There was a time when Jason Quirk was a three-sport athlete at Scarborough High School – football in the fall, hockey in the winter and lacrosse in the spring.
The 16-year-old junior still plays football and hockey, but now he concentrates on science in the spring – the sweet science of boxing.
“I’ve always liked contact sports, so I figured this is the most contact you can get,” said Quirk, who won his first fight April 27.
Jason started working out at the Portland Boxing Club about a year ago after his dad, Jeff, discovered the place while driving around town working for Central Maine Power.
“It’s an old burnt-out mill building is what it is. On the big stack on the side it just says ‘Boxing,’ and it was one of those things that I just thought would be great for Jason,” said Jeff. “I work in town, so I saw it all the time and it was kind on my list of things to look into.”
Eventually, he did.
At first, Jeff stayed with Jason during his workouts and worked out himself as well. He was driving Jason to the club every night anyway, so it made sense. Plus, he wanted to see what the place was all about.
“I didn’t know anything about the club and, at that time, I didn’t know (trainer) Bobby Russo or anybody,” said Jeff.
It didn’t take long, though, for him to realize that he’d discovered a gem in that burnt-out mill building.
“It’s been amazing for what it’s done for him because when he started boxing he was a sophomore, and that year he made varsity football and we just saw his whole confidence in everything he did really step up immensely,” Jeff said.
Jason continued with football and hockey this year, but dropped lacrosse so he could train at the club with Russo five nights a week for two to three hours a night.
“We start out with 15-minute jump rope and then do mirror work for two rounds, do heavy bag for four rounds, double end bag for four rounds,” said Jason. “Then we do uppercut bag for two rounds, speed bag two rounds, bob-and-weave for two rounds.
“He’s a great teacher. He just picks out little things that a lot of instructors would miss like just keeping your arms up or making sure you push off your foot with your jab. He just critiques every little thing so that you’re at your top performance when you’re fighting.”
Jason’s hard work was rewarded when he was officially accepted onto the Portland Boxing Club team about a month ago. He traveled with the squad to Portland, Ore., for his first sanctioned bout last week.
“It was actually kind of a hard fight because I’m used to sparring with better people at our gym,” said Jason, who fought as a welterweight (152 pounds). “He was kind of a wild fighter, so it was kind of hard to get used to his style of fighting. But towards the third round I was able to see when his punches were coming and it was getting a little bit easier for me.”
Jason will fight again in June when the team travels to Canada, and he’s already thinking even further into the future.
“I definitely would like to pursue this,” he said. “My plan is to stay local for college so I can continue to box.”
Jason still has a few things to learn before he turns pro. In Oregon, he got confused after his fight, amidst all the cigar smoke that was being created by the 580 fans in the arena.
“(The judge) said, ‘Winner, with the black trunks on,’ and I forgot I had the black trunks on so I was a little disappointed, and then he raised my hand.”
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