By: GinaMarie Russo
Boxing is a sport, a science and an art. There are those that perform in the fierce ring who thrive to be there, while others are in need of a shake to their core. Do not step into the fighter’s square when you do not have the full mental and physical devotion to lay upon your opponent. The spotlight is only as big as the two fighters in the ring, with no room for external factors. Presently, this outrageous and wonderful sport is not given the recognition it rightfully deserves. Whether the boxer is popular or controversial is irrelevant to the influence of the talent that lies within a champion.
In order to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. A championship belt should be acknowledged as merely giving the boxer leeway to earn fights with the best. After the boxer has his “greatness” tested against the very best in the business, he is now a true advocate of himself and boxing. Don’t just stand behind the belt, stand behind your heart.
Step out of the ring if you’re there for a sole pay, step out of the ring if your there for the limelight. You aren’t running this sport, you are ruining this sport. Acknowledge and recognize those who step in with unmannered innate aptitude. Knockout power is seen, by many people, as a necessity that validates the meaning of a worthy fighter. You take a look at the records of champions, some with at least half as many knockouts as fights and then there are those with very little or no knockouts. They are still in the game. In fact, I am more impressed by the boxer with a lack of knockout power because I am left wondering…. what else is he bringing in that ring with him? Something else.
Discovering new and extraordinary strategies, by fighters, to move foward and win is what feeds the fans. The sport has seen the best knockouts in the legendary past of boxing and will see the best knockouts in the future of this wildly amazing sport. Why overlook and fail to recognize innovative skill simply because it is not classified as knockout power? Since when did this dynamic, and unique world of boxing lose its ability to see the talent in unaltered creative strategies performed by fighters without KO power. These boxers who go against the odds with their rare approaches to winning without making their opponent taste the mat, is what makes a champ a champ.
What happens to the man that lasts 12 rounds and rarely KO’s an opponent and still wins? KO’s have falsely defined the ability and talent of a fighter. We should be more intrigued by the man who boxes his way through every fight instead of stopping an opponent early. The stage is set for these unparralled ring-mastered beasts to perform.