Before it gets shoved too far back in my increasingly feeble mind, you just have become hip to what I experienced Saturday night.
I have never attended a live boxing match in all my 49 years. Sure, like you, I have seen Mike Tyson fight some forgettable heavy-weight on TV and one of my early recollections is lying in bed one February night in 1964 listening to a radio announcer describe the blows exchanged in the first Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston prizefight. But I never understood why folks would actually pay to see two people flail away at each other... that is, I didn't before Saturday night.
You've probably seen the billboards around town advertising amateur boxing every month. So far as I can tell, that is about the only way you would know that promoter Cheryl Nance's excellent endeavor exists. The N&R filed a story on Cheryl and what she is doing out on Randleman Road back in February. Other than that, The Venue, as her brainchild is called, is the best kept sports entertainment secret in the region.
Son Jesse, friend Robert and I made the drive to what used to be an expansive K-Mart turned flea market near I-40 around 7:00 Saturday evening not expecting much more than what I imagine a 'Tough Man' contest might exhibit. We had purchased three ringside seats for what I considered an exorbitant price of $25.00 each (general admission is $15.00). Now that I know what its all about at The Venue, I'd have happily paid twice the price.
Along with 900 or so other folks, comprised of an exact cross section of the region's demographics, we walked into a spotless mini-arena which will easily accommodate twice that number of paying customers once word really starts getting around. To my delight, part of the square footage of the place has been cordoned off to create a very cool, leather couch laden, 'membership' bar with full ABC permits. On the opposite wall was another bar that doesn't require a 'membership' because it's offerings end at cold beer (they had a nice Mexican lager on special for $2.00 a pop.) Even though I may have come for the cheap beer, I stayed for the sport.
There were nine bouts scheduled for the night and I was hooked after the first one: a scheduled three round lightweight contest that ended with a TKO in the first round. I found out quickly that comparing a live boxing match to a televised fight is like comparing kissing through a screen to actually swapping spit. It's the contact and passion that makes the difference and there was plenty of both on display... and heart... lots of heart was exhibited by each boxer who entered the professionally constructed and well lit ring. Each match-up was damn exciting and very entertaining.
I could go on and on about the excellent officiating, the type-cast ring announcer, the beautiful and scantily-clad ladies who pranced around the ring holding the round number placards (Jesse's favorite part), and the almost palpable level of anticipation before each match, but the truth is you won't understand it unless you go yourself.
The next night of boxing is scheduled for Saturday, April 9th. I am going back and I'm going to convince as many of you people as I can to experience it with me. Boxing at The Venue is way more than Greensboro deserves. You've just got to trust me on this.
9:37:16 AM 
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