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THE BEST OF ALL TIME By Bill Velasco PhilBoxing.com Mon, 03 Mar 2008  One of the most common questions I've been asked is what makes a great boxer. Of the thousands of pugs from all over the country, why do some continue to toil in anonymity, barely making enough to buy fish and rice for breakfast, while others rise to astronomical heights, and earn paychecks you couldn't count even if you spent the rest of your days trying? There are several attitudes that set the great ones apart: courage, determination, patience, and of course, a great work ethic. Boxing is a sport that requires tremendous will, for the simple reason that you cannot fake the results. And you could pay permanently for your lack of discipline, and disrespect. This was at the core of a talk I gave at the launch of a new anti-diabetic medication recently. The manufacturer had decided on a two-fisted approach to promote this breakthrough medication and pump up its sales force. They decided to compare their product to some of the world's best boxers. A great fighter doesn't mind where he starts, but focuses on where he finishes. Gabriel Elorde was a shoeshine boy. He loved boxing, and rose from anonymity as KRS Flash, then simply Flash Elorde. He rose to become a seven-year undefeated junior lightweight champion of the world, seven years in the same weight class Manny Pacquiao fights in. In 1989, the Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation, the most prestigious boxing organization in this part of the world, named its perpetual trophy the Gabriel Flash Elorde Memorial trophy, in honor of his greatness. Do what it takes. You've probably never heard of Francisco Guilledo. He was a poor boy from Negros born in 1901 who sought a better life in the United States back in the early 1920's. He was a two-fisteed flyweight who was called a miniature Jack Dempsey, who was then the heavyweight champion of the world. He changed his name to Pancho Villa after the Mexican conqueror, and became world champion. Today, the world's greatest fighters fight only two times a year. Pancho Villa fought no less than 20 times a year. In 1921, He fought 25 times. Remember that gloves were very thin, then, with no padding. He fought everyone, and became flyweight champion of the world, the first Asian to become a world boxing champ.He is still considered by many to be the greatest flyweight of all time. If you believe in yourself, then it doesn't matter how many rivals you have out there. You can do it. A great fighter doesn't mind the odds. Rocky Marciano was only 5'9" and a very simple fighter. He had such a reach disadvantage, he had to lunge just to hit an opponent. But, at two inches shorter than Mike Tyson, he retired the only undefeated heavyweight champion of the world, with a 39 - 0 record. He made the most of his abilities. For me, the ideal boxer must maximize his gifts. It also means not letting obstacles get in your way. The ideal boxer doesn't mind the challenges, or the pain. In 1976, Sugar Ray Leonard fought in the Montreal Olympic Games. In his first fight, he broke his hand. But nobody knew about it, so the flashy welterweight fought on. In the gold medal match, he was up against Cuban Andres Aldama. Since it was a communist country, Cuba had no pros, just lifetime amateurs. So their boxers were very mature compared to other countries' fighters. Aldama had won all five of his fights by knockout. But in the gold medal match, it was Aldama who got knocked down twice, and Ray Leonard who won. Leonard went on to win world titles in five weight divisions. The perfect fighter fights for what he believes in, and must be willing to take a punch. Muhammad Ali was the 1960 Olympic light heavyweight champion. When he was stripped of his license because he refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War, he lost the four prime years of his career. In the meantime, the 1964 Olympic heavyweight champion, Joe Frazier, became world champion. But along the way came the 1968 Olympic heavyweight champ, George Foreman, 6'4", hard-hitting and scary. Foreman knocked Frazier down six times in two rounds to become the heavyweight champion. Muhammad Ali believed in himself, and had a plan. The fight was set in Kinshasa, Zaire, the "Rumble in the Jungle". Ali went to Foreman's camp, and even sent a voodoo priest to scare him. In one training, Foreman got cut, and the fight was postponed. Needless tro say, he was psyched out. At the fight, Ali leaned back against the ropes, and let Foreman keep hitting him. Because of his sheer power, Foreman had rarely fought more than five rounds. By the eighth round, he had whaled away at Ali so much, he was exhausted. Ali knocked him out easily. The ideal fighter must be relentless. I met Manny Pacquiao when he was about 16 or 17, in a ratty shirt and slippers. He was a skinny kid who had no money and no car and was borrowing money. He would travel to the neighboring town to fight for a few bucks. Eventually, he became world champion twice, but lost it due to carelessness. Today, he is even more famous than most world champions, even though he isn't one yet. He has defeated future Hall of Famers, and is the biggest draw, pound for pound in all of boxing today. I've interviewed NBA players who are Pacman fans. What do they love about Manny? He is relentless. He never stops. Whatever your style in life, if you are a brawler, puncher, stylist, technician or counter-puncher, these are the traits you must have to knock out your opponent, or whoever stands in your way. Muhammad Ali once said, "A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he'll never crow. I have seen the light and I'm crowing." Ali also said "If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize." That's the attitude when you go out there, regardless of what you do.. You are the greatest, and they can't even dream of beating you. Because you're going to knock out whoever and whatever stands in your way. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Bill Velasco.  |
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