Fight Night Boxing at the University Club Chicago
Every year Ron and I photograph The University Club of Chicago's Fight Night evening of Boxing. We are there to take professional portraits of the guests in the Ring before the fights ever start. It is a wild and overdrive paced feat of photographic miraculousness. Ron is Master (which we all know) but I really couldn't imagine successfully completing this job with anyone else. We have 45 minutes to wrangle and photograph between 22-25 tables consisting of up to 12 guests each into the ring through the ropes, stage the shot, snap a few, next group. Wowzers. Ron and I have a blast, as it is a challenge but one we are up for and enjoy and always trying to beat the year before performance. All of the Clubs Members, Guests, and Employees are so wonderful and always a great help in executing this job. Thank you. Also a huge Thank You to these amazing athletes for sharing their energies and talents with us.
Many of you might not know but I LOVE boxing. I spent 12 years of my youth in competitive martial arts with a weekly full contact padded up of course fight night. I loved it. Fighting for sport is a really cool thing to me which is kind of funny for how much of an anti violence person I am. So of course every year I stay for the first few fights. Here are some of my favorite shots of what I caught before I left.
First Fight 125lbs
Red Fernando Valdez(W) vs. Gilbert Canseco
The 3rd match was the Womens Match. These two were a great match up. It was Red's first fight and Blues second fight. They were practically punch for punch the entire match. No fear, each one diving in, often blasting each other in with face shots at the same time. When the clap happened at the end of each bout when many fights relax these two double the energy to get in as many blows as possible before the bell. YEAH! Ladies, awesome fight! Thanks for the energetic excitement.
121lbs
Red: Carolyn Creedon vs. Blue: Alyson Makstein(W)
This guy in the white was my favorite boxer of the evening. During introductions he was very unassuming, his bowing to the referees almost had a fanciness to it. But boy he danced. There was a lightness to his strut that made the match just seem naturally easier to him. It was cool to watch. Out of Tennessee in the Red Corner Alan Abbu(W) vs. Blue: Mario Herrera 165lbs.
Like here in the Victory photo there is just something sweet and innocent seeming in that face. I'm a huge fan. I might need to start an Alan Fan Club. Join me?
All things Vulnerability have always interested me. This part of boxing has always been interesting to me in the sense that there is demonstration of a clear winner and non winner. With the non winners face on display for all to witness. Most sports you can retreat to a locker room or dugout and mourn your non victory with some privacy. I've developed a mild obsession with this element of the Victory shot. Here are some powerful ones from last night. Congratulation to all of the fighters winners and non winners everyone looked great and brought an awesome game. Thank you.
