Tag: Boxing

Modern Gladiator

Written by Carter Graham

Gage Bell poses for an environmental portrait with MMA gloves. Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 (Photo by Carter Graham)

As “Voodoo Child” blares from the arena speakers, Gage Bell’s mind isn’t on Jimi Hendrix’s famous guitar licks or the roaring crowd. Instead, he is mentally preparing for a fight against an opponent he’s never met or seen.. 

If someone had told Bell three years ago he would have been entering the cage of a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight, he would have called them crazy. His path to combat sports was different than most, he didn’t grow up wrestling or fighting, instead he focused on baseball and basketball. 

It wasn’t until his junior year of high school that Bell had even considered a different sport. 

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Friends Fight

Written by Silas Panktraz

Katelin Hickman and Heather Elmore fight during the Guns ‘n Hoses charity boxing event. Friday, November 1, 2024 (Photo by Silas Pankratz).

A high-pitched beep cuts through the air, just as it does every three minutes during training sessions at the YMCA Y-CAP boxing gym in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This beep is soon followed by a clash of gloved fists and padded heads, as two opposing forces wish to refine their fighting skills in the ring. 

For the past twenty-five years, this same beep has been heard by countless fighters, young and old, several of which would go on to become national and even international champions in their sport. Today, however, the gym hosts the final night of training before the 15th annual Guns and Hoses charity boxing night. 

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USA Boxing

Written by: Abby Ray

 

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Montreal Hunter (blue) punches Mauricio Quintanilla (red) during their fight at the USA Boxing Eastern Elite Qualifiers in Chattanooga on Monday, October 8, 2018. (Photo by Elian Richter)

During October 7th – 13th Chattanooga hosted the 2018 Eastern Elite Qualifier and Regional Boxing Championships. The event was held at the Chattanooga Convention Center and had the largest turnout in national tournament history according to TeamUSA.org. Chattanooga has hosted the Eastern Elite Qualifiers two consecutive years since 2017.

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