There are similarities between boxing and politics. Both are about winning. Both are about power. Both are blood sports?
No sport embodies individuality as thoroughly as boxing. Fighters may have trainers and cutmen, managers and promoters, nutritionists, mascots and hangers-on, but as the great Joe Louis observed, ?Once that bell rings you?re on your own. It?s just you and the other guy.?
Politics, by contrast, is a team sport. The cult of the individual exists, both in tyrannies and superficially free societies, but has been neutered by programmed exaltation. It has also lost vitality as it trickled down to anyone with moxie and access to a computer.
But there are also similarities between boxing and politics. Both are about winning. Both are about power. Both are blood sports.
I may be in the minority, but I?m fascinated by Vitali Klitschko?s evolution. He and his younger brother, Wladimir, always represented the other in boxing, but few imagined, watching him destroy men in the square circle, that his ambition would take him as far as it has.
I spoke with Mauricio Sulaiman, President of the WBC, over the weekend, whose title Vitali abdicated to embark on a political career, and asked if there was contact preceding that move, and any contact since.
?This was a very long process,? Sulaiman told Boxing.com. ?Vitali has been closely associated with the WBA for many years. He had at one time injuries which prevented him from being in the ring and the WBA always extended the support for him to return and compete for the championship, which he won for the second time against Samuel Peter.
?This time, he started focusing on the political career. He spoke to my father several times. He went to the WBC convention in Bangkok and explained that he was very close to deciding whether he was going to run for the presidency or he was going to make the mandatory defense against Bermane Stiverne. He notified the WBC that he decided to continue the political career. So at that time the title became vacant, became available to the two highest contenders, which were Stiverne and Chris Arreola.
?But we have kept very close communications with Vitali and we are very proud of his efforts. He represents also a character of how brave he has been in public, how the streets were highly dangerous, and he stood up and did his best effort to try to bring his ideals into fruition and he was successful. He?s the mayor of Kiev and his party won the presidency, but there are going to be many, many difficult times in the Ukraine because it?s a very complicated situation.
?But if he ever decides to return to boxing and he passes all the medical examinations, he will be available to compete directly for the championship.?
It?s extraordinary that the former heavyweight champion, or any fighter for that matter, has successfully transitioned to a career in politics. Manny Pacquiao has done it, although not as a member of the opposition braving tear gas in the streets. But Pac Man?s achievements are no less incredible than Vitali Klitschko?s, considering who boxers are and how they?re perceived.
?Yes,? agreed Sulaiman, ?it puts a bright light to the sport. It explains to the world that a boxer who has a tremendous following with the people, because of the way they discovered life through having so much sacrifice, having so much trouble in winning their living with their fists, and then to become leader of a city or country?it?s unbelievable, it?s tremendous, and it sets the stage for many other fighters.?
If Bernard Hopkins is listening, the mayoralty of Philadelphia is his if he wants it.
