Tonight, I had a client over for his 82nd birthday over. His name is Fred.

While I help him lift weights and stay healthy, it’s been boxing that has made us friends.

Tonight our family celebrated his life over a home made meal, tequila for me, cognac for him.... and boxing.

Fred was born in Nazi Germany. Was entombed after British bombs struck his grandmas home. He was adopted by an American family and moved to the US. He served two tours as a combat veteran and won a Gold Star for his service.

He fought a little in the military and loved fight like Patterson Johansson and Ali Frazier. He’s felt there’s too many PPVs and no guys that really fight anymore. He stopped watching the sport after Tyson and some Lennox Lewis fights.

I’ve been showing him how he can watch. Texting him for every Fox and ESPN card and buying him a fire stick for the Apps to see all the fights. He’s re learning who is who and the weights. He reminds me there’s a lot more classes now.

Tonight he loved to see Gonzalez’s defense, and Kavaliauskas come from a losing position and keep up with the offense. He likes Tyson Fury and wants to order the PPV (teach me how to order that!) for the 26th.

And while I’ve had so much fun learning a different perspective from a veteran set of eyes, I’m reminded of how many fans of the sport that are out there that may need assistance in a new era on how to watch the sport they miss.

It was a boxing birthday for a Veteran. A hero. A good man that likes a stiff drink and a stiffer jab. And the whole family received the gift of sitting at home and uniting over the excitement that only a sport like boxing can bring.

End thread. Will try to get him on a podcast soon. Thanks for listening to my rambles.