shadowboxing
performing the actions of boxing (e.g. punching, kicking, bobbing, weaving) alone without an opponent or punching bag
Coltrane
John Coltrane, an African-American jazz saxophonist who achieved fame as a talented musician and composer.
valet
a male personal servant
aspiration
an ambition or goal one hopes to achieve
stickler
a person who stubbornly insists on rules and formality
purgatory
a temporary middle ground between Heaven and Hell in some religious traditions where one's sins are purged through suffering
amateur
an inexperienced person (in this case, boxer) who engages in an activity for pleasure rather as a profession
handicap
a disadvantage, either self-imposed or due to an injury
phony
a fraudulent, duplicitous person
polemic
an intentionally controversial argument against something
doping
using a narcotic drug to illegally boost an athlete's performance (usually steroids)
jackpot
the big prize in some sort of chance-based competition, usually seen as lucky and/or unattainable
badmouthing
speaking unfavorably of someone or something
threshold
(literally) the entrance to a building; (figuratively) a point of beginning or saturation
brawling
fighting recklessly and angrily
