By Ray Kilgore
As
you drive through the neighborhood in Chanhassen MN, the homes and surrounding
areas doesn't have the look of a place where 'real boxers' hang; and as
you drive further, the feeling is residents living in Chanhassen aren't
accustom to many problems, and they work hard to maintain a peaceful community.
But as you turn into the strip mall where Westside boxing is located,
the community doesn't have that quiet feel any longer; music blears, voices
are loud, gloves pound, and 11 yr old Justice Love's workout is so intense,
an onlooker could easily get tired from watching him. On the surface,
Justice's workout looks similar to other boxers: he hits the heavy bag,
skips rope, and shadow boxes. But what's different about his workout is
his parents are right by his side- not as observers, but as participants
because both his father and mother are amateur boxers.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
For many parents, when their child enters a boxing ring, stress and anxiety
take on new meaning. It's natural for parents to want to rescue their
child from danger, and when they know danger might be coming, such as
an upcoming bout, the need to rescue is even greater. So, when Justice's
parents Sunny and Toney work his corner for a bout, it's logical they
feel pressure for many different reasons, "I don't get worried when
I or Tony fight" says Sunny, "but when Justice box, I am a bundle
of nerves." The worry Sunny feels is probably related to: Justice
getting hurt, if she or her husband is letting a bout go too long, and
if this is the right sport for her son.
Another issue Justice's parents might face is knowing when and how to
draw the line between being coaches and parents. If 
you
ask most boxers/fighters what bugs them most about coaches/trainers, they'll
tell you how coaches/trainers can be collectors of trivial details; they
have sharp eyes for finding problems and pointing them out; the theory
in boxing is: constructive criticism makes a boxer/fighter better. But
does this theory hold true about parenting? Constant "constructive"
criticism from a parental perspective can lower a child's self-esteem,
and the Love's have a difficult job of knowing how to walk that fine line
with giving criticism as coaches and support as parents. Despite these
potential problems, the rational suggests that Justice might have an advantage
over other boxers since his parents are boxers as well-his parents can
help him put boxing into perspective, the family have a hobby, in boxing,
that can build a strong sense of family unity, and when training, they
have the joy of knowing that they are helping each other be the best they
can be.
SHY BUT NOT TIMID
Like most boxers, Justice's personality out of the ring is different than
when he's in the ring. The handsome boxer is shy and smiles often. He
was born in Texas and his mother met Toney when Justice was two. Tony
fell in love with Justice right away, "I told Sunny what ever happens
to us, I will always be in Justice's life that's how connected I was to
him." Tony officially adopted Justice after he and Sunny married
six years ago. As Toney talked about his brief stint in the army, Justice
puts his hands over his mouth trying not to laugh. Toney was discharged
from the army due to drinking and fighting. At age 15, he became interested
in boxing but didn't commit to the sport until 2000. He's currently assistant
head coach at Westside boxing in addition to being the head trainer for
both Justice and his wife.
Boxing in
pull-ups
Judging by the way he boxed on the Circle of Discipline's card March 25th
06, you'd never guess Justice had only three bouts at the time; when he
boxed opponent RJ Bearnose, Justice showed poise, discipline, and a natural
ability in the ring which might have been a result of being introduced
to boxing at the age of three; and by the time he was six, Toney brought
him his first pair of gloves and showed him the mechanics of the sport.
Like most boxers, Justice says he enjoys playing other sports such as
football and basketball, and is able to balance boxing by not being obsessed
with the sport that he neglects fun things such as hanging out with friends
and being a kid. As for his future in boxing, he'd like to turn pro one
day and reach the skill level and fame of his boxing hero Floyd Mayweather
Jr. Justice doesn't have career interest at this time, but given that
he's only in the 4th grade, what can you expect?
Final Bell
Historically, father/son boxing relationships have not panned out
well. It seems that at some point, the fighter/son breaks away from his
father/trainer in the attempt to gain independence and identity. No one
knows what the future will hold for Justice in terms of keeping his parents
as trainers if he turns pro one day, but one thing is certain, if Toney
and Sunny stress to Justice now, when he's a teen, and as an adult that
boxing is just a tool, and that family love will always be greater than
the sport itself, then if Justice does decide to end the family/boxing
team, he'll know that no matter what, he'll always be able to walk through
his parents' front door because the strength, bond, and love affair they
have for each other will be stronger than any opponent or disagreement
they might have about boxing.