DALEY PLAZA — Hundreds of spectators surrounded a makeshift ring in Daley Plaza on Wednesday afternoon to see some of the best youth boxers in the city fight.
The "Boxing at the Plaza" event was a formal kick-off to another boxing season at the Chicago Park District, which organized the 10 fights Wednesday in the heart of the Loop. The season, which includes amateur "fight nights" every Thursday, began July 2 and will last till February.
There are about 2,000 children ages 8 to 17 in the program, which is free and offered at any one of 21 park district boxing gyms throughout the city. The sport helps build confidence in young men, the program's director said.
"It's no different than a hard exam ... you still get nervous, get the jitters," said director Thomas Hayes, a former professional boxer and product of the park district's Fuller Park gym. "Once you practice over and over, [young boxers] accomplish things they didn't know they could."
Dave Matthews explains why the boxers take over Daley Plaza:
Though the bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in May broke pay-per-view records, boxing's popularity has waned for decades as more viewers tune in to mixed martial arts (MMA) and other sports. But Hayes said without boxing, there would be no MMA.
"That's the foundation," he said.
Wednesday's fights, each comprised of three one-minute rounds, started with the 80-pound weight class. Alexis Guzman, representing Hamlin Park in North Center, beat Scottsdale Park's Danny Esquivel via judges' decision.
Danny Esquivel (l.), representing Scottsdale Park, sticks a jab on Hamlin Park opponent Alexis Guzman in their fight Wednesday afternoon at Daley Plaza. [DNAinfo/David Matthews]
For Guzman, a 12-year-old Cicero resident, the boxing he's picked up in the past two years is just fun.
"It's really challenging. You need a lot of energy," he said. "When you win you feel really excited."
Guzman's coach, David Diaz, is another retired professional boxer who got his start with the park district before boxing in the Olympics and against Pacquiao. He reiterated Hayes' stance that boxing builds discipline.
"If he's taught right, properly, the boy can become a man who's respectful," Diaz said. "Even though we beat each other up we respect each other after the bell."
The next park district "fight night" will start at 7 p.m. July 23 at Taylor Park, 39 W. 47th St., in Bronzeville.
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