Hardwell pictured on left, Hoshang shown on right

If boxing were a marriage partner, it would make a horrible one; the sport demands compliance and commitment, yet it offers no guarantees in terms of fame or financial success. However the bigger issue would be the sport's level of faithfulness to a boxer. Boxing is known for making those involved feel like they are the best yet, the game is also known for finding a new "lover" and giving no thought concerning how its "former lover" feels in the process.
The good news is this is all hypothetical, and no boxer would experience situations like these; however, many boxers such as Hoshang and Hardwell Ismail are dedicated to boxing, and feel they have found a sport that will be with them, a lifetime. Nevertheless the brothers have found a special bond as siblings through boxing that they hope will link them together for ever.

To hear Hoshang and Hardwell praise one another openly is something to behold since most siblings don't do this. "When I am in the ring all I hear is his [Hardwell's] voice pushing me on," says Hoshang. Hardwell is quick to give his brother similar praise. "My brother he ain't scared to fight nobody. He has fought dudes that other guys are not willing to step in the ring with." Given the bound they have, it makes perfect sense why Hoshang is bent out of shape in reminding his brother to keep his hands up before the start of his sparring session with Dillon Mason.

Hoshang knows that boxing is a rough sport, and the thought of physical harm coming to his brother is too much to handle. Hardwell assures Hoshang that he will keep his hands up, and Hoshang, who seems satisfied with this answer, turns his attention towards the heavy bag. But minutes later, he sees Hardwell is circling Mason with his hands down. At this point, Hoshang walks to the ring and says in a firm voice, "Keep your hands up!"

Shortly after Hardwell's sparring session, the brothers work the mitts and Hoshang takes this opportunity to stress once more that Hardwell needs to keep his guard up. At this point, Hardwell seems a little irritated and says something that isn't clearly made out, and Hoshang shoots back, "Hardwell don't argue with me! Keep your gloves up." Hoshang is speaking from experience since he was knocked out this past summer at Canterbury when he boxed Stanley Ruiz.

The main reasons Hoshang lost the bout was because he engaged in warfare and dropped his hands and got caught. "Boxers take a long time to learn because they don't listen" says Larry Goodman, director of White Bear Lake Gym. "The best thing that could have happened to Hoshang was getting knocked out by Ruiz." Goodman says after Hoshang's fight with Ruiz, he, Hoshang, finally understood why Goodman stressed using, boxing skills. "When I boxed, you could beat the sh-t out of guys but not today. Being tough isn't going to win you fights" says Goodman.

For many boxers, the Ruiz bout would have made them question their ability or forced them to walk away from the sport, but Hoshang's pride, lifelong dedication to the sport, and encouragement from Hardwell, kept him going. "I love boxing a lot. I'll always be in the sport and will probably be a coach."

The brothers, whose nationality is Kurdish, moved to MN when Hoshang was 9, he's now 16, and Hardwell was 6, he's now 13. They got involved with boxing after following in their oldest brother's foot steps. Although the brothers are quick to smile and joke, they saw their share of hardship while living in Iraq as a result, they don't stress about not having cable TV or walking a total of six miles to and from the gym.

"Boxing is a hard sport" says Hoshang, and since they know this, you won't see them with too many bad habits with the exception of using four letter words. Boxing hasn't only given the brothers a sense of pride and self-respect; it has also provided them with the privilege of coming into contact with people like Goodman. The brothers say Goodman pays all their expenses when they travel, he doesn't charge a monthly gym fee, and he's been always honest with them. "Larry has been very good to us" notes Hoshang with Hardwell adding, "yea he's been very helpful and nice we really like him." How does Goodman feel about them? "I can say I am proud to be associated with the brothers. They are hard workers and don't complain about much."

In a society where people, mainly teens, are self-centered and self-indulged, Hoshang and Hardwell are nice examples of how being appreciative of little things in life. Life hasn't been a walk in the park for them, but the stroll has been worth while because they have shown that with support, family encouragement, and personal commitment, it's a matter of time before the river will overflow with goodness and richness that most boxers deserve.