As mean as those guys were, and in spite of the fact that there were a couple of really nasty ones, I think their hearts were in the right place and they genuinely wanted us to do well. I'll never forget Bro O'Connor grinning and saying "Keep yer guard up, keep yer guard up" over and over as he slugged my gut and rung my bell with his fists. I thought I was a pretty tough kid, but the pounding I got that day made me realise I had a lot to learn about fighting.
