Behind The Scenes: FDNY Boxing Team and Eastern Queens Boxing Club
One of the subjects I enjoy capturing in my personal works are fighters in the amateur and professional circuit. With the amount of access I have as a fighter myself, I’m still grateful to have the permission and trust of these individuals to peer behind the scenes. Recently I followed the talent surrounding the FDNY Boxing Team. One of the team’s trainers Susan Reno (and also my boxing coach and close friend) had me tag along for a sparring session at Eastern Queens Boxing Club.
As soon as one enters the shotgun setup of the Hempstead based boxing club, there is a palpable energy. A swell of action flanks every bit of open space: The rhythm of a speed bag; the tapping of shoes as they dart through ladders; the grunts and whooshing of breaths in sync with the sounds of leather. One can’t help but be taken by the effervescence of the gym as they walk down the facility’s narrow path. It both overwhelms and excites an onlooker as myself that can relate to the work being invested by these individuals looking for a small sliver of glory. But for the hopefuls that surrounded the blood-stained ring tucked at the very back end of this prestigious gym, all the buzz of the tunneling traffic completely disappears as many eyes and ears are fixed on the real hard work that was to take place for those hungry enough for the humility and challenge on this small stage.
FDNY fighters James Gennari and Julian “Jules” Gonzalez were carefully paired with sparring partners that would help challenge and push their skills. Owner Al Alvir, who opened the gym in 2011, paced up and down the gym’s length with his phone in hand to check in on those traveling to come train that evening. I had the pleasure of having Al in my corner with Susan during one of my fights. He believed that hard work couldn’t be replaced when it came to a fighter’s key to success, and that same conviction was shared by my coach Susan. He truly is an advocate dedicated to the sport of boxing.
Al had worked on calling in fighters to help with Susan and the team, but due to travel issues a few were unable to attend. His saw the situation as a chance to appropriately work with Susan and pluck sparring partners from the limitless amount of talent at their disposal. It would be an understatement to say that the gym wasn’t in short supply of fighters itching to grab their mouthpiece, wrap their hands, and get to work. These fighters were hungry for the work. As I squeezed alongside the ring with everyone else, I felt as I was buoyed in the center of shark infested waters.
For the fighters in that gym, fighting was not just a way of life - if anything, it was life entirely. For coaches like Susan and Al, their purpose was to support and guide these fighters throughout the process. The great lengths taken, from minutes spent practicing and polishing a technique, to miles traveled for countless fights, showed the true dedication they have not just to the game, but to the ones brave enough to take a chance on themselves in a sport many pine over and romanticize but very few actually participate. Mike Reno, an FDNY trainer and Susan’s marital counterpart, once told me that “You can play a sport, but you can’t play boxing.” For those in that gym on that April evening, they knew the unseen work that was required during long endless nights like this one for the chance at achieving a second of victory under the spotlight of fights yet to come.