By Andy Philpot
Bear Facts Media
Mena High School Sophomore Brayden Falkener may have only started boxing a little over seven months ago, but his young competitive boxing career is currently standing at 2-0 after a victory that past Saturday night. Falkner competed in the Josua McBee Memorial Boxing Show in Mena this past Saturday, May 1, which was an event that featured 19 separate boxing matches at the First Baptist Church fellowship hall. The 16-year old Falkner defeated Desmond Robinson, also 16 years old from Pine Bluff.
After first taking up boxing approximately seven and half months ago, Falkner experienced his first official competitive boxing match in March, which took place in Little Rock at a Diamond Rock Promotions boxing event. Falkner’s first match was against an opponent from Kentucky, and Falkner earned his first victory that night.
According to Falkner, he’s always enjoyed cardio activities, and he used to focus on cross country and track events through the school. He stated that when the COVID-19 pandemic hit last spring, it reduced his opportunities to do competitive running initially. In an effort to balance the time he spent indoors with virtual learning, he would take runs down the road for exercise, but he began seeking something else to give him cardio exercise, but also be competitive again. With the approval of his grandmother, he was able to begin boxing and be part of a sport he had long been interested in.
Falkner is part of the Defenders Boxing Club, in Mena, which is led by Richard and Jeremiah Hexamer.
“One of things I like about boxing is that it’s an independent sport, so it’s all up to me to train, and if I win or lose, that’s on me,” Falkner said. “I’m enjoying getting better by the week, and I really like learning new things.”
While Falkner doesn’t have his next boxing match officially scheduled yet, he plans on pursuing more boxing events in the future.