Let’s get ready to rumble!

This past weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of being invited to a profoundly unique and inspiring event, showcasing our area’s culture and fortitude. I was honored to be invited to the boxing event on Saturday hosted by Crosstown Boxing and House of Pain Boxing Teams.

A dear friend of mine (and dare I say, my biggest fan) was to be their guest of honor and ring announcer at the astute age of just shy of 90 years, and he asked me to accompany him ringside. I knew I was in for an afternoon of distinct entertainment. But what I also found was something unexpected. More on that later.

I wasn’t sure how my two children would revere the festivities, but I was delighted to see that my daughter took a distinct interest in the sport and the outcomes, while my empathetic boy later admitted that he was a little shaken that kids were hitting each other. After I explained that everyone was safe and boxing teaches discipline, camaraderie, sportsmanship and perseverance, he was decidedly more positive about the experience.

While I don’t think he will be strapping on gloves anytime soon, I have caught my daughter several times since doing some fancy footwork with balled fists around the stuffed animals in her room. I should have known.

But let’s discuss what I saw at the event. First and foremost, I was amazed that three hours of back-to-back bouts brought us only to intermission — apparently kids in our area find boxing to be a popular sport! So, too, did nearly every competitor’s cheering section, loudly shouting support and tips throughout each bout and rushing in to congratulate them as they climbed down the steps from the ring at the conclusion.

I never heard a cross word or saw an angry face all day. Instead, I saw determined children and proud families, spread evenly amongst winners and losers alike, although I would consider each fighter a winner that day. Everyone received medals, and many of the kids installed the medals around their opponents’ necks at the conclusion of their fight. Many opponents embraced one another. It was a hot day, but Las Cruces came out for these kids, and they did not disappoint.

Coach Mike opened the day by highlighting the work that the kids had each put in to prepare for this exposition, as well as the time that the coaches take, in many instances dedicating their lives to children that may not otherwise have an avenue to express themselves in a healthy outlet.

Something he pointed out that resonated with me — many of these kids don’t do well in team sports. They are loners, or don’t really fit in, struggling to find a home with peers. But it was evident from the sportsmanship I witnessed that day, that they may have found a family of athletes anyway. Their compassion and congratulations for their opponents were organic and sincere, not rehearsed.

This is what Las Cruces needs. This is what our youth need. A third space (not home and not school) where they can be safe to express themselves, learn respect for themselves and others, and stay off the streets and away from bad influences. And Las Cruces needs to be there for them.

The foundation is already there, paved by the coaches and parents who recognized the desperate need long before anyone else was paying attention. It is time for those of prestige in our community to take notice and support healthy programs like these to continue their profound positive impact in the lives of at-risk youth in our community. I hope that powerful individuals will step away from the podium and get involved, driven by the spark of support from even the most unexpected places.

“In the Ring, we compete; outside the Ring, we build.” It’s clearly more than just their T-shirt motto. These boxing teams are building champions in life. Don’t let them do the hard work alone any longer.

Shawna Pfeiffer is a life-long Dona Ana County Resident, graduate of NMSU, small business owner, hobby farmer, dog-lover, outdoor enthusiast and mother to two young children. She can be reached at srpfeiffer1@gmail.com.