Blazers' Frye finds boxing a tough foe

'Probably the hardest workout I've had in my whole life,' forward says

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Aug 9, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

L.E. BASKOW / THE PORTLAND TRIBUNE

Trail Blazer forward Channing Frye crashes to the canvas at the end of his first boxing lesson with trainer Michael Foster. Frye is learning the sport in part to help with the physical play in the NBA.

Channing Frye saunters into the boxing room at Matt Dishman Community Center Thursday afternoon, a giraffe in a world of pit bulls.

The 6-11, 245-pound power forward of the Trail Blazers is on hand for his first boxing lesson/workout with Michael Foster, who has worked as a coach and trainer at what is known as the Knott Street Boxing Club for six years.

You won’t see Frye in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko — or any other boxing opponent — any time soon. He is here on the recommendation of Portland assistant coach Maurice Lucas, plus his own thirst for adventure.

“I wanted to try a whole bunch of things this offseason,” says Frye, 25, who has made Portland his year-round home. “I don’t think I’ll ever box a real match. It’s more to get conditioning and strength for my arms and shoulders. It will help me battle and hold my position under the basket against the bigger guys.”

Frye isn’t aware that teammate Joel Przybilla has incorporated boxing into his workouts in past years. Frye’s companion Thursday is Chris Bowles, the Blazers’ director of player programs and a Jesuit High grad who boxed a little as a youngster growing up in Northeast Portland.

Bowles’ uncle, Jimmy “Bang Bang” Walker, a former boxer and community leader, boxed at Knott Street 50 years ago.

“Boxing is a sport that puts a premium on balance and calculating distance from your opponent,” says Bowles, who will go through a workout at the same time as Frye under the direction of another coach, J.C. Wade. “You have to be able to keep your opponent off-balance while still being in an offensive stance. You can’t box without being in peak condition. It also helps young men in terms of confidence and what happens when you mix it up on the basketball court.”

Boxing 101 is in session. Foster offers Frye immediate instruction in the ring, beginning with footwork, then adding a jab, a 1-2, a right uppercut and finally various combinations. Frye is a willing learner, smiling at his own mistakes, and the two seem to have an immediate chemistry.

The 50-something Foster grew up in East St. Louis and says he had seven professional fights. “Singing was my thing,” he says. He’s a full head shorter than Frye but significantly more full of body than he was when he fought at 138 pounds as a young man.

Foster is catching punches with a mitt and leading Frye through a series of exercises.

“This is your target for your 1-2 punch,” he says. “Your punches flow straight down your nose. Bam! Bam! ... Relax, relax. Don’t be so tense. Jab.”

“I hate not being good at something,” Frye says with a grin.

“Everything good takes some time,” Foster responds.

“Roll the shoulders ... step into it ... don’t hop, slide in ... pop, pop ... don’t lean over. Any time you do that, you’re leaning into a punch ... chin up ... don’t reach, stay right where you’re at. ... don’t cock it, either. ... pivot, don’t move those feet. There you go! ... let that front knee collapse a little bit ... speed ... don’t crouch ... speed! ... let the foot stay stationary. ... you have to snap — bam! — right back ... speed is what makes the fighter, not power. Speed and technique.”

Twenty-five minutes into the session, Frye is sweating.

“My upper body is getting tired, not my legs,” he says.

At 40 minutes, Frye bends over to take a breather and quick swig of water.

“It’s a whole new muscle group I’m using,” he says.

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