Most of us understand struggle, pain and defeat but hopefully have it outweighed by glory, victory and success?
Although I planned on writing a very different article, the title was going to remain the same. Three months ago, I became a father for the first time to a beautiful baby girl. The intention of that piece was express how I felt by using boxing as a medium; fatherly figures are part of the core of the sweet science, those who guide and nurture precocious talents and often make sacrifices of their own to see their students achieve immortality.
I was hoping it to be one of the pieces that resonated with readers of this site, whether young (and having such a figure in your life) or old (where you?d understand only too well the frustration, annoyance but ultimate triumph in seeing someone become the best they can be). Lensed through boxing, life lessons can be taught and explained better as the sport is truly universal. Most of us understand struggle, pain and defeat but hopefully have it outweighed by glory, victory and success. Those were the lessons I wanted to write about and those lessons will still be taught but to get to the light one must travel through the darkness and unfortunately, it is that darkness which hangs heavy.
Last week, on my way home from the gym, I was involved in a serious car accident. Thankfully, I managed to walk away and the other driver and his passengers didn?t sustain major injuries. My car is likely to be written off and I only hurt my arm.
At the hospital, they confirmed that I had suffered multiple fractures and breaks to my left hand and wrist. My writing hand. The hand I use to help hold my daughter when we give her a bath. My lead jab, as although I should be a southpaw, I fight orthodox, a strange combination for most fighters. It?s the hand that drives my creativity, which taps my desk as I search the right words and the one that punches the first letter on the keyboard once it?s found. And the godfather to the sweetest punches of them all, the sweeping shot to the body. Where would Zale, Chavez and Arguello be without their fearsome left hands?
Today, someone pointed to my hand and said that I won?t be boxing for a while. I hadn?t even considered it up until that point but they were right. It may be at least two months before I can write comfortably again. It could be several months after that before I can put on my gloves. In all likelihood, I?ll be back behind a wheel before I?m back hitting a bag and that disheartens me.
I drive because I have to; I box because I love to.
But does it all end here? Absolutely not. Getting my hand healed is going to be a long process. It may never be the same. I may never be able to hit as hard with it ever again for fear of stressing the injury and causing hairline fractures. But that is all in the future rounds and there is only one true lesson that?s exists in the here and now.
This is my first true knockdown. And I?ve beaten the count.
Follow Mohummad Humza Elahi on Twitter@mhelahi
