle of the ring and waited for the fight to come to him. He kept his wrists high and tight and peered between his little fingers at his opponents eyes. He smiled at the beginning of each round.

The cage fighters bounced and spun and rushed and retreated as they fought for they were young and fast. Most everything on their bodies worked well.

At the first bout Bo-fly was given a 20 ounce pair of gloves to use. His opponents used 12 oz gloves. The first thing the three cage fighters learned today was not to spin, not to ever have their back face Bo-fly. Bo-fly hit high out of professional politeness missing the kidneys and neck, but solidly just below the shoulders if anyone turned their back to him while sparing today. He had been instructed to hit hard if he was to be paid and he needed the money.

Cage fighters often kick aggressively and wildly. Bo-fly would drop his fist if someone kicked and meet their leg on the inside of the leading thigh just above the knee. Cage fighters stopped leading with their legs today.

Young cage fighters are fierce and aggressive and often charge and swing and come in and go for the knock out. Bo-Fly covered up and let them hit and hit and then would beat about the body until the cage fighters couldn't raise their arms and then would hit the biceps until the cage fighters couldn't defend themselves anymore.

Several cage fighters decided not to pursue their cage fighting careers after sparing with 60 year old broken down Bo-fly. Bo-fly didn't spar for sport or honor or anger he spared for the money and he was a formidable fighter.

The cage fighters decided that if Bo-fly spars he must now wear 24 or 28 ounce gloves.
end