For nearly half a year now I’ve been trying to put my expensive photographic equipment to some sort of semi-professional use. It took dozens of phone calls and half as many e-mails to make this thing happen. And as I sit here in my cube at work with my stomach rolling over on itself, I’m wondering exactly how deep the water I just dove into is.
I love watching boxing. I’ve become a particular fan of the sport since I got Tivo. Tivo makes boxing the perfect television sport the way that a steak knife turns a ribeye into a lean piece of meat. I can skip or dwell on the various portions of the show from interviews, announcer yakkity-yak, clips from old fights, or shitbang graphic-o-rama (thank you, Fox!) And, of course, I can replay great hits or knockouts that aren’t always shown enough for me.
About six months ago I got the bright idea to mail one particular boxing publication (Boxing Digest) and ask if they needed an SF Bay area photographer. I told them I’d work for free if they’d get me into the fight and consider using my work. The editor, Gregory Juckett, agreed. I then called up the public relations manager for Miller Lite Fight Night; which hosts an event semi-monthly. The only problem with this last step is that this guy, Jim Sparaco, ain’t so good responding to voicemail messages. I shit you not, I called the guy perhaps 30 times in several months and left four or five messages. Nothing.
Then, just this Monday, I had a brain surge: why not Google the guy’s name and see if I can find an e-mail address. Well, that worked and within 48 hours I had gotten Gregory at Boxing Digest to mail Jim to ask for credentials. I guess that Jim is one of those guys (like me!) that loaths being dragged into a long conversation with some random asshole that’s trying to butter you up for a sale. In my case, I was selling my total lack of experience in an effort to get a season-long Fight Night pass. In the end he showed his magnanimity by getting me in to a terriffic event with barely any notice.
Now its Thursday, two hours from the first bout, and I’m packing 20 pounds of equipment and an uneasy stomach. This is a big fight, as Julio Gonzalez, Ring Magazine’s sixth-ranked light heavyweight, dukes it out with Aussie Jason DeLisle. The boxing world is watching and I’m going to be front-and-center to catch the action. Let’s hope this works.