Ring Dreams Following In His Family’s Footwork, Ben Berg Pursues A Boxing Career

When the tough guys first heard that Ben Berg was a boxer, they wanted to take him on.

At least that’s what they said around their friends.

Even the much bigger guys, however, were no-shows when Berg invited them to spar at Dogtown Boxing Gym.

“These were guys twice my size,” Berg said. “I said, ‘Sure,’ although what was the point?”

The point is, bragging about one’s fighting ability is different than actually climbing into the ring.

Berg, from Otis Orchards by way of Sagle, Idaho, knows what it’s like to cross the ropes and dance on the canvas.

Because of his performance at last year’s national tournament in Marquette, Mich., Berg is ranked sixth among 112-pounders by USA Boxing’s Junior Olympics ratings committee.

Berg no longer is 112 pounds, nor will he fight at nationals in the near future.

The 125-pounder, a sophomore at Falls Christian High School in Post Falls, would move up to the senior division if he entered nationals this year. Boys - make that men - nearly 10 years older could be his competition.

Coach (and cousin) Floyd Draine said Berg’s not ready for that company.

“He’s not strong enough to fight in that division,” said Draine, 26, a former three-time Idaho state champion boxer. “You don’t want to go in there and get your head knocked off. That would be the end of your career.

“What we’re going to do is build his strength up and give him some confidence.”

Berg is career-oriented, much in the mold of his late grandfather Carl, an ex-professional.

Many Bergs have strapped on the gloves. Ben’s father Jim, a teacher at Falls Christian, boxed in his younger days. Brothers Eric and Elby have come under Draine’s tutelage, and brother Jeremiah boxed at the Eagles.

Draine’s Dogtown club is unlike the other three boxing clubs in Spokane.

The ring is located in a woodstove-heated garage behind Draine’s trailer near Esmeralda Golf Course.

“I’m coaching 10 right now,” said Draine, 25. “We don’t have the best facilities, but we’re doing the best with what we have.”

Draine charges nothing to train fighters. He solicits contributions from area businesses to pay for trips to tournaments.

“If they work hard for me, I’ll make sure they go,” Draine said.

Berg has “messed around with” boxing from the time he was 6, but delayed climbing into the ring because of his father’s wishes.

Now Jim Berg has a grand time at Ben’s fights.

“My mom gets scared,” Ben said. “She doesn’t like to see her boys get knocked in the head.”

Berg’s worst shot came during a regional tournament. A blow to the head knocked him to his backside. Later he couldn’t remember hitting the canvas.

Berg said he overcame the fear of getting hurt after five fights. More intimidating than boxing, he thinks, are the trepidations many public school students endure because of drugs and gangs.

For that reason, Berg expects to stay at and graduate from Falls Christian. He doesn’t, however, plan to try out for any other FC sports.

“I’ve been out of boxing for a while because the school asked me to play some sports,” Berg said.

“I started at quarterback and wide receiver for the football team.

“But I’ve quit track to be here (at Dogtown).”