Weekly Interview, Jason Quirk, by Amanda Estes
By Amanda Estes
Staff Writer
Shortly after watching a boxing match on TV, Jason Quirk found himself in a beginner's meeting at the Portland Boxing Club.
"At first, I was really nervous just because I thought I was going to look goofy and everybody was going to make fun of me," he said during a recent interview.
Two years later, the recent Scarborough High School graduate and a novice welterweight, has nine fights under his belt and is preparing to box in an international Olympic-style amateur boxing event later this month. So is the reality of boxing anything like what we see on TV?
"Not really…on TV, they're a little bit more skilled than we are, or than I am," he said. "I'm still a novice so I'm nothing like what you see on TV."
Quirk's first fight was at last year's Portland, Oregon versus Portland, Maine boxing showdown. Not only was he entering a ring on the other side of the country, away from family and friends, but he also had to fight in front of a crowd of 800 people.
"It was really intense," he said. Intense or not, Quirk triumphed over his opponent in a close fight. "It was close, but we went back and my coach said he thought I won."
In an amateur event, Quirk said boxers fight three, two-minute rounds and scores are based on the number of connecting punches they land. The boxer with the most connecting punches wins the fight.
On June 23, Quirk will fight in the 2007 CANAM Challenge Cup Amateur Boxing event at the Stevens Avenue Armory in Portland. A fundraiser for the Portland Boxing Club, Quirk and team members Russell Lamour, Jason Ellis, Lisa Kuronya, Casey Kramlich, Liz Leddy, Jorge Abiague and Jesse Porter will get in the ring with a team of select Canadian boxers, mainly from Montreal.
Bobby Russo, owner of the Portland Boxing Club, said during a phone conversation on Tuesday, “As a rule, the team that they bring is very strong…big city teams just have more experience.” He said Canadian boxers tend to be “good technicians.”
From a coaching perspective, Russo said it is much easier to teach boxing techniques to someone who is an overall good athlete, which he said Quirk is. Russo said Quirk is strong, a quick learner and naturally has good speed in the ring.
Quirk said he has tried to make it to the club every weekday. The sessions usually include jumping rope, bag work and sparring in the ring. He also signed a contract in which he pledges to do cardio four times a week.
Jeff Quirk, Jason’s father said a lot of kids don’t pursue boxing because it requires a year’s worth of training before they can step into the ring. For Jason, however, it is a passion and a priority in his life.
“I enjoyed hitting the bag (and) everybody was really nice so I stuck with it,” he said.
According to Russo, his dedication has paid off.
“He’s a hell of a good novice,” Russo said. Next year, Quirk will enter the open class, which is made up of fighters, who have been in the ring for at least 10 fights. In a tournament, Russo said Quirk could be matched with a boxer who has 200 fights.
Quirk has already had experience facing off against boxers ten years his senior. At the 2006 Northeastern Regional Championships, where he earned two total knockouts, Quirk was paired with a 27-year-old male. While some fighters might be bigger or stronger than him, Quirk said he pays more attention to their technique and style.
“It all depends on the person, some people can be really good fighters (and) really tight, but then others can be the same age, but they’re wild.” Quirk said a wild fighter’s hooks come out of left field.
He may not pay attention to their size, but Jeff, takes notice when the bigger guys step into the ring.
“I notice it as a parent,” he said “Some of these guys got arms like Popeye on ‘em.”
In the United States, because Quirk, at the age of 17, is not considered a junior, he is eligible to fight anyone up to the age of 35. At the CANAM Cup, however, Canada’s rules will apply and Quirk will be considered a junior and will face fighters between the ages of 16 and 18.
Quirk said he has been training hard for the CANAM for the last month and he feels confident going in. After the event, he will take the summer off, as the other boxers will too, from regular training sessions at the club. He should have no trouble keeping up with his training at home, however, as the family recently added a boxing room to their home.
It is a much-deserved break for Quirk after a year of balancing boxing with homework, football and hockey. In the fall, Quirk will head to the University of Southern Maine, where he will likely major in athletic training while continuing to box. He said he is not sure what career he would like to pursue, but he said he thinks he would like to work at a high school.
Tickets for the CANAM Challenge Cup at the Stevens Ave. Armory on June 23 are available at Bruno’s Restaurant, located at 33 Allen Ave. in Portland. Ticket prices range from $15.00 to $50.00 per person. Doors and Concessions open at 6 p.m.
Russo urged fight fans to come out and see the event in the bigger, 2,000-seat venue. For more information about Portland Boxing Club, call 761-0975 or visit www.portlandboxingclub.org.
