Young boxers: before and after the fight

Oleg Sharan writes: "One way or another, but in my blog I touch on the topic of professions. Which, as they say, are all good, choose to taste. Does everyone consider a full-fledged profession, for example, a ballerina or a boxer? And if the first one retires at the age of 35-40, then fighters are often taken out of the ring earlier. Boxing is considered to be a real men's sport, from the series "every kid should be able to stand up for himself." People like Mohammed Ali, Kostya Tszyu, are idols of more than one generation of boys from the outskirts, hungry but stubborn. To be one's own, to be able to fight for yourself and the girl, finally, to have the right hobby from the point of view of society — all this contributes to the popularization of boxing. Hollywood also does not sleep, periodically releasing masterpieces like "Fight Club", after which even dull and gray office rats reached for gloves. It is no secret that for the mass audience boxing is a spectacular and beautiful sport, quite rightly included in the Olympic types of competitions. Some even see a kind of choreography in the circling of boxers next to each other. But do not forget about tens of thousands of broken noses, blood, brain damage and other related consequences of this spectacle. That is why some viewers see the primal beauty of power in boxing, while others see barbarism and cruelty unworthy of the 21st century."

So the Danish photographer with the Russian name Nikolai Howalt decided to take a closer look at boxing and those who are in it.

It is not surprising if you know that Nikolai himself is a boxer in the past.

141 athletes were filmed for the project before and after the match.

Having decided not to involve famous athletes in his project, who would bring an entertaining spirit and staged images, the photographer turns to novice athletes.

We see men, women, children. The latter are interesting. Boxing makes them more mature, and this can be seen in the pictures after the fight.

Someone is already showing animal strength, which will only increase as they grow older, someone looks scared and perplexed.

For some, boxing will become a life and profession, for others it will frighten and force them to improve in other disciplines. But for now, both are together.

There — in the ring, where it is still possible to simulate blows not in full force and call the coach. And tomorrow the coach will be gone and you will arrange your own rumble in the concrete jungle.

The book "78 Boxers" will be released in Denmark on August 28.