Chess Boxing - Brain Meets Brawn

Normally, documentary-like segments on ESPN are forgettable. Its a time to grab a quick snack, get something to drink, or take a quick nap. They are on par, though not as bad, as the sappy and overly-nostalgic segments run during the Olympics, where an over the hill announcer, like Jim Gray, describes the history of a sport or the background of someone competing. Its very nauseating. So when another one came up on sportscenter, I started to grab the remote and find out whats on HBO (which recently has been a movie about some bloody crusade of man against in-bred mutant, starring a Steve Nash look a-like, especially after he received a nasty gash on his face, and his shotgun and butcher knife).

I was close to turning when Jeremy Schapp mentioned the phrase Chess Boxing. Chess Boxing? My first thought was of a real-life chess game, where people would represent each piece and then fight each other. The game would be decided based on 1)chess strategy and 2)if your pawn/rouke/knight could kicked the shit out of your opponent's pieces.

Unfortunately, what I imagined was not the case. Chess boxing involves rounds of both chess and boxing, simply stated. Participants play speed chess for 4 minutes, then box for 2 minutes, and this repeats another 11 times. One minute breaks between rounds allows the board to be removed from the ring and for players to put on their gloves. After a few rounds of getting punched in the face, I would imagine the ability to think and play chess decreases a little.

Chess Boxing exists mainly in Britain -- Lennox Lewis plugs this hybrid sport and I assume, also competes (check out the website for the world boxing organization). I don't imagine he loses at all, since he is an intelligent guy and one of the best heavyweight boxers of all-time. It would be impossible to focus on chess when you have a 6-5 tree trunk sitting a foot away from you, thinking about the amount of pain he will inflict. Boxing is the pinnacle of sports to begin with -- it requires strength, flexibility, quick thinking, and planning. To add boxing to this spectacular sport is a little much, but I wouldn't mind watching a fight/match.

On a similar note I am looking forward to watching the repeat of the Mayweather/De La Hoya on HBO this upcoming saturday. Even though I've heard the outcome, I still want to watch these two champion fighters take each other down.