An Interesting Insight into the World of Old School U.S. Army Boxing

A friend of mine; an esteemed doctor of communications and media studies, a preacher, a teacher, and a much sought after speaker on media effects; shared a story with me about his time in this country’s great military. whilst serving as a captain, he and his troops were engaged in a boxing competition; a little friendly fire and rough housing amongst our country’s enlisted men. One by one, his troops went into the ring. Some did great, some did poorly. He was even encouraged to go a round himself. Initially someone higher up urged him against getting in the ring, saying it would be a bad look if an officer lost, and was seen beat up laying on the floor. “I just won’t lose then” he said. He went a round and won. More men followed. Then finally, it came down to two men. The individual representing my mentor’s team was known as the “flunky”. he described him as a slow moving, slow talking, short but strong and stocky man. Though he joined the army specifically to play other sports he had no experience boxing, and he was going up against another solider who happened to be professionally trained, very skilled in his own right with a sophisticated fighting style. he moved with finesse. the round would start and he would burst out like a fire cracker. quickly, rapidly throw his precision punches. Flunky on the other hand punched with no style, no grace, no rhythm, no technique, but he took his blows and when his opponent threw everything at him from every angle and exhausted himself he began slowly but surely hammering him over and over with big clunky persistent fists. This happened for 3 rounds and then he won. My friend concluded the story by saying life, sports, and war is not about finesse. it’s not always about skill and technique. it is more important that a man submits himself to hardship and learns to endure.