Blood boxer waiting for bout

Page R7

Heather Black, a 19 year old novice boxer, has in some ways made it without throwing a punch.

She's been on the cover of the Showcase section of the Calgary Sun, for example, but she has yet to step into the ring in anger.

Black, born in Lethbridge and raised in Standoff, Alta., moved to Calgary more than six years ago with her family. In their northeast Calgary home, she explains how an attractive, slight woman came to take up the "sweet science."

In the summer Black decided to work out at the downtown Calgary Indian Friendship Centre. Ginnie Brown, a boxing coach for 13 years, explained to her how boxing can build character in an individual, and talked her out of running and into fighting. Black had watched her brother Theron and others in the ring. She's been in training ever since.

In a martial sport with few women practitioners, training has meant sparring with the boys in the CIFC boxing club. They modified the amateur fighters' head gear to protect Black's face while she gets used to being hit. She's learned to stand in there, most times, although Black admits with a laugh that there are still moments when she turns away.

"I'm not used to getting hit, yet," she explains. "But that'll come."

Her coach agrees. And Brown is enthusiastic about Black's chances because she came to her as a complete novice.

"Heather has learned no bad habits, so she didn't have to unlearn any of them. I got her from the very beginning."

Heather is a great competitor. She has a desire to win, throws good, straight punches, has a good right and a long reach, and has developed a three-punch combination. She doesn't back out and knows enough to take advantage of an opponent who's in trouble."

High praise for the young woman who has yet to face up to anybody in earnest. But Black did spar with Calgary's Fern Yee on Dec. 9 at the CIFC. At 28 years old,

Yee is the Senior Open class world kick-boxing champion.

"I learned a lot," enthused the younger competitor. "She showed me that I have to keep learning. And I got the feeling that, you know, she could hit me anytime she wanted."

But Black didn't back off even when she got hit a few times. That's what her coach likes.

"There aren't many men who would like to take a punch from Fern," said Brown. "At least no one around here. She's a really solid fighter. It was a good opportunity for Heather to get into the ring with her."

From sparring with a world champ, Black hopes to meet someone her age with her experience in the near future to spar with. Brown is trying to set up a bout with a 115-pound, 18 year old woman from Saskatoon. Black stands 5'6" and weighs in at 115 lbs., so the two would match up well, at least physically. Black has followed a training regimen since starting the program six months ago.

Women's boxing has only one rule difference from the more-familiar men's sport: competitors must wear a mandatory chest protector. Both coach and boxer are trying to design a more comfortable version than the one Black currently uses.

Black is working hard outside the ring, too. When she's not running, she's pursuing a career in sports administration (although she laughs and says "it changes every time I talk to somebody new"), first by upgrading her Grade 12 at the Plains Indian Cultural Survival School. She plans to begin attending Mount Royal College in 1994. Meanwhile, she's working at Drinkmaker, a local soft drink manufacturer.

"Boxing will help her everywhere she goes," said Brown. "It is a great one-on-one sport. It teaches personal responsibility, careful and thorough mental and physical preparation. In many ways, it is probably the toughest sport to compete in."

For right now, Black is concerned with getting into that competition and leaning how to box well. Her coach is convinced that she can and will do very well when she gets the chance.