MICHAELCHRISTOPHERBROWN

ARCHIVE 2: 2002 - BOXER

Spring

For, contrary to stereotyped notions, boxing is primarily about being, and not giving, hurt.

Joyce Carol Oates

Project: The Fight (Ohio)Picture: Travis Daily, Boxer.
   
Project: The Fight (Ohio)Picture: Travis Daily, Boxer.
   
Daily was out of shape because he hadn't been consistently training since his last match. He was no competition in a Columbus, Ohio, match against a 40-year-old local (left) who broke Daily's nose and won in the third round.
     
  
Project: The Fight (Ohio)Picture: Travis Daily, Boxer.
   
Travis Daily focuses before a welterweight match in Youngstown, Ohio.
   
Travis (far right) waits for Sam to arrive and unlock the front entrance to the Gym.
     
  
Daily sits in an Athens, Ohio, bar where some locals booed him for drinking too much and not training hard enough.
   
Daily owes Stephanie, an ex-girlfriend, and several others money because he is constantly quitting jobs, getting fired and spending his money on various forms of entertainment.
   
     
  
Wrapping up a sparring session at the more than half-century old Sam's Gym in Glouster, Ohio. Daily often looks at the pictures of famous fighters on the wall for inspiration and hope. Boxers at the gym admire Daily's talents, and he receives special treatment from the trainers and coach.
   
Daily looks up at his mentor and coach, Sam Jones, before a fight. "Life's not about boxing...it's about what boxing teaches you," Jones said.
   
Daily wipes blood from his broken nose several minutes after being defeated in the Columbus match.