Young fighters go at it in the Mooresville "Brawl."
By BRENDA BARGER
DavidsonNews.net
MOORESVILLE – How lucky we are to live in the greater Charlotte area, where art museums and symphony orchestras compete for our time alongside NASCAR races and Christmas parades. Married to a native North Carolinian who always “thinks outside the box,” your correspondent has been on a “hot date” to see Shaquille O’Neal race 10 laps against Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Concord Speedway, on a “sticky date” to see Jello wrestling right around the corner in Cornelius. On Friday, it was a “knockout” of a date to the National Guard Armory in downtown Mooresville to join a standing-room-only crowd for an “Off the Street” boxing contest.
Labeled BRAWL, the amateurs-only contest is open to “tough men” and “tuff women,” ages 18-40, willing to slug it out for three one-minute rounds in hopes of earning a first place prize of $600, plus a trophy and title declaring you the “toughest and baddest” in your weight group.
The two-night event (continuing Saturday) is well organized, well run, and good, clean fun. Yes, really.
The boxers were well protected with gloves and head gear. The referee strictly enforced the rules. (A few contestants appeared to have some training, but most seemed to employ a strategy of random swinging.) Fans could buy water, nachos, popcorn or a T-shirt, and sit shoulder-to-shoulder on folding chairs with the muscled and the curious while cheering for their favorite “brawlers.”
A flier announced the no-entry fee contest was open to bouncers, bullies, bikers, backyard boxers, or anyone willing to duke it out for a few minutes. On Friday, judges on each side of the ring held up red or blue cards at the end of the allotted time declaring the competitor with the red or blue helmet the winner. Victors advanced to another round Saturday.
WANT TO GO?
The event is at the National Guard Armory, 720 N. Broad St., Mooresville. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the slugging begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door (kids under 12, $8). You will have lots of fun and something very different to talk about in the weeks to come.
