Jonathan Ames
Monday, July 16, 2007
Readings, News, and Performances
http://www.jonathanames.com/
On Tuesday, July 24th at 8 p.m. at Gleason's Gym, 77 Front Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn, I will engage in exhibition boxing match against Craig Davidson (http://www.craigdavidson.net/). I am doing this to help promote Davidson's novel, The Fighter, and because I must be nuts.
To see a short promo-film about the match by Jennifer Prediger, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3AlikSn9sM
How this came about: Davidson's publisher, Soho Press, challenged me a few months ago and said that the fight would take place on a pier alongside the Hudson River as part of a night of amateur fights called "Rumble by the River." The combination of being challenged by a publishing house and a chance to box outdoors by the river, as the sun set, was too tempting and so I said yes.
Recently, though, I was disqualified from "Rumble by the River" for being too old. I'm 43 and Craig Davidson is 31, and there can't be more than a ten-year age difference in a sanctioned amateur bout. So now we're having an exhibition bout, as part of a book party for The Fighter, and this will take place, as I just mentioned, at the legendary boxing gym, Gleason's, and you can come for FREE. There is no cover-charge.
In 1999, I fought David "Impact Addict" Leslie and nine days before the fight I broke my nose while sparring, and then had the nose rebroken during the fight in the second round. This time I'm wearing a Hannibal Lecter-like mask and the nose should be safe, though Davidson's fight name is "The Crippler," so the rest of my body could be in danger.
My fight name is somewhat less intimidating. I dubbed myself "The Herring Wonder" back in 1999 and see no reason to come up with a new sobriquet. I recently went to Russ and Daughter's fish-shop on Houston Street and loaded up on herring, the absorption of which is an essential part of my training regimen.
Also, I have been working out at Gleason's with an excellent instructor, Grant Seligson. Feel free to contact him at grantsel@earthlink.net if you're looking to box or simply get in shape; his rates are reasonable and he's a wonderful person. A few friends have helped me with my training and we call our gatherings "Camp Herring."
I suggest coming a little early to the party on the 24th, so that you get a good seat. Miss Saturn (http://www.misssaturn.com/), the hoola-hoopist, will spin her rings in the ring, and Patrick Bucklew (http://www.themangina.com/) and his wife Valmonte Sprout will be the card girls. There will be an after-party at Rebar, 147 Front Street. If you want to come dressed in costume, I think that will add to the chaos and absurdity of the event.
To get to Gleason's, take the F train to York Street (first stop in Brooklyn) and then walk down the hill to Front Street and find your way to 77 Front Street. You can also take the A or C trains to High Street (also the first stop in Brooklyn) and walk down a different hill to Front Street.
I think that's everything . . . One more thing, here's a piece I wrote about my boxing career for McSweeney's: http://mcsweeneys.net/links/ames/boxing.html
all the best,
Jonathan Ames
PS Tale of the Tape:
Crippler
Height: 6'1. Weight: 162. Age: 31.
Herring
Heigh: 5'10 1/2. Weight: 156. Age: 43.
