Crystal Chambers: A New Beginning
They say life begins at forty. But for Crystal Chambers, her boxing life began at forty-two.
This coming weekend, Chambers will make her professional debut in Florida against fellow debutant Shamiah Jones.
It is very much a story and a journey inspired by her late father, Jon Chambers. A talented amateur who once beat the great Donald Curry and came agonisingly close to representing America in the Olympics. But her father had one fight that he couldn't quite win. His long battle with his demons eventually took everything. Including his life. The fight with drugs was always a losing battle despite multiple efforts to beat that brutal addiction. Those demons cut short his boxing career. His life also.
There were always regrets that Jon Chambers didn't achieve what his talents warranted. A dream to fight as a professional was never realised. But that dream will live on with his only child.
Crystal Chambers was taught how to box by her father. Chambers was only eleven when she was shown how to protect herself. But those skills were kept very much in hibernation until very recently.
The family life consumed her. But once the last of her children had started adult life, Chambers wanted something more. Her father always told her boxing would always be there. He was right.
"Boxing is all I have left of my dad. I've been pulling myself out of tough places since I was a child, and that has shown me that I am built to last." Chambers told me earlier this month. Words that signify why she is making that maiden ring walk in Florida against her fellow American. There have been hard emotional times of late.
"A tough time in my life when I experienced a lot of loss. When I was at the very bottom of the ocean of pain and had no real reason to swim up again; boxing was what compelled me to once again face everything and rise." Chambers says of her recent pain. Boxing, a type of therapy. Something that will allow her to forget. Something that will also allow her to remember. Something that builds harmony. In many ways, it is the perfect fit. At the perfect time.
Chambers will be managed by boxing royalty. Jackie Kallen will be at the helm. Kara Ro will train her. Solid foundations for her new beginning.
There will be plenty of emotion. The sounds of Space Oddity by David Bowie will echo around the Motorcity Casino Hotel. It was his favourite song. More memories of her late father. The boots that she will proudly wear on her way to the ring carry even more meaning.
His only child carrying on his memory. You expect at some point, the tears will flow. A winning start. A post-fight interview. How could they not?
Chambers will undoubtedly be inspired by the memories of her father. But there are dreams of her own. The sport has grabbed hold of her. The story was only supposed to be one fight. A remembrance of many things. But now she wants a little more. Thoughts of titles and beyond are already there. But that first fight will be about the present, with a little reminder of the past.
This Friday, in that fighting city of Detroit, Chambers will get to do what her father didn't get to do. You sense it will be a night of high emotion. Of course, she will want to end the night with her arm raised in victory. But just by getting this far, Crystal Chambers has already won.
Throughout the evening, Chambers will be thinking of why the gloves have been laced up. A little glance to the sky will follow at some point. Father and daughter will be together once again.
'Dads don't die; they just take the best seat in the sky to watch over us.'
No comments:
Post a Comment