Professional boxing is radically different these days.

When I was a kid and young adult, certain fights were so anticipated and became legendary. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran. Thomas Hearns vs. Marvin Hagler. That’s just to name a few.

We’d travel to facilities showing those bouts live on closed circuit television. There was such a feeling of excitement among the audience. The sport was truly special.

Today, I could not name one world boxing champion. There are so many divisions, so many organizations, so many champs. Nary a one comes to mind for me.

That’s a shame, I suppose, but the professional side of the sport has simply gone sour through the years. Pro boxing has nowhere near the national appeal it once had in this country.

But boxing itself?

It still has a meaningful place in society — quite meaningful, actually.

Check out the amateur boxing show in the Butler Cubs gym Saturday night and you will get the picture.

Butler Cubs boxing and other amateur organizations like it have been around for decades. While the Cubs have sent a few boxers on to the pro ranks — most notably Brian Minto, who went on to fight for the world cruiserweight title and is a member of the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame — that is not its purpose.

The Cubs boxing program gives kids a sense of purpose. It provides some an escape from a troubled lifestyle, others a place to get into physical shape, still others a place to safely vent hostilities.

Don Spinetti, the Cubs boxing manager, has run the facility for decades and is a member of the County Hall of Fame himself. Bill Wolfe has been training fighters there for years, including his own sons.

Courts have referred some youths to the Cubs gym because the facility and its staff offer kids a positive atmosphere and provides a vehicle for them to straighten out their lives: Put on a pair of gloves and get in the ring.

They skip rope. They pound the speed bag and the heavy bag. They do some sparring in the ring.

Many of these kids never wind up competing in an actual amateur match. They gain from the experience regardless.

Saturday night, seven Cubs boxers will step into the ring for three-round bouts against amateurs of equal size and ability from other clubs preaching similar values. Some will be making their amateur debuts.

They will be fighting in front of a loud, enthusiastic and supportive crowd. They will receive a positive rush of adrenaline they will never forget, win or lose.

Very few Cubs boxers have any inclination of turning pro down the road. They are turning their lives in the right direction.

Professional boxing may be fading.

Boxing at this level remains very worthwhile — and beneficial.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle

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