Where We Will Be This Saturday!

As you know by now, there is a good amount of action this Saturday along the Beltway.  Maybe I'm making too much out of what I'm about to say but I feel I need to explain why I will be where I will be, especially to long-time readers of this blog.

When BATB started in 2005, it was strictly designed to cover the professional boxing in the area.  At that time, I didn't feel I could give the best coverage to both the pros and the amateurs and since I started my boxing writing and broadcasting career with the pros coupled with the fact that I knew I couldn't cover every amateur show in the area, I decided, at that time to keep the blog strictly about the pros.  Also, there was a blog that was created to cover the amateurs in the area at that point.

I altered the focus of the blog around 2009 because the amateurs were doing so well in the area. The other blog eventually ceased operation so I felt an obligation to pay more attention to the growing success of the amateurs in the area, many of whom are now exciting young pros.  However, when it came to a scheduling conflict of a pro card versus an amateur card, the pro card would win out and I would usually attend the pro card.

That will not happen Saturday night.  I will be covering the Washington Golden Gloves at the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park, MD instead of the Gulfstream Promotions pro card at the ABC Sports Complex in Springfield, VA.

There are two main reasons for my decision.  The first reason deals with the tardy information received from the promoters of the pro show.  From my perspective, it seemed like the promoters did not really want to promote the show.  After repeated attempts to get information on this card, the information finally came on the day you see the complete info posted -- with a bout still to be announced.  After getting almost complete information this week on cards slated for next month, it seemed foolish to me to consider going out to Springfield at that point. Also, once I received the bout sheet for the Golden Gloves for this week, that cemented my decision.  Let me apologize to the locals that will be on the card at the ABC Complex and I look forward to seeing you again in action soon.

The second reason is a little more personal and this is the first time I am sharing this with the general public.  Back in January, I was suffering from repeated headaches.  After two cat scans and an MRI, I was told I have a benign tumor near my right eye.  The tumor can't be removed with surgery, so I have been going through radiation treatments that started a little over a week ago and will continue for the next five weeks.  What this means is that I am driving to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore five days a week.

Let me just say that I am fine and I am going through the treatments very, very well.  However, I've been doing a lot of long driving this week and Palmer Park is a lot closer to me than Springfield.

I will not be blogging live from the Sugar Ray Leonard center because there is no reception available.  I look forward to getting results from BOTH venues this weekend.

Thanks for reading!