Thrilla in Mosul: Spartan Soldiers take fight to the boxing ring

Photo By Dustin Gautney | Soldiers and guests filled Contingency Operating Site Marez’ Gym during the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd AAB, 3rd ID, Boxing Smoker Tournament. The two-night event held, Sept. 17-18, was the culmination of nearly three months of planning and coordination.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

09.24.2010

Story by Spc. Dustin Gautney 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

MOSUL, Iraq - Sweat starts to roll down your face, burning your eyes and clouding your vision. Suddenly a quick swoosh of your opponents jab buzzes by, as you quickly duck to avoid the impact. The roar of the crowd starts to fill air and your head; only surpassed by the pounding of your heart beat, as if it was an out of control bass drum. “Swoosh,” as your opponents swing just misses its mark again. You and your opponent start shuffling about the ring, as if a coordinated dance, as you both battle for positioning.

Then it happens, you see the opening you have been waiting for: a chink in your opponent’s armor. In that split second you take your shot. In that second you realize this could be it, this could be the second that determines who the victor is; or did you drop your guard in an attempt to take the victory, could the next second find yourself in celebration or on the mat, looking up at the celebration of your opponent? These questions, fears, doubts have been felt by thousands of boxers before, or specifically U.S. Army boxers, they have plagued and fueled fighters for nearly a hundred years of All-Army boxing.

For the U.S. Army, boxing has gone hand and hand for over a hundred years, fueled many Olympic gold medals, and many professional boxers began their careers fighting for their country in and out of the ring. This tradition was one that did not go by the way side for the Soldiers of the 2nd “Spartan” Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, even while deployed to Northern Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn.

“I was originally approached by Lt. Col. Thomas Williams, [1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery] about how during the nearly two years the current command has been with the brigade that we have never had a boxing tournament. Something that is pretty traditional with the Army,” said Master Sgt. Kippy Samuel, 1-9 FA, 2nd AAB.

The boxing competition, formally called the, “1-9 Boxing Smoker” which was held, Sept. 17-18, at Contingency Operating Site Marez’ Gym, in Mosul, Iraq, nearly did not happen, according to Samuel.

“Basically as soon as I came back from leave, three months ago, it became the mission to somehow make this event happen; the only problem was we did not have anything to work with: no facility, no boxers, no gear, not even a ring,” said the event’s coordinator.

“We were actually really lucky on how everything worked out,” said Samuel. “Staff Sgt. Michael Lane’s [1-9 FA] fiancé wrote a letter to the boxing gear company ‘Everlast’ about what we were trying to put together out here in Iraq for the soldiers. To our surprise the company donated everything from gear to even an entire boxing ring.”

The last hurdle for the event however was getting enough boxers for the event.

“Well, when we found out we were going to have the ring, and then use the COS Marez Gym for the event, we let the soldiers sign-up for the tournament,” Samuel said.

“The problem we ran into was many soldiers still have numerous missions that they run in support of operation New Dawn, so few soldiers from within the battalion alone had the time to train for such an event,” said Samuel. “Originally we only had 10 sign-up from within our own battalion, so that is when we made the call to open the tournament to not only the whole brigade, but anyone from both COS Marez, and neighboring COS Diamondback.”

The tournament quickly became a battlefield for battalion versus battalion competition, as well as an opportunity for non-U.S. Army participants, such as personal from the U.S. Air Force and Ugandan guards which defend the COS, to compete in the event.

“With all the different battalions coming out as well as people from all parts of both COS’, it truly became a base wide competition,” said Samuel. “The best part however, is the great crowd that came out to cheer on their unit’s and other unit’s fighters.”

With an attendance of nearly 500 soldiers, airmen, and civilians filling COS Marez’ Gym to capacity, none cheered more for a fighter then the competitions smallest, yet fiercest fighter, 1-9 FA’s very own, Spc. Michele Morado. As only one of four female contestants, Morado did not know she was going to fight until a couple of weeks before the fight.

“I originally signed up months ago, but then there were no other females who signed up, but then a couple of weeks ago I was asked if I still wanted to fight; so I said sure why not,” said Morado.

Having no boxing experience, never once sparing, Morado did not know how well she was going to do before entering the competition.

“The most I’ve done is a boxing work-out at the gym with the TV, I had no idea that I would win,” said Morado timidly, fresh from her victory by a TKO which lead to her female championship trophy.

“It was awesome to hear the crowd chanting your name, it really gets you going and next thing you know you are so focused on the fight; just in the zone,” said Morado.

While some fighters were experiencing their first spectator fight, others like 2nd Lt. Kevin Mullen, 2-3 Brigade Troop Battalion, 2nd AAB, relied on previous experience as a competitive Mixed Martial Arts fighter to lead to victory.

“I’ve been doing MMA since 2005, but it was still great to come here and box to keep building on my stand up fighting, but the entire event as a whole was just awesome,” said 2nd Lt. Mullen.

“It wasn’t too unfamiliar as far as the constant roar of the crowd, pretty similar to fighting MMA or playing college football; however the booing was new,” said 2nd Lt. Mullen jokingly of the 1-9 FA dominated crowd’s reaction to the rival battalion fighter.

“Really the whole event was great, with us about to finish a 12-month deployment it has been a fantastic event for everyone to come together, blow off some steam, and truly to have fun in a safe and well managed event,” said the evening light heavyweight champion. “The coordinators, the medical staff, everyone has done such a great job to make sure everything was done safely, while still being fun for the fighters and the spectators.”

To cap off the event, championship trophies were handed out to each weight classes champion as well as a closing statement from the 2nd AAB’s commander, Col. Charles E.A. Sexton.

“It really takes a lot of guts to come in here and throw hands,” said Sexton of the events participants.

As the festivities came to a close, soldiers begin migrating towards the exit and the ring scaffolding was torn down; mirroring the Spartan Brigades own deployment, so much so that Sexton’s last remarks ran true to many in attendance, “We’re almost home, so let us finish this [deployment] strong and everyone come home safe.”

• Date Taken: 09.24.2010
• Date Posted: 09.24.2010 08:33
• Story ID: 56894
• Location: MOSUL, IQ