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Three young females learn dedication and committment at Augusta Boxing Club
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By Alisa DeMao
The smack of leather on leather blends into the sounds of the gym as Alex Sladky steps back under the force of her partner's attack. She doesn't flinch as Laura's boxing gloves, inches from her face, pummel the bright yellow mitts covering her hands.
Behind them, Suzanne Rogers is giving Laura's 14-year-old brother the same treatment, her lips pulled back from her teeth with effort and her eyes intense under straggling bangs.
As the background music pounds and the sharp scent of sweat permeates the air, it's just another afternoon in the gym for the three Augusta schoolgirls who've laced up their tennis shoes, pulled on their gloves and stepped into the ring at the Augusta Boxing Club.
``These three girls have as good a start as any boy their age,'' says club director Tom Moraetes, who started the girls' boxing program during the summer. ``I don't think the strength is a factor at this age. Later on, I think the boys will take over.
``But Laura could box anybody in this gym in her age and weight class, if she was allowed to. There's a tournament this weekend that, if I put her in there, she'd win. She's that good, that strong.''
For now, a tournament championship is unlikely for 11-year-old Laura. She and her companions are still in the first stages of their training and don't have contact in the ring beyond jabbing at the practice mitts on someone else's hands.
``If there was any contact, I might have some other thoughts about it,'' says 8-year-old Alex's mother, Nancy Sladky. ``But it's been really good for her - the discipline, the commitment, the rigor. As a parent, if you can find something that gives your child those things, that they enjoy doing, you just seize on it.''
About 10 girls have tried the boxing program, but these three have had the determination and drive to stick with it, Mr. Moraetes says. The trio says their parents have been encouraging - the Sladkys even dragged Alex to her first practice before she got hooked on boxing.
``It makes me really proud they're such gifted athletes,'' says Laura's mother, Karen, speaking of Laura and two brothers who also box at the club.
``It's difficult for me in terms of ...'' she adds, breaking off and making a punching motion. ``But they're so safe here in this gym. They really care about the children here.''
People see their activity in the ring as interesting, rather than odd, say the girls. Alex rattles off a handful of schoolmates she thinks would enjoy boxing but giggles at the thought of getting them to the gym.
``I never thought of it,'' she admits.
Mr. Moraetes is conscientious enough to bar the girls from the gym unless he's there - he doesn't think anything would happen to them, but he'd rather not take the chance. When he's around, they sweat amid the throng of boys who don't even give them a second glance.
``I think the girls notice the boys more than the boys notice the girls, if you want the truth,'' Mr. Moraetes says.
The trio also see the benefits of the boxing program - increased strength and health, better concentration in school.
``I eat much better, and I feel great when I get up,'' 9-year-old Suzanne says with a shrug. ``I like coming here and punching the heavy bags, because it lets me get out my energy, get out any anger.''
Those are the important victories for girls - just like boys - in the boxing program, even if they never step into the ring for a contact match, Mr. Moraetes says.
``You've got self-esteem, self-defense, cardiovascular health,'' he says fiercely. ``Fellowship, cross-cultural experiences. The key to 99 percent of sports - and most coaches lose sight of this - is to have fun.''
Suzanne, whom Mr. Moraetes calls ``a little Pele,'' says she's seen a big improvement in her soccer game since she got involved with the boxing program, which has increased her fitness and concentration.
Nancy Sladky is sometimes surprised to see her normally timid, gentle daughter whaling away at a punching bag.
And Laura, a natural athlete who followed two teen-age brothers into the boxing ring, has dreams of following in the footsteps of her heroes, Olympian Antonio Tarver and professional boxer Christy Martin.
``I just love boxing,'' she says simply. ``I know I've said that, like six times, but it's true. I've always loved it. I would do anything to be in the Olympics.''
Warned of the dream, Mr. Moraetes says, ``I think the potential is there. She's got the genetic material. She's the type that, if she got the chance, she could really go somewhere.''
But that's one dream that's out of reach right now. The same organization that only allowed Laura in the ring about three years ago, US Amateur Boxing, prohibits her from state, national and Olympic competition, Mr. Moraetes says. Once those competitions open to women, boxing will see a flood of female fighters, he predicts.
``That's like telling a football player, you can train all day long, but you can't play in the championship,'' he says. ``I know what they're doing. They're saying you can come in, but you can't do this and this and this. They give the opportunity, but they keep restrictions on it, so they're limiting the ability to actually do it.''
Despite his support for the girls, Mr. Moraetes admits he also has reservations about women in the boxing ring, even though they're only allowed to compete against each other.
``It's getting really big right now, but it's going to take a little more to convince me,'' he says. ``I think there might be a difference with the pain threshold.
``But I would hate for somebody to get hit with Laura's right hand,'' he adds with a grin.
Staff Writer
Laura Luther's sweat-dampened hair is falling in her eyes, but her gaze is steely as she throws a quick one-two punch.
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