Boxer reaches beyond ring

Boxers are, to say the least, an unusual lot. Anyone whose idea of competition is to strip themselves of the idea of teammates, teamwork and protection, save for a pair of eight ounce gloves and a cup, and then beat their opponent about the head and shoulders until one or the other is unconscious or declared unfit to continue-well let's just say they're tweaked slightly different from the rest of us. In this strange world of unusual competitors, Paris Alexander, 31, 1986 graduate of SF State, stands apart from the rest.

What sets Alexander apart from his cohorts is not the fact that he is a world ranked contender for the lightweight title, or the fact that he graduated from SF State, but that he graduated with a degree in psychology and now works as a behavioral therapist with severely developmentally disabled senior citizens at the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House.

"When I was 17, my high school sweetheart broke up with me and I had all this rage that I didn't know what to do with, so I figured 'I better do something before I get a gun and shoot someone in the leg.' So I found this boxing gym where someone could just walk in off the street and learn how to fight, so that's what I did," Alexander said."
Alexander's insights extend beyond the ring and into the future. "My mama told me not to put all my eggs in one basket. Even though I love boxing, I know it won't last forever and I want to have a decent life when it's over. I love working with the people I work with now-they're the real fighters, even with their handicaps. It may take them a half an hour to tie their shoes in the morning, but everyday they get up and give it their all."

As part of his job, Alexander teaches classes in stretching, flexibility and relaxation in which he takes the seniors through guided meditations after they have done gentle exercises. "I learned the guided meditations from taking classes in yoga. I was wound up pretty tight and had trouble falling asleep at night, so my girlfriend at the time convinced me to try yoga. I found it helpful, so I try to apply it to the classes that I teach."

Alexander also takes disabled senior citizens on outings in the community.
"They don't get a chance to go out very much, so we like to take them bowling so they can have some fun, or take them to the park so they can just sit and relax and get some fresh air."

It's evident that Alexander cares for these people beyond just a professional capacity. "They're the disenfranchised. Part of the have-nots. When we're out in society, most people turn away and don't even look at them. It hurts to see it."

Whatever pains Alexander, he has a chance to take it out on his opponents in the ring. His sparring is accentuated by the hissing sounds of his slashing jabs which are punctuated by a heavy thud at the end. "I love boxing. I call it a lovely violent modern ballet. It's like a chess match. You're always trying to figure out what the other guy's going to do so you can hit him without getting hit back."

At 31, Alexander hears his professional clock ticking and weighs it against his post-boxing career. "I want to go back to school and get a Ph.D. in psychology, but I only have so many years to be a world-class boxer, so I've put school on hold for now until I've finished with my boxing career. But right now I want to concentrate on fighting. It's been fifty years since San Francisco had a boxing champion. I'm a native son, I was born in S.F. General. I want to bring a title home to San Francisco. Right now I'm the only world-ranked contender in the city." Alexander is ranked 11th in the North American Boxing Federation.

The notoriety and glory are one thing to Alexander, but he said most important are the opportunities they bring. "What boxing gives to me is a chance to reach young people. As I've gotten higher up in the rankings, I've been asked to speak to kids about staying off drugs and out of the gangs. Any way I can help kids is something that I really enjoy doing, because kids have got it so tough today. Anything I can do to help-it's a real honor to me."

World class rankings can be somewhat of a double-edged sword. Alexander hasn't had a fight since January 28. His manager, Sonny Marson, said they don't want to fight "just anybody" and put their ranking in jeopardy. On the other hand, those with a higher ranking feel the same way. Alexander was slated to fight for the world championship in the lightweight division last July, but the other fighter seemed to lose interest and enthusiasm-the deal fell through.

Then last month while sparring in the gym, Alexander injured his right arm. The doctors think it might be tendonitis. Whatever it is, it is testing his patience completely. "The waiting's the toughest part. Seeing my ranking slip down and not to be able to do anything about it. We had to turn down a fight in L.A. last Tuesday. But it'll turn around-it's got to. We've been working 12 years to get a shot at the title. Now it's within reach. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We'll get our fight."

[ back to Golden Gater Online August 31, 1995 ]

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