Staff Writer
Shortly after watching a boxing match on TV, Jason Quirk found himself in a beginner's meeting at the Portland Boxing Club.
"At first, I was really nervous just because I thought I was going to look goofy and everybody was going to make fun of me," he said during a recent interview.
Two years later, the recent Scarborough High School graduate and a novice welterweight, has nine fights under his belt and is preparing to box in an international Olympic-style amateur boxing event later this month. So is the reality of boxing anything like what we see on TV?
"Not really…on TV, they're a little bit more skilled than we are, or than I am," he said. "I'm still a novice so I'm nothing like what you see on TV."
Quirk's first fight was at last year's Portland, Oregon versus Portland, Maine boxing showdown. Not only was he entering a ring on the other side of the country, away from family and friends, but he also had to fight in front of a crowd of 800 people.
"It was really intense," he said. Intense or not, Quirk triumphed over his opponent in a close fight. "It was close, but we went back and my coach said he thought I won."
In an amateur event, Quirk said boxers fight three, two-minute rounds and scores are based on the number of connecting punches they land. The boxer with the most connecting punches wins the fight.
On June 23, Quirk will fight in the 2007 CANAM Challenge Cup Amateur Boxing event at the Stevens Avenue Armory in Portland. A fundraiser for the Portland Boxing Club, Quirk and team members Russell Lamour, Jason Ellis, Lisa Kuronya, Casey Kramlich, Liz Leddy, Jorge Abiague and Jesse Porter will get in the ring with a team of select Canadian boxers, mainly from Montreal.
Bobby Russo, owner of the Portland Boxing Club, said during a phone conversation on Tuesday, “As a rule, the team that they bring is very strong…big city teams just have more experience.” He said Canadian boxers tend to be “good technicians.”
From a coaching perspective, Russo said it is much easier to teach boxing techniques to someone who is an overall good athlete, which he said Quirk is. Russo said Quirk is strong, a quick learner and naturally has good speed in the ring.
Quirk said he has tried to make it to the club every weekday. The sessions usually include jumping rope, bag work and sparring in the ring. He also signed a contract in which he pledges to do cardio four times a week.
Jeff Quirk, Jason’s father said a lot of kids don’t pursue boxing because it requires a year’s worth of training before they can step into the ring. For Jason, however, it is a passion and a priority in his life.
“I enjoyed hitting the bag (and) everybody was really nice so I stuck with it,” he said.
According to Russo, his dedication has paid off.
“He’s a hell of a good novice,” Russo said. Next year, Quirk will enter the open class, which is made up of fighters, who have been in the ring for at least 10 fights. In a tournament, Russo said Quirk could be matched with a boxer who has 200 fights.
Quirk has already had experience facing off against boxers ten years his senior. At the 2006 Northeastern Regional Championships, where he earned two total knockouts, Quirk was paired with a 27-year-old male. While some fighters might be bigger or stronger than him, Quirk said he pays more attention to their technique and style.
“It all depends on the person, some people can be really good fighters (and) really tight, but then others can be the same age, but they’re wild.” Quirk said a wild fighter’s hooks come out of left field.
He may not pay attention to their size, but Jeff, takes notice when the bigger guys step into the ring.
“I notice it as a parent,” he said “Some of these guys got arms like Popeye on ‘em.”
In the United States, because Quirk, at the age of 17, is not considered a junior, he is eligible to fight anyone up to the age of 35. At the CANAM Cup, however, Canada’s rules will apply and Quirk will be considered a junior and will face fighters between the ages of 16 and 18.
Quirk said he has been training hard for the CANAM for the last month and he feels confident going in. After the event, he will take the summer off, as the other boxers will too, from regular training sessions at the club. He should have no trouble keeping up with his training at home, however, as the family recently added a boxing room to their home.
It is a much-deserved break for Quirk after a year of balancing boxing with homework, football and hockey. In the fall, Quirk will head to the University of Southern Maine, where he will likely major in athletic training while continuing to box. He said he is not sure what career he would like to pursue, but he said he thinks he would like to work at a high school.
Tickets for the CANAM Challenge Cup at the Stevens Ave. Armory on June 23 are available at Bruno’s Restaurant, located at 33 Allen Ave. in Portland. Ticket prices range from $15.00 to $50.00 per person. Doors and Concessions open at 6 p.m.
Russo urged fight fans to come out and see the event in the bigger, 2,000-seat venue. For more information about Portland Boxing Club, call 761-0975 or visit www.portlandboxingclub.org.
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