Here are some of the fight challenges that Craig has received:
From: Tyler R.
To: craigiepops@hotmail.com
Subject: Looking for a Fighter
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2006 19:09:58 -0400
Howdy,
I must say I’m rather intrigued by your idea... I’d be quite interested in stepping into the ring with you. I’m 24, 6’2, and somewhere over 300lbs. I’m your classic computer geek and that’s why I think it would be interesting. I’m also missing some bone in the back of my head from brain surgery as a teen... nothing to be fretted about but it adds to the excitement for the audience.
Looking forward to hearing back from you,
Tyler
From: "Lorraine S."
To:
Subject: Drink first - punch later...
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2006 08:51:37 -0400
As I read the piece in today’s Star, my first thought was ‘man, I’ll fight you. I’ll hit you with the force of a woman who is still battling her ex-husband 8 years after the divorce...’
But no, this is about you, not me. And it became rapidly apparent that you need to fight a guy, preferably one who tapes his knuckles before he goes ten rounds on the keyboard every morning.
And yet, what role could a mere columnist play? That’s right - a reduced role for a lesser scribbler. I write two weekly columns for the Torstar owned Hamilton Spectator (hold your applause - syndication is underway). The unlikely combination of something called The Motherlode on Tuesdays, and the cover of the Wheels section each Thursday with a column called Power Shift.
I do radio; I do television; I get nominated for awards; I’ve been writing less than three years; I could get you great publicity out here in the land of the rednecks - everywhere west of Toronto, where they don’t just read about fighting, and there isn’t a metrosexual in sight.
If you want to sell some books out this way, put me in the ring. Even if I just hold up a large sign that says ‘Duck.’ I’ll get you radio and TV time out here - yeah, I’m that beloved. And that annoying.
Here’s the website - www.lorraineonline.ca
Take care,
Lorraine
From: "Claire H."
To:
Subject: Still taking challenges?
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:35:52 -0400
OK, I know I'm a bit late to this party but I saw excerpts from your blog on the Star website today, and in my defense I was out of town for a while. Are you still looking for a fight? I am not at all in your weight class, and also I have very little experience, but I do have some experience and a whole lot of attitude, for what that is worth.
You will probably not want to fight me. I know this. You may in fact think that it costs me nothing to make this challenge, because it is so unlikely that it will be taken up. However, please believe I am completely serious. I think you have a wonderful idea here and I would like to be a part of it. And I'll do my best to pummel you in the spirit you deserve.
I am 5'6", 130lbs, 31 years old and female. I've been taking boxing classes for just over a year now. I don't train as often as I should but I'm ramping up right away in case you accept my challenge. I spar with others in my class (men and women, most of them much bigger & better than me) so I have taken some sporting blows but few serious punches. I am certain you would kick my ass but that isn't really the point for me. I would be quite happy if I could pull a George Chuvalo and just stay standing for the full four rounds. You didn't mention in your blog whether you would consider fighting (a) a woman or (b, and more to the point) someone much, much smaller. I understand some fighters are very unwilling to fight uneven matches so I will understand if you are not interested. I am also not sure whether you are actually a fighter, from your posts—have you any boxing experience, or are you more of a Fight Club parking-lot bar-brawl kind of guy? (Which would be scarier for me to fight? Not sure!)
What would you get out of it? The absolute weirdness factor of fighting a chick, I suppose. Certainly a lot of publicity. What would I get out of it? Again, publicity. (I have just finished writing a book, which is not about boxing, but does contain some boxing scenes, and I need to bring it to the attention of a good publisher or agent, and while I am also taking the orthodox route of writing query letters and things, I absolutely could not resist the idea of putting my fists behind it.)
One way or another I will certainly be coming out to see you fight, and also reading your books. I greatly enjoy fights, books, books about fights, writers who fight, and also people with innovative publicity ideas.
Yours,
Claire H.
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