Editor's note: Phillip Pappas and Brandon Larvadain were first profiled in The State News on Dec. 6, 2006.
Phillip Pappas' newest injury was a fluke.
He had spent months recovering from rotator cuff surgery on his shoulder. Slowly, he made his way back into the ring at Lansing's Crown Boxing Club.
But Thursday — less than a week before his first fight in 13 months, which was supposed to be today — Pappas slipped on the ice outside his East Lansing apartment, and a dull pain shot through the arm he had previously injured.
"It's definitely a setback," he said. "I don't think I'll be ready to fight. My arm's not quite ready."
Pappas, a nursing junior, said he'll have to take it day by day so he doesn't risk another injury.
"I'm completely paranoid about my shoulder," the 21-year-old said. "It only has one more shot till I have to quit boxing."
With today's fight in St. Paul, Minn., uncertain, Pappas said his return to the boxing ring could come on St. Patrick's Day in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Also on Pappas' fighting itinerary is the Golden Gloves — which is what Pappas needs to win to fulfill his Olympic dreams.
The Golden Gloves, a national amateur boxing tournament, begins April 27 in Knoxville, Tenn. There, about 6,000 amateur boxers will compete for coveted spots on the U.S. Olympic Team.
"He should have a real good chance," said coach Ali Easley, who has trained the 21-year-old for two and a half years as part of the MSU Boxing Club.
Until the injury last week, Pappas underwent months of rigorous daily training in preparation for the Golden Gloves state tournament in Grand Rapids, which runs from March 30 to April 6.
He ran five miles each day, swam a mile and regularly weight trained, on top of two-hour boxing sessions five times a week.
Since his surgery, Pappas has moved down in weight class.
The 5-foot-10-inch boxer's ideal fighting weight is 152 pounds, so he's trying to lose weight. What helps is eating more sustaining foods that don't leave him hungry, such as oatmeal or the occasional dish of spaghetti for breakfast.
Fighting with Pappas in Grand Rapids will be fellow boxing club teammate, Brandon Larvadain.
Larvadain, 22, shares Pappas' Olympic dreams.
"Right now, I'm just training for that and taking some exhibition fights here and there," said the packaging senior, who was runner-up in his weight class at December's LBC State Tournament in Traverse City.
But if an unforeseeable event — such as another injury — ends their careers in the ring, both men have back-up plans.
Larvadain will graduate in May with a packaging degree.
Pappas, who plans to become a nurse, said he also could see himself as a boxing coach.
"The discipline, the lifestyle it can give to people is so important," Pappas said.
