COVID-19 Closeup: Antonio Napolitano
COVID-19 Closeup
Subject: Antonio Napolitano, pro boxer.
What type of boxing training and competition would you have been doing the last three months if the pandemic hadn’t hit? Had the virus not hit, I would have resumed my training routine preparing for upcoming fights. My routine preparing for fights has been the same for about two years now.
What are you doing now to train with Niagara in Stage 2? At the moment, my uncle and I built a gym in my garage so I’m training recreationally there. I run about three time a week. I usually do a long run on Sunday, intervals one day during the week, and stairs on a Friday or Saturday.
What is the biggest obstacle to boxing training during the pandemic? If you were training seriously, the biggest obstacle would be motivation. I use an upcoming fight as motivation to train after work or to run at night when I’m exhausted. Without a fight coming up, it’s really hard to even show to the gym after work.
What do you miss the most about the pre-pandemic world of pro boxing? I miss everything about it. It’s a great feeling when you have a fight coming up. It’s something to be excited for, I’m always in a great routine, and I’m always in a great mood counting down the days until showtime. The emotions and adrenaline you feel are irreplaceable. I really miss warming up in the dressing room and getting my hands wrapped. It’s usually really quiet and I’m focused sitting there with my team and the referee is giving you instructions. In the background, you can distantly hear the crowd cheering and then the warmup is exciting but I don’t really enjoy the moment because I’m so focused. Within a span of five minutes, you go from a quiet dressing room to a screaming crowd and bright lights. I used to hate that part of boxing when I was a kid, but I’ve grown to love it. It makes you strong as an individual.
What do you miss the least about the pre-pandemic world of pro boxing? Selling tickets (for my fights). There’s no need to elaborate.
What is the biggest thing wrong with pro boxing? I think a problem with boxing in general is that most referees have never thrown a punch in their life. Judging is always going to be controversial but referees seem to be making mistakes I don’t think they’d be making if they had experience in competition. From what I’ve seen in the past year, referees stop fights based on how many punches a guy is taking to the head. As a fighter, you learn to read body language extremely well. Whether I’m watching a fight on TV or in the ring myself, I can tell when a fighter doesn’t want to be there anymore. I see a lot of guys that are hurt bad, look dehydrated, and want out of the fight but they have too much pride to quit and keep taking punches and they do a good job of not showing they’re hurt badly. I’ve watched fights where a fighter gets knocked down and gets up around 8 and the ref asks him if he’s OK. The fighter will nod but he won’t be looking the ref in the eyes and he’s looking over at the clock. I tell myself right there that the guy is done and wants to go home and sometimes that continues for four or five rounds and the guy ends up getting taken out on a stretcher. I think refs should stop fights as soon as they sense a guy doesn’t want to be there anymore. There’s been a few deaths in boxing lately and no one wants to see that.
Is there an easy way to fix the problem? Referees have a hard job and I’ve never had a bad experience with referees, but I think they would understand the game better if they had 20-30 amateur fights.
Is there a hard way to fix the problem? It’s hard to say. Being a ref is so hard, especially in pro boxing. I’ve seen some amateur refs that get in the ring and don’t know what planet they’re on. They should have a few bouts on top of the courses they take.
What would be one suggestion to make pro boxing better? I’ve only had five pro fights and I’m loving it so far. My last fight was completely sold out and my previous pro fights weren’t. The atmosphere at the sold-out show was electric. It would be nice if every fight was sold out but that’s on us to sell tickets and make it happen.
Has the pandemic changed how you will approach your sport in the future? The virus hasn’t changed anything for me. I worked and trained the whole time. It’s not the same without a fight coming up but it’s also less stressful. I spent a lot of time with my kids and I’m just happy I have training as an outlet even if no one ever fought again. Training is fun for me.
What is the first thing you are going to do when life returns to normal? I personally don’t think life will ever return to normal.
What daily activity do you miss the most? Like I said, absolutely nothing has changed for me except training in my garage instead of the boxing club. I worked in the (Thorold) tunnel every day, trained, went where I wanted when I pleased and I’ll continue to do that.
What guilty pleasure do you miss the most? My week is always jam-packed and I don’t have time for anything. Friday and Saturday nights were always my time to go do my own thing and catch up with people I don’t get to see as often. Ever since the virus, I take my Friday and Saturday nights and I stay home to read or watch a movie. It has made me appreciate relaxing, I can’t always be going 150 mph, seven days a week.
What is your favourite outfit to wear around the house if you are working from home? I’m never really home except for the evenings. Weekends, I wear a track suit or shorts and basketball shoes, nothing fancy.
What do you do to replace the time spent involved in training for boxing? Play with my kids. I bought them one of those electric cars and assembled one of those backyard playgrounds in the back. We mix in boxing with some of our games. My two-year-old son Dominic truly believes he’s the Incredible Hulk so I have green boxing gloves he wears. I cover up and I let him tee off on me. It’s hilarious. He’s learning to put his weight into his punches and we have a lot of fun at the same time. My daughter has me sit and have tea parties with her and her dolls and we take their car to 7-11 for slurpies.
Are you most likely to be a hunk, chunk, drunk or sasquatch when the pandemic ends? Hopefully a hunk.
What is the worst habit you have picked up during the pandemic? I wouldn’t say it’s a bad habit but I’ve realized part of the reason I box is because I’m an adrenaline junkie. I miss the buildup to the fight and the thrill of fighting in front of big crowd is a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time. The only thrill that compares is the adrenaline rush of doing something dangerous or illegal and not getting caught. To anyone that’s never done it (boxing), it would sounds crazy. For the people that have, they know what I’m talking about.
What is the best habit you have picked up during the pandemic? I don’t know about good habits but a good thing I’ve realized is that I’m happy when life is simple. Life has become simple ever since the lockdown happened. No travelling, no nights out, no big events or fights. Working, training to stay in shape, and hanging with the kids is simple but overall, I feel relaxed and happy.
What is something good about yourself you have discovered during the pandemic? I realized I can think for myself. Rewind the clocks back a few months and Walmart was full of grown adults making complete fools of themselves, punching each other out in Walmart for truck loads of toilet paper. Why? Because social media told them to. I’m living amongst programmed fools but it was entertaining so I’m not complaining.
What is something bad about yourself you have discovered during the pandemic? I have no complaints. I went everywhere and did everything. Worked full time, trained recreationally with multiple training partners, and spent time with family. I was never worried about getting sick. I took my kids to the park a few times and was criticized by a girl sitting on her porch across the street who happens to smoke three packs of darts and drinks a two-four a day. Maybe it’s bad I don’t listen to people like her who do as they’re told.
