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BOXING PHOTO
COMPLIMENTS OF
WWW.KEEPPUNCHING.COM
TITLE OF PHOTO:
ONE OF THE MOST GIFTED
MENTALLY TOUGH BOXERS IN HISTORY, SUGAR RAY LEONDARD WITH
AUTHOR , KERRY DAIGLE
IN BOXING
MENTAL BEATS PHYSICAL MANY TIMES
By Kerry Daigle
www.keeppunching.com
Boxing
is not only about getting in great physical condition and
understanding the technical aspects of the sweet science.
The key ingredient most of the time is the mental edge a
fighter has over another. How strong is the pugilist’s mind
going into a professional match? A great example of mental
toughness was the very easy decision Bernard Hopkins gained
over Antonio Tarver Saturday, June 10, on HBO PPV. Although
Tarver was the bigger guy with great hand speed he was not
the mentally tougher fighter. That was very evident when
early in the fight things didn’t go Tarver’s way. Antonio
didn’t know how to address the challenge mentally. Bernard
beat Antonio mentally then tore him down physically.
Boxing is the most physically
challenging of all sports. It is a sport where there is no
team mate to depend on once your match starts. It’s three
minutes of ‘fury’ with a short 1 minute rest for 4 to 12
rounds depending on the scheduled bout. To prepare for this
task in competing as a boxer, the athlete (boxer) must have
both upper and lower body strength while still maintaining a
superb level of cardiovascular conditioning unmatched by
most athletes. The boxer must have the capacity to compete
on the level of a marathon runner or iron man while
developing smooth movements, power, and the ability to ‘take
a punch’ or should I say ‘avoid one’. They must be
nutritionally sound while making weight on a contract to
fight within ‘one pound’ of the designated weight of the
fight. On the other hand they must then face another boxer
who may be equally conditioned. This is where the mental
strength of a fighter wins a match. His or her will to win.
His or her desire to change strategies when needed. The
ability to out think the opponent. The boxer is alone in
that ring once the bell sounds. There are no time outs. If
you are cut you must wait for your one minute rest to stop
the flow of blood. A boxer goes through these trials and
tribulations and must rely heavily on their mental make-up.
Why is it some boxers make weight and
some don’t? Why is it some run with injuries and spar with
hand problems and some don’t? Why do some boxers fight with
a ‘fever’ or ‘cold’ and some don’t? The mental edge. The
mind works wonders especially for the boxer who wants to
compete on that championship level. While most people are
sleeping until time to go to work, the boxer is up at 4AM
to 5AM doing sprints, long distance running up bleachers and
hills at levels that the normal human being never sees. The
mental strength it takes to compete at this level is the
difference between the champion and the contender.
When a boxer’s trainer cannot make it
to the gym or the sparring partners don’t show up it is the
mental edge that makes the boxer understand the obstacle
before him or her and now takes matters in their own hands
without any excuses until the problem can be resolved. It
would be easy to say, “I’ll just catch up tomorrow” and not
show up. When doing that you have to remember the opponent
may not be looking for excuses but training through all
obstacles. THAT makes a champion…That is why fringe
contenders or averagely gifted boxers win over their vastly
more experienced foe. It is about THE MENTAL EDGE.
So next time you see a fighter get up
in the ring and you have a sarcastic comment to make…….Think
again. It doesn’t matter that they may have a spotty record.
What does matter is that they put on their trunks, their
cup, gloves, and mouthpiece and attempted to do what the
critics are not willing to do. Compete at a mental capacity
that is far from the ‘average Joe’.
Keep Punching!
Kerry Daigle
Kerry has been involved
in his own home based business since the age of 13 and
now years later still operates a multi-million dollar
sales and distribution center directly out of his home
involving Juice Plus, a whole food product,
www.kerrydaigle.com
. During his teen years and all of his adult life,
Kerry has worked in the promotional arena in
professional and amateur boxing and major concerts
worldwide. He manages some of the top boxers in the
country and consults and does publicity for many
contenders, champions, trainers, and promoters
internationally. Some of the shows he has been involved
in were televised on the major networks, ESPN, USA
Network, and other cable affiliates. He has also
promoted legal seminars for attorneys.
