By: Ricky Ray Taylor
I kinda liked WEBSTERS definition of HEART:
THE CAPACITY FOR COURAGE AND DETERMINATION – Nice.
Of course there are a multitude of paradigms where people use this word in everyday chit-chat. From mocking the “bleeding-heart” liberals on the campaign trail to loving someone with all-of-your-heart all the way over to Tom Petty singing “Stop Dragging My Heart Around”.
When we hear the word HEART we indirectly think of “LOVE”.
Yet, in all certainty when a “Boxing Trainer” refers to a FIGHTERS HEART – 
(in the words of David Lee Roth) he “Aint Talkin Bout Love”.
As cruel-hearted as it may seem, at times I’ve been known to shed a grin or two at a “tough-guys” SUDDEN & rapid demise upon the unveiling of his heart in the Boxing gym.
(Truthfully speaking, in my younger days I enjoyed watching people get knocked off their pedestal much more than I do now). Some of the Boxing-gym-rats on the other hand simply salivate at the opportunity to see a tough-guy get unveiled in front of suspicious onlookers in this manner. When it happens and the supposed tough-guy disappears into the shadows of the streets, most likely they don’t have a clue as to the legacy left behind in the gym for the next few days.
I say “unveiling” because that’s what I’ve always referred the Boxing Ring as, “The Great Unveiler”. This ultimate TRUTH-potion takes no prisoners & basically doesn’t carry a heavy conscience. If a person lacks heart in the Boxing Ring, the TRUTH will ultimately be unveiled for all the world to see regardless of circumstance.
Once in a great while it’s even the fighter himself (or herself) that is surprised at the unveiling. {“Everybody’s got a game plan until they get hit” -Mike Tyson} Maybe these wannabe’s got into a scrap (or two) in the street, landed a punishing haymaker on an unsuspecting foe & carried a demeanor of confidence with them for a bit too long. Or perhaps they just didn’t think that they could be BEAT for whatever reason. I don’t know.
Yet, what I DO know is that the adrenaline RUSH which accompanies the WINDMILL arsenal in a :30 STREET-Bustle cannot even compare to the mental SAVAGERY going on in a fighters mind 30 “MINUTES” before the first round. THIS in itself weeds out most “pre”tenders from actual BOXING competition.
It is THIS mental warfare that many times eats into a persons HEART. Real fighters seem to battle this parasite with a GOD-given composure. (When I say “REAL FIGHTERS” it doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is a real “GOOD” fighter. The word “REAL” is referring to their HEART). It is also THIS particular mental battleground that slowly turns a contenders OFFENSE into DEFENSE in the midst of flying fists.
Are they a FIGHTER at heart ~ or a chicken? Are they in the sport to really FIGHT ~ or to just say they fight? Can they focus on the science of the sport while posed against a heavy-handed opponent ~ or are they too PETRIFIED at getting hit to keep their eyes open?
Skills & talent do not define a persons HEART in the Boxing Ring. Heart and confidence are not synonymous.
Some new-schooler’s say HEART can be taught, I say it cannot. One of the most gratifying scenes to see from a Boxing Trainers perspective is to witness the skinny kid with little or NO confidence, gloving up & shocking the entire gym at his/her HEART to fight.
Life-lessons run deep when a person discovers that their FIGHTERS HEART is MORE than they ever believed it to be.
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video interview w/JOEY GAMACHE
til next time, PEACE!!