What started-out as a fun exercise between a few good friends has become serious business as Barrydale’s best boxers brace themselves for fights that will be of a highly competitive standard.
The Karoo town’s brave warriors, who will be in action at the Recreational Club on December 12, this week received a further boost when former Bantam Weight Champion Theo Modise conducted an intense training session with the participants.
Coach Theo had been informed that a group of amateurs would be putting their bodies on the line as part of a fund-raiser for Conroy William’s Panic Room Boxing Club.
Conroy’s goal is to ensure that his club has enough funding enable more of its fighters to attend next year’s provincial championships.
“I must say, I’m impressed with what I saw from these fighters,” said coach Theo.
“I was told that they have only been training for a short time and it is clear that what they have learned from Conroy thus far, will be of great benefit for them as the enter the ring,” the internationally accredited coach added.
After completing his assessment of each of the fighters, coach Theo proceeded to ad his flavour to the mix.
He placed special emphasis on fitness and highlighted that without a solid defence, the distance to the floor is just that much closer.
He drilled Barrydale’s boxers like only an army sergeant can, but they will undoubtedly be thanking him later.
“I always emphasize to my fighters that even if you are really good at what you do it is just as important to stay humble.”
Theo Modise
The fighters who attended this session thanked coach Theo for the passion with which he led the session and there was consensus that what they learned from him on that Tuesday afternoon would most definitely serve them for the rest of their lives.
Coach Williams was just as pleased that the man who inspired him to reach his goals could share that passion with a group of individuals who take pride in helping their fellow man.
“Thank you so much coach Theo for taking time out of your schedule to visit us in Barrydale, we really appreciate it and we learned a lot,” said Conroy.
