Waiting on Greatness.......

By Randy De La O

Somewhere out in the world, maybe in one of our 50 states, there is a young boy with a faraway dream of becoming a great champion. Maybe he is alone in that dream with no one to push him or encourage him but he gets up every day and finds a way to keep his dream alive. Or it may be that he has a father, or a grandfather (or a mother) perhaps, that once fought in the ring and he has taken on their dream.

Somewhere in a small unnoticed boxing gym or a maybe in an old garage, a young boy is learning how to hit the heavy bag. He is being taught his craft by someone who cares. First he will learn his stance and balance. He will stick with it until the awkwardness is gone and his movement becomes natural. He will learn to punch, starting with the jab and again, he will stick with it until he cannot remember what it was like to not jab. One by one he will be taught his punches, the right cross, the uppercuts, the left hook and so on.

He will be taught not only how to throw them with authority but how to avoid the same punches by an opponent. He will be taught all the nuances that make up the world of boxing. Just as importantly, he will learn the importance of roadwork and skipping rope, of getting and staying in shape.

A knowing and caring coach will guide him through his early amateur fights. If the coach has the right stuff he will get him through his first loss without a hitch, reminding him that, after all, even the greatest of men, of fighters, will lose from time to time.

If his coach, or father, is worth his salt, he will understand that there are some things that cannot be taught, only learned. Call it what you will; courage, intestinal fortitude or heart, these are the things that reside inside a man, or a young boy. A good and honest coach knows this but he also knows that he can help his young fighter to find these things within himself, “The stuff inside!”

Maybe the young boy is having his first amateur fight today or maybe he will fight his first professional fight next week. He's out there somewhere, running, sweating punching and taking punches. Maybe he's hurting too but he understands deep down inside, instinctively, that the Mantle of Greatness requires sacrifice. There is a price to pay in being the best.

Maybe he will be a welterweight or maybe he will grow into a heavyweight. Whatever weight he grows into he should know this. “We're waiting for you kid!”

Lucia Rijker

 

 Lucia Rijker, still my pick as the greatest female fighter of all time!

Holly Holm vs Ronda Rousey: On Talks of a Rematch..

.There has been a little talk about a rematch. In my opinion because of the ease in which Holm beat Rousey, unless there is a rematch clause written into the contract, a rematch cannot be justified. Holm will win every time out whether Rousey chooses to grapple or stand and fight.

Getting hit in the face and body is no easy task. This is something all boxers train for every single day of their careers. Perhaps if Rousey had some fights where someone actually punched back she might have developed that mental resistance that is a big part of boxing.

Taking a beating like she did, in what I see as her first real fight, may very well make her gun shy. Maybe I'm wrong but that's my guess.

I don't think she will be able to fight any natural puncher again without second guessing herself. To grapple, she needs to get up close and if she gets up close she's going to get hit. The slightest hesitation will change everything.

My advice to Rousey or any other MMA fighter, is if you want to box then become a boxer. It's the only way to develop that mental resistance to getting hit. A few sessions just will not cut it. Boxing, as Rousey found out last night, might look easy from the outside but it's more than just learning how to throw a punch correctly. It's about developing what we like to refer to as "the intangibles", or "the stuff" inside. It can be learned and developed but it cannot be taught. There is only one way.

This is why so many people in the boxing world were upset when Rousey recently made the cover of the Ring Magazine without ever stepping into the ring and facing a real fighter. Now you understand.
All is not lost Ronda. get some real fights under your belt and then give it another shot. It's up to you!

Former Boxer Holly Holm Knocks Out Ronda Rousey in the 2nd Round!

Congratulations to Holly Holm on her sensational KO of Ronda Rousey and congratulations to the great state of New Mexico on their new champion.

You know boxing is my sport and I don't usually comment on UFC/MMA fights (or is MMA/UFC?) but I'm making an exception on this fight and the reason should be obvious.

Before I say anything else I do want to give Ronda Rousey credit for her part in last night's fight between her and Holly Holm. She was outclassed and outfought the entire fight but to her credit she showed a big heart. She never stopped looking for an answer to Holly's fighting style. There just weren't any answers to be found.

From this moment on, this is where Ronda Rousey will finally meet her real self. How she handles the loss, and it was a big one, will determine if she can regain her former position as the top women's fighter of the world. This is where she really finds out what she is made of. I wish her luck.

From the get go Rousey had no clue on how to fight a southpaw. Holly figured that out immediately and landed the left hand whenever she chose and she did it without much resistance. Her corner had no clue either.

Rousey was facing a former undefeated boxing champion and a great one at that. Holm trained every day not only to dish it out but to take it as well. There is a big difference in learning "Striking Techniques" and being a true honest to goodness boxer. The difference in the boxing ability between the two was apparent from the start of the fight.

Holly also dispelled the notion that once a boxer is on the ground the fight is all but over. A fighter is a fighter and will try to find way to win in any situation. Rousey had Holm in her grip at least twice during the fight and on the floor once and could not keep her there. She did not lose because she chose to stand and face Holm. She did not lose because she lacked a real game plan. She lost because in Holly Holm she was facing a more determined, better skilled fighter. That is the long and short of it.

Somewhere in the first round you could see in Rousey's expression that she knew the gig was up. She looked demoralized but to her credit, she showed the heart of a fighter and gave it her best shot. What more can we ask of any fighter, regardless of their discipline?

To be fair, this fight should not be construed as a litmus test, as proof that a boxer will win every time out against a mixed martial arts fighter. The next fight between any boxer and MMA fighter could turn out differently. It will depend on the fighters themselves.But I will say this, the notion that MMA wins every time out has turned out to be just another myth. Plus they need better "Striking Technique".

To fight like a girl has a whole new meaning!