Prof. Jessica Penner | OL20 | Fall 2021

Liam Escamilla, Meet My Gloves.

My boxing gloves are what made me become the person I am today. I started boxing when I was 13 years old. During this time I was overweight and obese. I would be lazy as a kid playing video games all day without noticing how unhealthy I was. It was until I woke up one day and asked my parents to put me in a gym somewhere. The regular gyms, unfortunately, declined me because of my age and concerns about weight workouts. My dad had an idea and decided to find me this one boxing gym downtown. At first, I was excited because I’m going to be punching heavy bags and using boxing gloves for the first time. A month passed by, and I fell in love with it that I started noticing results. It was more than just punching the heavy bag and having “fun” using the gloves. It was all about discipline, determination, and consistency.

I was automatically hooked. I had bad days and good days in that gym. But that’s what I signed up for and was determined to keep pushing despite the nervousness I had stepping in the ring to spar. At 14, I was given boxing gloves by my grandpa. These gloves are special to me because they’re made where my parents are from, Mexico, and the brand itself is from there. I’ve seen famous boxers in the old days use them to fight. I felt unbeatable with them whenever I spar.

Long story short, I still have these gloves. I plan to still take them wherever I go when I get older. To me, it helped me build a positive mindset and discipline with my own well-being. I built friendships with those gloves, sportsmanship, laughs, tough moments, ambition, and more. Overall, I love what the sport did to me. I still love boxing and continue to do so.

3 Comments

  1. valencia

    Hi Liam, reading your post was inspirational because I too is over weight but regular a gym setting have not worked for me as yet. I’d never consider boxing as a way to loose weight.

  2. Hillary Castrillon

    Hi Liam, I really enjoyed reading your post. I too, love boxing. I think those gloves have sentimental value and just symbolize all that you have accomplished with them. I would never throw them away if I were you, especially since your grandfather gave them to you. I only take classes for the workout though not for sparring. I too would have been nervous to spar, especially as a beginner. I started taking kickboxing classes which is a bit more challenging and the results I have had with just 3 classes is insane. Boxing is a really good sport to lose weight and to let off some steam.

  3. Kevin Perea

    I loved this post! I did karate and a little bit of boxing and wrestling and I could vouch that combat sports are the most physically and mentally challenging out there. It’s a good way to workout and let out some steam, but the values of discipline and determination are probably the best things to receive from a sport like boxing. I unfortunately didn’t keep anything from those days, but I’m glad you have something to remind you of the sport, your journey, and your family!

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