Breana

Mixed boxing



My actual boxing experience began in the 7th grade.  I was 13 years old and living in 
Southern California.  In one particular class, Spanish, I sat near the back of the 
classroom every day by a seating chart devised by out teacher, Mr. Garcia.   

A 13-year-old girl named Breana occupied the last seat in the row directly behind me.  
In front of me was another girl I had an amazing crush on named Beth.  She was 
already well advanced in every category and on the cheerleading team in the Jr. High.  
Well, enough about Beth for now.

Breana was what many might call a Tomboy.  She was not particularly attractive in 
any way; in fact she was essentially the opposite of Beth. 

 Breana was solidly build and a big girl, bigger that I was which is not unusual for this 
age.  During the class, she would typically place her feet on the back of my desk chair 
and shake her legs.  This of course, was quite disturbing to me and I would frequently 
turn around and ask her to stop.  The first time I did this she smiled at me and said, 
"make me."  

I laughed and turned back around assuming she was kidding.  She continued the 
shaking treatment throughout the rest of the class despite of my periodic requests she 
continued to advance the adolescent challenge of a fight.

After class, she followed me out the door and actually challenged me to a fight.  I 
laughed again and went on to my next class.  The following day the whole rocking 
thing began again.  To every request to stop, she continued to up the anti about 
fighting her.

As we left the class that day, I turned to her and said, " if we are going to fight, it 
should be in a ring with gloves.  You can bring a corner person, and I will too.  We'll 
invite a mutual friend to referee."  To my surprise she agreed.

Now, the gym teacher was a boxing fan and knew I was too.  He had a boxing ring in 
the garage of his home around the corner from the school where I had sparred with 
other guys on a number of occasions. 

 He told me I could use it any time and after a brief introduction of the idea he agreed 
to allow us some time on a Saturday.

I arrived at the coach's house eagerly anticipating this fight.  My friend John was with 
me as my second.  He also had several run ins with Breana but she never pushed it to a 
level of actually fighting.  

As I knocked on the door of the house, the coach opened the door and told me that 
Breana had already arrived and was waiting in the garage.

To my shock she was already in the ring waiting for me and she had selected Beth as 
her second!  I quickly laced on my gloves and ducked between the ropes, not wanting 
to show her any sense of my personal dismay of her choice. 

 Kelly would referee.  She asked us both to come to the center of the ring to receive 
instructions.  As my opponent drew near, all I could do was thinking about Beth, I 
barely heard the instructions.  We were going to have 6 two-minute rounds. 

Then I heard Kelly say, now touch gloves and at the bell come out fighting, and may 
the best fighter win.

A went back to my corner and John asked me what was wrong?  It told him nothing 
and took off my robe.  As I turned to face my opponent in the opposite corner, I say 
Breana pounding her 12-oz gloves together wearing a pair of short boxing trunks and 
a bikini top.  Her mouthpiece was already in and she seemed very anxious for the 
fight.

This sobering sight helped me to collect my attention and I accepted my mouthpiece 
ready to rumble.

The bell sounded and we were off!  I stepped out to the center of the ring and 
extended my left glove as a gesture of sportsmanship.  Breana pounded her glove on 
top and I was shocked at the force of her touch.  

Now the fight began in earnest.  I circled to the left with my guard up.  Breana 
essentially stood flatfooted in the center of the ring turning to face me as I bobbed and 
danced around her.  As I circled, I moved in to attempt a first left jab.I felt a ringing 
in my ear and I found myself lunging to the left.

Suddenly, I recognized that she had thrown a right hook over my pawing left jab and 
nailed me on the ear.

Gathering myself, I looked up just in time to see her first straight left jab as it plowed 
through my defenses right at my nose.  

The force of the jab snapped my head back and I found my back against the ropes.  
Suddenly, Breana was banging to my body.  Lefts and rights digging deep to my mid-
section.

I heard John yelling at me to cover or tie her up.  I also heard the faint giggles and 
applause of Beth from the opposite corner.  Breana was a powerhouse!

