Women box stress, hostilities away

This article was originally published on 5/25/2006

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Student Terri Moss (left) and instructor Jackie Breitenstein use the slip bag in an all-female class at the Decatur Boxing Club.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Or a growling female charging at you with her fists wrapped in boxing gloves.

Start running.

At a boxing gym off College Avenue in Decatur, the nemesis isn’t really a human being. It’s stress. A group of women gather there regularly to throw punches and work up a good sweat in the name of fitness.

“We like to spit, ” said trainer Terri Moss, who has Madonna biceps. “I’m just joking. That’s one thing, you don’t have to behave ladylike.”

These women are a determined bunch. Recently, seven of them, ranging from the middle-aged to a teenager, devoted their entire weekend to a kind of boxing boot camp —- pummeling heavy bags, jumping rope and sparring before an audience. Then they dined on mesclun salad with poached salmon.

The all-women boxing program the Decatur Boxing Club offers is rare. Most of the participants started boxing only a few months ago. Now they pay $115 a month to slip on the padded gloves.

The unisex environment probably strengthens their confidence —- there are no Arnold Schwarzenegger types around to intimidate them.

The women lose weight, tone their muscles and learn to defend themselves.

And of course, there’s the stress relief. Remember the date who never called? Have a boss who just doesn’t get it? A mother-in-law?

Step right into the ring. Listen to Terri: “Right hook, left jab!” “Left shoulder, right shoulder!” Slip, slip!”

Moss, 40, squirts bottled water into their mouths —- just like on ESPN.

The women are enthusiastic. Lucinda Hastings is boxing, although she had open-heart surgery in March.

“I’m not afraid of getting hit in the face, ” said the 42-year-old banker.

And what would drive a high school student to a boxing boot camp?

“Boys. Not all of them, but most of them, ” said 16-year-old Raven Williams. “They lie!”

Then she pounded away.