Macon to Host Georgia's Best Fighters
The Bishop Frank Ray Boxing Arena in downtown Macon turns one this weekend. In celebration of the anniversary, fighters from around the state will put on the gloves in Central Georgia's home for the sweet science.
The arena on sixth street is hosting the Georgia USA Boxing Championships beginning Thursday. The three-day amateur tournament includes boxers of various ages and experience levels. For the first time the bouts will include local female fighters.
The stakes will be high in the Open Division, where seven spots in Nationals are up for grabs. Of the up-and-coming fighters that call the Macon gym home are the Montgomery brothers - Mikhail, Maliek, and Michael - are the star pupils. The lessons they've learned extend beyond the ring.
"It teached me hard work, period," Maliek said. "If you don't work hard at the sport you're not gonna be that good at the sport. You just got to work. You put in the hours in the gym and it pays off."
"People walking around in our schools they don't have no discipline," Michael said. "Then when they come to this they come out a different person."
Michael will have a chance to earn a spot in Nationals this weekend. The fights start Thursday at 6:00 p.m., with championship bouts beginning Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
The arena on sixth street is hosting the Georgia USA Boxing Championships beginning Thursday. The three-day amateur tournament includes boxers of various ages and experience levels. For the first time the bouts will include local female fighters.
The stakes will be high in the Open Division, where seven spots in Nationals are up for grabs. Of the up-and-coming fighters that call the Macon gym home are the Montgomery brothers - Mikhail, Maliek, and Michael - are the star pupils. The lessons they've learned extend beyond the ring.
"It teached me hard work, period," Maliek said. "If you don't work hard at the sport you're not gonna be that good at the sport. You just got to work. You put in the hours in the gym and it pays off."
"People walking around in our schools they don't have no discipline," Michael said. "Then when they come to this they come out a different person."
Michael will have a chance to earn a spot in Nationals this weekend. The fights start Thursday at 6:00 p.m., with championship bouts beginning Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