Kerry is also an author
and writer. He does The Keeppunching Radio Show on KSLO-AM
and KOGM-FM which is promoted internationally through
audiotapes and the web on
www.keeppunching.com
. He also does speaking engagements on
personal development and sales across the world.
Kerry also is a writer for the newspaper/magazine THE
ACADIAN in Acadiana.
Kerry can be reached at
337.288.8510 or email him at
kerry@keeppunching.com
. Feel free
to write to Kerry about his articles and any questions
you may have and check out his website at
www.keeppunching.com
where you can subscribe to
personal development, nutritional, or boxing
articles FREE OF CHARGE.
Former World Champion--and friend of the RBF,
Hall-of-Famer Emile Griffith in attendance at Madison
Square Garden night catching the Ruiz vs. Toney fight.
JIMMY YOUNG: IN YOUR CORNER, MY MAN
Retired Boxers Foundation and many others tried to save Jimmy Young, but he
had given up
[Simi Valley, CA] In the middle of the year, 2004, the Retired Boxers
Foundation received a call from an unlikely source: The Public Defender’s Office
in Philadelphia. On the other end of the line was a man by the name of Geoff
Kilroy. Geoff was a relatively new Public Defender, assigned to a "very nice guy
who was a professional fighter" --Jimmy Young. He told us that in the course of
his work of representing folks who are poor and in trouble with the law, he met
this amazing guy, Jimmy Young. He could of just done his job—show up in court
and do the best to defend this down and our fighter, OR, he could try to find a
way to help him. He chose the latter and found the Retired Boxers Foundation on
the Internet.
Geoff Kilroy called Alex Ramos, the Founder and President of the Retired
Boxers Foundation and they talked about Jimmy—who he was and where he was now."
When Alex turned pro in 1980, he trained in Philly and he knew Jimmy Young very
well, but had not heard from him for quite some time.
Geoff told us that Jimmy had some income (source unknown) and was living in
his own place, but without electricity. He said that even though Jimmy had
money, he forgot to pay his utilities and maybe we—the Retired Boxers
Foundation—could find someone to check in on him to make sure he paid his
electric bill. He also told us that Jimmy had a court date coming up for public
intoxication, but with potential serious consequences, i.e., possible jail time.
Alex Ramos, President and Founder of the Retired Boxers Foundation, put out
an "APB" looking for someone to check on Jimmy. Two friends of the Retired
Boxers Foundation who live in the area, Thomas Jess and Harrin Platzner, got
back to us immediately. They told us that Jimmy had a place to stay, but it
looked like he preferred the streets. He was in far worse condition than we
expected. Through some great detective work, Platzner and Jess got us phone
numbers for Jimmy’s son.
As the RBF worked to find Jimmy and to get him some resources, we received
another call from Public Defender, Geoff Kilroy. Jimmy had a court date and the
only way he could avoid being locked up, would be to get Jimmy to his court
appointment and to have a plan to help Jimmy get cleaned up. We did our homework
and wrote the following letter to the Judge:
October 7, 2004
RE: Jimmy Young
To Whom It May Concern:
We are writing about a condition that may be affecting Jimmy Young, a
retired professional boxer with over 56 professional fights as a
heavyweight. Mr. Young fought world champion prizefighters and many of
them were absolute wars. I am attaching his professional boxing record
to give you a perspective of this man’s incredible career in the sport
of boxing.
Unfortunately, it is likely that Mr. Young is suffering from the
onset of dementia pugilistica (the medical term for being "punch drunk")
as well as from Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury. Based on our experience,
he more than likely has damage to the frontal lobe of the brain,
resulting in emotional problems, anxiety, severe alcoholism, rage, and
an inability to comprehend the consequences for his actions.
Chronic traumatic brain injury (CTBI), which occurs primarily among
retired boxers after long exposure to the sport, is also known as
dementia pugilistica, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or "punch-drunk"
syndrome. The condition represents the cumulative long-term neurologic
consequence of repetitive concussive and subconcussive blows to the
head. Clinically, CTBI is characterized by slurred speech, gait ataxia,
memory impairment, behavior and/or personality changes, Parkinsonism,
and/or incoordination.
Another characteristic that is all too common, is self-medication
with alcohol or drugs. While we have not had an opportunity to evaluate
Mr., Young, we have been told that he has many characteristics of CTBI
as well as a problem with alcohol consumption.
