The story below was written by Stripes sports writer Dave Ornauer, but I took the photos. The original story only contained one photo, but I shot it for use as a photo feature. I figured this was the best way to put these photos on display
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Sailor-turned-boxer Kevin Palmer |
Tokyo – Sparring session after sparring session, fight
after fight, the pain went on for Kevin Palmer.
The sailor-turned-boxer from Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, thought it was just a muscle pull, something he could work through, something that would go away with time. He certainly didn’t think it was something that would interfere with his dream of being the first active Navy sailor to hold a world boxing title.
But the pain turned out to be something that almost destroyed his boxing career.
Far from a mere muscle pull, Palmer was suffering from a herniated disc. His denial gave way to fear after his last Orient & Pacific Boxing Federation middleweight title defense last September. The pain was so great, he finally sought treatment.
“If I hadn’t stopped…it could have caused further
damage and I might not have been able to come back,” said Palmer, 35, a New
Yorker who returned from a 10-month layoff with a technical knockout Tuesday
over Chenrainowi Chuwatana of Thailand.
Sitting in a dressing room at Korakuen Hall before Tuesday’s fight, Palmer recalled the tough road back and how grateful he was to be able to step back in the ring.
“I look at it as an eye opener,” he said.