It’s true. If you don’t believe in yourself in the ring, in sports, in life… you won’t get anywhere. But it’s also true that self-confidence and trust in one’s abilities don’t necessarily mean arrogance, conceit, or disdain for others. You can have faith in yourself while remaining humble—actually, especially by remaining humble. That’s precisely where the difference lies.
It’s true that without dreams and ambitions, life would have no meaning, and it would never take the direction we desire—or at least not even get close to it. And that the spice of life, for better or worse, is continuous challenges. Flying high to achieve what we want is fine, but life also teaches us that stairs must be climbed one step at a time and that overstepping our limits can be counterproductive. Falling from the ramp could hurt—a lot. It’s up to each of us to choose. Is it worth the risk? Is it worth the gamble?
Contrary to what one might think, a real boxer is not someone who is invincible from the start (nor will he be forever! Or perhaps never—no one truly is). Quite the opposite. He is the most vulnerable man in the world, especially at the beginning of his journey. He is the one who first steps into a gym almost by chance, almost unknowingly, to face all his weaknesses, to overcome his own limits, to fight against himself. It is there that he forges his character and learns to set aside his fears, even before refining his technique. Once he has shaped his own persona, he is ready to face others. He is ready to take on an opponent, two, three, many. All with the same dreams, roughly the same abilities—some more, some less—the same confidence, the same values. In the end, it’s as if he were facing a mirror, his own reflection but seen from two different angles. The red corner and the blue corner.
It’s true—there is always someone who raises their arm in victory, you might say. Those are the rules of our sport, after all. Yes, the winner is the one who is technically and tactically superior, but that doesn’t always mean the strongest athlete—intelligence and pragmatism come first!—but we also know that in boxing, there are never real losers. Inside those sixteen ropes, each contender has tried to give his best and has learned something. He has overcome a new challenge. He does so every time.
The higher the level of competition, the more a boxer grows. He grows in the ring, but also in life—or at least he should. Awareness, personality, qualities, and the will to succeed grow within him. What certainly should not grow is arrogance. Maintaining humility can only be beneficial to him, helping him become a Boxer with a capital B. Because the fundamental rule, the most brutal one in the ring—and I always emphasize, in life as well—is that feeling “arrived” is never a good idea. Learning never stops; it’s never enough. There is always something to improve, even when we are near the top—let alone when we are not. And then there’s the unexpected, always lurking around the corner. One must learn to keep their guard up, to throw punches, and also to dodge them.
So, you, young fighter aspiring for greatness, who dreams of seeing your name written among the stars of boxing—if you truly want to be remembered, work hard and in silence. Focus on yourself and your character. Move forward with a steady pace, but do so without losing yourself on a perilous path. Take one step at a time. Do not step on those before you. Only then will you truly be a Boxer. Only then will you truly be a Champion. Only then will you be remembered. Only then will you be an example to yourself and others. Always remember that boxing is a sweet science and should remain so—refined and precious, for the few and the worthy.
Sure, you might say, but how many great champions have also been flamboyant showmen? Starting with the ring’s own majesty, “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali, followed by “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr., Chris Eubank, Naseem Hamed, and so on. Yes, but the talent that can afford such antics (even if it’s always debatable) isn’t born every day. And even then, there is always a boundary that should not be crossed. How far can one play the game, and when is it time to get serious? The ring holds the final verdict.