Closing on a Dream

Brian Plonka

Journal Tribune

Joey Gamache wasn't even born when Cassius Clay won his first wold championship in Joey's hometown of Lewiston, Maine. But, this 25-year-old lightweight contender wanted to make his own history. Since he was 12, Joey trained in his dad's gym, a dingy basement with boxing posters as wallpaper. Despite growing up in a small Maine milltown, Joey's work ethic helped make him one of the world's best lightweights. After 13 years and thousands of rounds, Joey would finally get his shot at a world title. The intense training period began 8 weeks before the fight. He would run, stretch, spar and sometimes, run again. As fight day approached, Joey's dream made him train even harder. Chilsung Chun of Korea came, highly touted, but he never faced a barrage like he did that day in June when he met Joey Gamache in the ring. Joey Gamache concentrates on strengthening his neck muscles during a workout.

Brian Plonka, "Closing on a Dream," in POYi Archive, Item #20549, http://archive.poy.org/index.php/items/show/20549 (accessed May 22, 2025).