As each punch found its mark, I felt a bit of strength leaving me.  My guard began to 
slip and as it did, I saw her step to the left and felt a crunching left hook connect with 
my chin.

I fell to the canvas.  Kelly standing over me counting.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, John yelling at me 
to get up, and Beth jumping up and down just below the apron.  At 8 I was standing, 
but not too well.  I looked across the ring and saw Breana leaning against the neutral 
corner with her arms stretched over the top rope.  

Kelly looked at me and asked if I wanted to continue.."Lucky punch" I replied.She 
wiped off my gloves and shouted, "box!"

Breana came out of the neutral corner with dispatch.  My guard was at half-mast when 
she reached me and flicked a couple of left jabs in my face.  I felt my head snap back 
with each jab.  

My back, now resting on the turnbuckle, she continued to measure me with the jab.  
Left, left, left, and I attempted to avoid each one in vein.  My nose began to trickle a 
bit of blood as Breana stepped back to look at her work.

She stepped back in with body blows lefts and rights and she rested her forehead on 
my chest and punished me to the body.  I felt wobbly but she was propping me up 
against the ropes

Suddenly, the bell sounded and she casually stepped back and went to her corner.  I 
staggered to mine.   

What's wrong with you? Yelled John!  She's killing you!  I slumped on the stool and 
took a bit of water.  My knees felt like rubber.  John tried to give me instructions but I 
wasn't really listening.

As Kelly told the seconds to leave the ring I caught my first glimpse of Breana since 
the end of the last round.  She was standing in the corner with those arms draped over 
the top ropes.

Beth stood on the apron outside of the ropes and smiled across at me.

The bell woke me from my intoxication and John pushed me off the stool.  I trudged 
toward the center of the ring and decided to try to get the first punch in.  John had told 
me to make her respect me so I determined to pop Breana with a few left jabs.  

To my surprise, she stood in the center of the ring, not trying to cut off my path, 
smiling.  As I circled her she pivoted to keep me in front of her but never advanced.  
At about half way around the ring, she began to motion with her left glove to bring it 
on!

I stepped forward at her invitation and tried to connect with a left jab.  Her gloves 
closed quickly and effortlessly blocked my feeble attempt.  

I then threw a right hook toward her head; she ducked out of the way and stepped 
back allowing me to pass.  She pivoted and popped me with a left hook as I turned 
back around to face her.  Beth shrieked with glee!

Now Breana pursued me.  She backed me against the ropes and reestablished her body 
assault.  Lefts and rights crashed into my body.  She was pounding me against the 
ropes.

As my guard moved down to cover, she instinctively moved up to my face, peppering 
me with jabs and then nailing me with a right hook to the chin.  

Down I went again!  Kelly began the count..1, 2, 3, 4, this time I watched Breana 
move to the neutral corner with her arms raised.  5, 6, 7, I pulled myself up on the 
ropes and stood at the nine count.

Once again Breana leaned against the ropes in that relaxed confident stance I had seen 
twice before.  Kelly ordered us to begin again.  

Breana moved forward, my knees were like jelly at this point.  My head still 
swimming from the right hook that put me on the canvas.  

Breana, bobbing and weaving, knew she had me as she moved in with little concern 
about her own defense.  She popped me with a volley of left jabs. 

I felt my head snap back with each connection.  Things began to slow down and I 
found myself seeing her punches coming for the first time. 

I was powerless to stop them as I leaned against the ropes.  Breana stepped in and 
threw a left right combo to my body.  I felt my breath leave my body as I gasped for 
air.  

She stepped back and flicked two more jabs and me and then threw a left hook and 
right cross combination that sent me crashing to the canvas.  

I don't remember hearing Kelly count me out, but I do recall John rushing to pick me 
up and Beth jumping into the ring to congratulate her champion.

Breana stood over me, taunting me saying."anytime you want a rematch little man, 
I'm ready to do this all over again."

It would be 15 years later that I had my opportunity, but that is another story.