Hibbing – I love doing sports photography, I love the traditional power sports in the area like football, basketball and hockey but I really love the chance to do some of the things that don’t always get the attention they deserve. My kids growing up played non-headline sports like swimming and taekwondo and I know firsthand how hard those athletes work.
I had the privilege of covering the Golden Gloves Boxing tournament sponsored by Iron Range Boxing in Hibbing last Saturday night at the Memorial Building. There were 16 matches covering weight classes ranging from 65 pounds to 200 plus and honestly the kids at the lightest weights could mix it up as well or better than the heavyweights. The hometown fighters did Iron Range Boxing proud taking home belt after belt as well and the fans clearly appreciated the battles in the ring.
Saturday night was only the second time I’ve done boxing, so a bit of excitement for me because, after 37 years as a photojournalist, there really isn’t a lot that I haven’t done at least a few times. So, figuring out the sport, looking for angles, and digging into the details to tell the stories of the athletes is something that recharges my batteries. The ability to bring forward a sport that a lot of people don’t even know existed on the Range to the general public is a treat, and I’m looking forward to hearing the bell ring for the next round.
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