power of the mind

The Will to Win.

I was in deep thought about what to write about for this ‘Power of the Mind’ article. I generally study what is going on around me and something normally jumps out at me. I thought back to being inspired greatly one particular day...

It was Monday 24th May. I had just got in from work and after a quick bath, settled down with my oatcakes to watch the box. I flicked through the channels and caught onto the last three-quarters of a program on the life of Sugar Ray Robinson. This program really pulled me in and I found it very inspirational.

The program covered his life and boxing career that spanned the 50’s and 60’s. In that time he amassed over 200 fights. What I found to be unbelievable was that he won and lost the World middleweight title six times. Yes Sugar Ray would win the World title, hold it for a while then some great fighter would come along like the ‘Raging Bull’, Jack Lamota and beat him.

In all Sugar Ray’s boxing contracts he had an agreement that if he was beaten, he would have a re-match 68 days later. In that time Sugar would study how he was beaten, what his weak points were and what his opponent’s weak points were. He would then do his homework and set about attaining a higher level, then come back and beat them. Can you imagine that; being beaten and then having to face them again? His will to win was so strong. He stepped up to the challenge each time and won.

At one point in his career he retired to take up dancing, which did not work out as well as his boxing. Plus, the I.R.S. were chasing him for money from past fights, so Sugar decided to box again after a three-year layoff. The boxing committee did not do him any favours and made him start over again right from the bottom. He had to fight his way up through the ranks to earn his title shot.