Tinker boxer scores TKO in first bout Published July 23, 2010 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Russell Harding said he just wanted to see what it was like. He had trained unofficially for a year and officially since February, but, he had never actually boxed in a match. On July 10, he not only competed in his first match, but won by a technical knockout. At 6-feet-3-inches tall and 213 pounds, Harding is a petty officer second class assigned to the Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron SEVEN in the Navy's Strategic Communications Wing ONE. Outside the ring, he is studying to be a flight engineer, but inside, he is making a name for himself and shattering traditional boxing stereotypes. "Russell started as a novice, but his determination has brought him to fight open-class fighters," said Gualberto Suarez, Tinker boxing coach. "He is at the gym every day, always giving 200 percent, and always striving to be his best." The 23-year-old Harding, a native of Ossining, N.Y., grew up learning martial arts and continues the hobby in his Navy career. At his last assignment in Japan, he met an amateur boxer. The two began working out together and Harding said he learned how to correctly wrap his hands and hit a heavy bag without breaking his hands. But, after a year, Harding was reassigned to Tinker. Within months Harding found the Reserve Road gym, which he calls the "boxing gym," and began working with Suarez, a coach since 1997. Considered a heavyweight, Harding said his goal is to be faster. The faster he is, the less likely he'll get hit. To increase his speed, Harding endures strenuous workouts -- wearing gloves with two-and-a-half-pound weights in each one and a double mouthpiece to make it harder for him to breathe, and ultimately work harder. "During training I take every step to make myself faster. If my coach told me to hold my breath underwater for five minutes because it might make it harder for the guy to hit me, I'd do it," he said. "I do it because I feel the other guy is working harder than me." Leading up to his first bout, Harding said he worked out two hours each day doing shadow boxing, combinations and foot work, throwing punches and hitting a heavy bag and speed bag. Outside of the gym, he ran for at least an hour a day and made sure he did up to 400 sit-ups. "It's fun, but it's still a fight. As much fun as you have, you can still get hurt," he said. "But, when you're in there with someone you know has put in the work that you have put in, it's better than words. It tells a lot about yourself when you're in a ring fighting another person." Finally, the day came when Harding and Suarez knew Harding was ready for a fight. On July 10, the team went to the Tulsa Select Hotel and Convention Center. Harding competed against Romero Vidal, a 23-year-old heavyweight. "He was way shorter than me," Harding said, remembering his opponent. The fight was over in two rounds. "His corner stopped the fight," Harding said. "I had already knocked him down once and he stopped defending himself. The ref stepped in and said that was it, he wouldn't be able to defend himself anymore." Harding's hard work paid off and he proved he wasn't a stereotypical boxer. "A lot of people think boxers are just brutes -- dumb guys who all they know how to do is hit something. And that might have been true for a long time, but boxing takes mental capacity. It's like a chess game. "You fake a jab to get right hook. You'll sacrifice getting hit to get inside and make another hit," Harding said. Harding said his next fight won't be until September. Due to his class schedule and a commitment to slim down to make the cruiserweight class, he said he needs to take time off and prepare. After all, boxing is still a hobby. Other Tinker boxers will compete in a competition July 24 in Mustang. For more information, call 734-5607.