7 Powerful Life Lessons I Learnt From the Boxing Ring
The benefits of approaching life like a boxer…
What can you likely learn from a sport that winning well means beating your opponent to submission?
It takes a lot of courage and discipline to train the body, tune the mind, and attain the skill level required to achieve world dominance in boxing — just like in any other sport.
There you go.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The process is packed with valuable life lessons.
We are all potential champs.
As a teenager growing up in Nigeria, I was into soccer and athletics. I ran into a boxing practice session during a visit to the National Stadium in Lagos. I fell in love with the sport and signed up the next day.
I started learning the rudiments of boxing under Coach Obisia Nwankpa. In his heydays, Nwankpa was an African and commonwealth lightweight champion, and a World Boxing Council title contender.
I started dreaming of boxing fame. It was easy to have such dreams. I had the best coach a young boxer could get, and I was sharing a boxing gym with the best amateur and pro boxers in the nation at the time.
The youth boxing camp was basically an academy designed to produce the next Olympic and world champions. Nigeria had just won two silver medals at the 1992 Barcelona games. The boxing board believed it could have been better if they had a talent development program.
I felt lucky to be recruited into such a noble national aspiration. I thought I could be the next David Izonritei or Richard Igbineghu — heroes of the Barcelona games.
I watched the Barcelona Olympic games on TV. The expectation that in four years, my boxing talent would be on display for a global audience was irresistible. There were several nights I couldn’t sleep for anxiety about how to make it to training the next day.
I skipped classes at school. I walked and ran for miles when I couldn’t afford the bus just to get to the boxing gym. I did anything possible to hide any injuries sustained during sparring matches at the gym.
These were days that parents met any aspiration to drift from traditional professions like medicine, law, or engineering with stiff resistance.
As you may well know by now. I’m no Olympic gold medallist.
The boxing chief Brai Ayonote died. To my chagrin, the program closed, and the dreams died. By the time, the 1996 Olympics came around in Atlanta, I was already a retired boxer — I was done before I even got started.
That image of me on the podium somewhere in Atlanta receiving an Olympic medal haunted me for a while.
When dreams fade…
Is that not how life is? You have lofty goals, a vision, or some worthy pursuits that could potentially change your life. You could see yourself on that podium.
What do you desire so much in life? It might be staying healthy or making enough money to pay your bills. It could be keeping the lights on in that business you are so passionate about. Perhaps, it is keeping your relationship functional and healthy.
Whatever it is you so much desire, the universe throws you a jab now and then. You may receive a strong punch on the chin — and the lights begin to fade.
People get hit by unanticipated challenges that impede progress. They get taken down when their intention is to move forward. The coveted title is up for grabs but not until after the fight.
Even champions must fight to retain the championship. How do you deal with the challengers? Or perhaps, you are the challenger — you are taking on an undisputed champion.
Lessons from the school of hard knocks:
Like in boxing, there is a 50–50 chance that you would kiss the canvas no matter your resolve to win or advance in life.
It ain’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
— Rocky Balboa
I may have missed the flight to Atlanta in 1996. I got over it, eventually. Anytime I remember the Olympic boxing medal I never had; I also remember the important lessons the botched process taught me.
1. There is no championship without fights — many fights.
At some point in your life, you will meet headlong with something standing on your way to glory. One victory is not enough to make a champion. You fight to win titles and you fight to retain them.
2. The opponent in the ring with you doesn’t share your vision.
The things coming at you don’t care about where you are heading or where you would like to be. You cannot afford to be careless. You can “float like a butterfly” like Muhammed Ali but remember it’s a fight. There can only be one winner.
3. Both the hero and the coward feel fear.
It is what you do with your fear that matters. Cus D’Amato, who trained Mike Tyson until his death in 1985 is credited for grooming Tyson in the art of using fear skilfully. D’Amato believed fear is like fire. You can either make it work for you or let it go out of control. If you want to win, don’t be paralyzed by fear. Use fear as fuel to power your resolve to win.
4. You are on your own.
My boxing career was premised on the success of a program. I failed because I was never conscious of my responsibility. When you are pitted against life challenges, you are largely responsible for the outcome of the bout. Joe Louis is credited with the statement that “once that bell rings you’re on your own. It’s just you and the other guy.” The coaching crew is confined to the side-lines. Your wife, mistress, or girlfriend is watching with keen interest. Your parents could be watching if they care about you or the sport. It doesn’t really matter who is there or who is not. For the next 12 rounds — it’s your fight. Face it.
5. The boxing ring is just a showroom.
Don’t be fooled by the glitz and glamour of the night. The work should have been done before the fight. A true champion is made before the fight. A lot of people go into life expecting so much without much preparation. This is a costly mistake. You make the job easier for your opponent if you fail to sweat it out and master your craft.
The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses — behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.
— Muhammad Ali
6. You don’t have control over what your opponent throws at you.
Ouch! You may get a combination of jabs and punches at one go. Everything is being thrown at you at the same time.
Many are battling financial pressures and family or health crises at the same time. Hey, it’s not time to give up. Keep moving. Don’t let the opponent box you into a corner. If you keep moving, you can still produce magic.
7. You may eventually hit the canvas — so what?
You are down. But not out yet. No pretense. You can hear the count….1,2,3… That means there is another opportunity to get up and keep fighting. But what if you can’t get up?
You can’t stand another pitch or another job application. It feels like you’ve been drained of every strength. Your head is spinning from the punches and your sight is blurry.
It’s painful to hear the 8th count knowing your legs can’t carry you anymore and your hands are weak.
From the corner of your eyes, you can see your opponent bouncing around the ring in a celebratory mood. He knows he’s got you this time.
Anthony Joshua was an unbeaten heavyweight world champion until the 7th round knockout by Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019. The upset was similar to James “Buster” Douglas’s shocking knockout victory over then-unbeaten “Iron” Mike Tyson in 1990.
Don’t get weighed down by shame, disappointment, and frustration. The canvas does not discriminate — anybody can go down.
The Judges’ Verdict
It is possible you haven’t watched a single boxing match in your life. Or you simply don’t care about such a bloody sport. A lot of what I have said may not resonate with you.
That’s not a problem. Here is what you need to know.
Whenever life forces your hand and pushes you to a corner. Remember that there is always another fight — another day, another job, another business, another opportunity, or perhaps another relationship.
My Olympic boxing dreams took a hit almost three decades ago. I have had so many other knocks and knockouts over the years. I had internalized the process of picking myself up and preparing for the next fight.
Tommy Hearns was a 32–0 reigning and undefeated WBA champion before he lost to WBC champion Sugar Ray Leonard in their 1981 title unification bout. Hearns's reaction was to go back and put in more work.
The loss just made me hungry; it made me want to go out and win another title.
— Thomas (Tommy) Hearns
If you have been knocked down already despite your good intentions, resolve, and hard work, don’t despair.
There is always another fight. Get up and put in some more work. Get up and start afresh.
