Sugar Ray Leonard and Sylvester Stallone recently hosted a riveting reality show called “Contenders” in which 16 of the best middleweight boxers phase each other out until the final two get a big chance to show off their skills in Las Vegas. and the winner gets 1 million. Dollars
Two boxers fight each week. The loser goes home. Boxers learn and teach great lessons that apply not only to boxing but to life in general.
The fourth week this article is about is no exception and Sugar Ray himself teaches one of the best life skills of all.
In the third week, Ishe Smith had defeated his hated enemy Ahmed Khadour. He was delighted to send Ahmed home because they had grown to hate each other during their three weeks at Contender’s Academy. Ishe did not forget to thank God for his victory. Many gurus say that an attitude of gratitude brings even more blessings into the life of the grateful person.
In this case the reward was immediate. Sylvester Stallone praised Ishe for doing a good job defeating Ahmed: “You delivered the mail.” He gave Ishe a golden glove to hang around her neck and hung a large poster of Ishe in the gallery of heroes. Ishe himself regained the confidence and self-esteem that had been shaken by a period of insecurity when he delayed confronting Ahmed.
Ishe’s team was taken by Sugar Ray to an exclusive restaurant in Los Angeles, giving them a glimpse of the life they would lead if they became champions. A taste of life at the top can be a great motivator; you can also taste life in the background. It is said that the fear of loss is a greater motivator than the desire to win. Each week, the contenders had to face the possibility of losing and being sent home in the dark.
Alfonso, one of the boxers who had already won a fight, commented: “Every award we receive is a glimpse of what we will get if we become super champions.”
Last week, the US West team was taken to a premium store where they could pick out whatever clothes they wanted. Some of them bought the first suit they had ever owned. Now they were beginning to visualize the success that could be theirs. This type of prospective visualization is a key element in any success.
At the exclusive restaurant meal in week four, Sugar Ray served up a plate of pure wisdom that was far superior to any meal on the table. He told the young boxers:
“You all can fight. The problem is that sometimes you question your own ability and when you question that you already lost, you already lost.”
We have to have confidence in our own ability or we will never try to achieve anything. Without it, we have already failed. Most of us tend to underestimate the capacity that we have.
During the fourth week, Jeff Fraza, the smallest boxer in the group, came down with a fever and spots on his legs. Jackie Kallen, Contender’s mother, was concerned. She commented that Jeff already had a knock against him for being small: “The last thing he wants is to be perceived as sick, sick and weak. He already knows that everyone is looking for him. If they know he’s sick, he leaves.” . “
Successful people want to be seen as healthy and strong. Bill Clinton was often seen jogging when he was president. This is not just a matter of image. Healthy people have more energy and drive than someone who is sick.
Health should be a priority for anyone who wants to be successful. If you want to get to the top, take plenty of vitamin C every day!
In the end, Jeff had to leave because he had chickenpox which was contagious. His dreams had ended in disappointment because of ill health. But his disappointment gave Peter Manfredo, who had already been eliminated, a second chance.
Najai Turpin of Philadelphia had worked three jobs when his mother died and had still found time to train. He had to become a man very quickly. His main source of motivation, as with most boxers, was his desire to provide very well for his family, especially his little daughter. “She is the reason for everything I do.” He also had a lot of pain in him that he wanted to convey to his opponent!
Sergio Mora of East Los Angeles felt he would be stereotyped as an ignorant kid. In fact, he loved to read Sun Tzu, Oscar Wilde, Emerson, and Nietzsche. He was also a good boxer. He also fought out of love for his family, especially his mother. He too was afraid of failure: “I’m definitely afraid to go home; I’m definitely afraid of failure.”
In the fourth week, Najai and Sergio faced each other. Sergio won the first round. Najai won the second easily. Sergio’s cornerman urged him: “Get back to work, baby.” The third round was Najai’s, but Sergio probably stole it with a late flurry. The fourth round was Sergio’s. “Your son is out there watching you,” Najai’s cornerback said. The fifth round was Sergio’s. Sergio won by unanimous decision.
The fight was very close and the fifth round was decisive. In the fifth round, it seemed that Najai had lost faith in his own ability to win and Sergio had gained faith. Sergio won. Sugar Ray was right. A lot of fights come down to who believes in themselves the most. However, Najai earned everyone’s respect and affection. He was devastated: “I left everything in the ring. I came up short. I came up short.”
It almost goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, that those who believe in their own ability, or their own ability to learn what they need to know, win as much in ordinary life as they do in boxing.
