THE FUTURE

THE FUTURE

Back in 1993 my son was 3 years old in diapers sitting by a wood stove with me on the couch one evening in Salinas Ca.   I had him stand in front of me and taught him how to throw a one two punch.   He was a natural - and I was not just acting like a proud Father thinking my boy was a one in million just because I birthed him.   He literally threw it proper the very first time.   I started taking him with me to the gym, he watched us spar, hit bags, wrap hands, jump rope, etc...  In 1994 I moved to Cresennt City, Ca and started boxing at the late Dale Saundersons gym from the Yurok Tribe.   Dales grandson was an alternate on the olympic boxing team in Spain the previous year and was about to have his pro debut and I was elected to be his sparring partner since nobody else in that little northen town could hang with him.   Dale had a an amatuer team and one of his boys was 9 years old who was like 6-0-0, but he was very small.   My son Briggs at 6 years old was the same size as the 9 year old who had a fight coming.  Dale asked if Briggs might want to spar him - which he did.  When we put him in the ring I told the 9 year old not to beat up my boy for this was his first time sparring.  When the session began - myself and Dale were both shocked to see Briggs jabbing an moving an throwing combinations having the time of his life.  I knew right then Briggs could be a fighter if he chose to be.  I kept him out of the amatuers til he was 17 - didnt want him to burn out and to make sure he was boxing because he wanted to and not me. 

Fast forward 4 years later and 7 boxing matches in the history books.  Briggs is 2-1-0 as an amatuer mma fighter, he fights his 4th fight 2moro and I have offers to turn him pro in both boxing an MMA.  He has chosen MMA, and wisely so.  I took him to Thailand for 10 days where he excelled and with many many training sessions with Ken Shamrock - his ground game in American Grappling does not look half bad.   Ken thankfully spent alot of personal time with Briggs along with his best training partner Sean Shamrock, Kens youngest son - who is a talent in his own right.  They both fight tommorow night in down town Reno at Harrahs.   I couldn't be prouder of both these boys - they represent DogBoxer as well as any seasoned pro - they are humble, easy going, work hard and as game as it gets.  Hopefully myself and Ken can train and guide these boyz down the MMA path and avoid the many pitfalls and crooked places we all know exist, keep it right, keep it about the fight and the training, display heart to entertain the fans and maybe even be role models some day for other youngsters with a dream.  I am surely a proud Dad, but these boyz can fight, I hope you all get to see someday