My wife and I working things out...
I am not a boxer. I am a fan of the sport, but I have lost all athletic ability to drugs and alcohol in my 20s and 30s. You see, I chose to be a comedian instead.
I wrote in my introduction how I started in Chicago doing improv. From there, after many years of "honing my craft" (drinking and being an idiot), I moved with my wife to be a part of the Second City in Las Vegas in 2006.
While we were there, the promoter of our show was also working with Top Rank boxing. For those not in the know, Top Rank is a boxing promotion company which has worked with everyone from Muhammed Ali to Manny Pacquiao.
We only did our shows at night. Who wants to see comedy at 8am? Our promoter asked if we wanted to make a little extra money helping him with boxing during the day. We're not stupid.
Our job sounds easy enough. Basically what we do is confirm and make credentials for the press and other "special" people. Then we make sure the venue is set up correctly, the press and, let's say, networks like HBO have the seating and space they need. We also make sure everything works out for the press conferences and the weigh in, before handing out the credentials on fight night.
Easy, right?
This is the "Press Pit." Nice and organized, right?
Well, in all reality my wife and her friend/boss do most of it. I do the very most basic stuff. I do it just so I can watch the fights.
Here I am next to the ring at a Pacquiao fight.
It's been pretty awesome. I've gotten to travel around the US and even to China and Malaysia. I've met some of the greatest boxers of my lifetime and even the random celebrity (50 cent was all smiley and acted like we were old pals.)
Looks like I took a wrong turn in MSG.
I'll post some of my past credentials and thought on the upcoming circus match between Mayweather and McGregor in a future post.
BTW, we still do comedy.