While Mr. Young’s problems would seem insurmountable to the ordinary
person, we have had success with chronic alcoholics who are also retired
professional boxers. We would be able to help Mr. Young and can assure
the court that if he is willing to work with us, our suggestions will
probably benefit Mr. Young (and society) far more than incarceration.
The Retired Boxers Foundation is an IRS 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation
whose mission is to assist retired professional boxers in the transition
from their glorious days in the ring. For others like Mr. Young, we have
the following case management plan that works, especially if we are able
to monitor the client effectively
Alex
"The Bronx Bomber" Ramos, Founder & President
We worked closely with Thomas Jess, Harrin Platzner and
Jimmy’s son to make sure that Jimmy showed up for the court date. We were in
constant communication with Geoff Kilroy, who by now had demonstrated his
respect for this tired, hurting fighter. The letter along with the hard work of
Geoff Kilroy worked. The judge ordered "non-reporting probation" which meant
that as long as Jimmy followed through with the plan outlined in the letter, he
would not have to report to the probation officer. What looked like good news,
deteriorated to a bad dream for all of us who were working to get Jimmy the help
he needed, but obviously, did not want. No longer could Jimmy be found at the
dumpy apartment he called home. His kid quit returning phone calls and we almost
ran out of options. Alex Ramos found a retired professional boxer who was now
with the Philly Police Department, Tyrone Crawley, and he called him. Tyrone,
along with Lt. Mike Indri of the West New York Police Department (and is the
East Coast Representative for the Retired Boxers Foundation) worked with other
cops intent on finding Jimmy and getting him to the Public Defenders office so
that he could start a treatment plan. Thomas Jess and Harrin Platzner went above
and beyond to help find Jimmy and deliver him to the PD’s office.
We were all worried and at the same time, looking at the only
options for saving Jimmy’s butt (we didn’t know it was his LIFE at the time):
Getting him to voluntarily enter the treatment program, or worst case, getting
him arrested which would at least give him a break from drugs and alcohol. Alex
talked to Jimmy on the phone and told him how much we all cared for him. Alex
told him about his own path from homelessness and alcoholism to nearly six years
of sobriety. He told him about the brotherhood of fighters who were there to
help him make this same journey and that people really cared about him.
Ramos went to New York in early December, but could not get
to Philly. He made more phone calls to no avail. Finally, Ramos came to terms
with the fact that Jimmy Young was not ready to face his demons and that
recovery from substance abuse comes only to those who want it. Ramos lives by
the words that he believes: "God don’t make no mistakes!" "I knew we were going
to lose him when I talked to him," said Ramos. "I think Jimmy gave up ever
thinking he could have a life without the pain and the hurt he had in his heart.
None of us knows what it was, but Jimmy turned to drugs and alcohol to bury that
pain. "Dignity" doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone, and in a strange way,
it meant that I needed to give Jimmy the right to do what he wanted. He wasn’t
no fool. He was a fighter and he died fighting the battle that only he knew.
Rest in peace, my brother."
Early this week, Alex Ramos received an email from Geoff
Kilroy, the Public Defender who showed the love and respect the old fighter
deserved. He said, "It is unfortunate that we were unable to help Jimmy. I only
got to spend a couple of hours with him, but from what I saw, he was a beautiful
person with a big heart. I just want to keep you informed. You have an
incredible organization with wonderful people. I hope I have the pleasure of
working with you guys again and helping the great people in the boxing
community."
The Retired Boxers Foundation wants to publicly thank the
good people who worked so hard to help Jimmy Young. First and foremost, Geoff
Kilroy deserves our respect and admiration for his concern and extraordinary
efforts to help Jimmy. Thanks also go to Harrin Platzner and Thomas Jess who
worked to locate Jimmy and his family members, as well as Lt. Mike Indri who
stayed on top of the effort to help Jimmy. Thanks to Tyrone Crawley and the
other police officers who tried to help Jimmy and people like Kent Appel who
sent money to help Jimmy. Jimmy young died of a broken heart on February 22,
2005.
For more information on the Retired Boxers Foundation, go to
www.retiredboxers.org.
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The
Retired Boxers Foundation was started by Alex "The Bronx Bomber" Ramos in 1998.
