Amateur Fight Night Has Promoter Sparring With Texas

"He got tired," Jackson says later, pointing out the punches guys are taking to the face without any noticeable consequences. "You can get knocked around, maybe get a bloody nose, but you're not gonna get knocked out." He points out that the gloves he uses are larger and softer than regular boxing gloves—"like hitting someone with a pillow"—and says he keeps a certified EMT and two police officers on staff in case of injuries or other problems. In seven years of organized fights (before coming to Dallas, he did it in his native Illinois), he says, he's had just one injury—when a man broke his arm during an arm wrestling competition.

Jackson says he got into boxing and martial arts as a teenager and found that the sports relieved the stress and anger that came from a difficult home life, including a mother who suffered from a debilitating illness. "I had a lot of aggression," he says. "I needed an outlet. When you're in the ring, nothing else matters. You're focused on one goal, and you forget about all your problems. You forget about everything and just let go."

Hanney Kamal, having a beer with friends and watching the sparring at Addison City Limits last week, says the fight nights are a healthy way for people to get rid of their anger or settle disputes. He bartends at Purgatory in downtown Dallas, and he says that at least here, the participants wear gloves. "If you have a problem with someone and you're still pissed, you may as well be like, 'Meet me at Addison City Limits, put on some gloves, get in the ring and settle it,'" he says.

But men aren't the only ones who come to fight night. Women also seem to like the spring break-like atmosphere that's complete with earsplitting bass and ring girls with waist-length hair and tight short-shorts.

"It's the testosterone that I like," Alison Garahan, a frequent patron, yells over the blaring music. "It's heavy with testosterone in here!"

One of the last fights of the night features a petite young woman wearing red boxing gloves. She steps into the ring to face her apparent ex-boyfriend, whose arms are strapped behind his back. "Introducing your victim tonight," Jackson, walking outside the ring, yells into the microphone. "This is for all the times you didn't respect the ladies, Robert." He turns to the audience. "Apparently, Robert did a little cheating—with her sister!"

The crowd jeers, and the woman pummels the guy in the face. When he steps down a few minutes later, his face appears to be intact.

"This is where people can let themselves go in a ring where it's safe—get rid of their aggression. And if something does happen, we're here to take care of them," Jackson says later. "How is that a bad thing?"