Nothing Like The Real Thing
You can read about boxing, watch all the classic fights on TV, go to a bar with friends to watch Pacquiao’s latest fight, or dump a lot of pay-per-view money – but in the end, when it comes to “the sweet science,” nothing beats the real thing.
In a few hours or so, I’ll be joining the entourage of perhaps the Philippines’ next world champ, and just like in his last fight, I’m giddy all over.
I’ve always been a fight fan– boxing, MMA, karate, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, hell, I’d cheer for a good smash-mouth street brawl. I don’t know if it’s human nature, but something about watching two warriors swinging away trying to take each other’s head off just unleashes a very raw and Neanderthal rage in me. It’s energy, excitement, passion, and basic man-fire devouring me with every sweat and blood droplet spraying against the klieg lights with every right hook and left cross.
As I watch the preliminary bouts while tapping away on this piece, I realize that this is sport. Arenas may change, rules vary, and players don different garb- but this IS sport. Mano-a-mano, battle of attrition, win or go home with your front teeth down your throat. And it’s the great ones that realize this – behind all the glitzy endorsements and highlight reels, it’s the warrior who’s willing to take the other guy’s heart out no matter the obstacle who attains sporting immortality.
Lace em’ up and touch gloves. Here we go…