Boxing Perspective: Life Lessons Of A 7 Year Old That Calzaghe And Judah May Learn The Hard Way

As a kid, my favorite two words were “I’m Sorry”. I thought they were like magic. Break something? Just say “I’m Sorry”. Come home late from a friend’s house? No problem, just say “I’m Sorry”. Those two words seemed to make it okay, no matter what I did wrong until one day, those two little magic words didn’t work.

I had been throwing rocks over the neighbor’s fence one afternoon, for some unknown reason, when all of a sudden I heard a crash. A rock had gone through the Decker’s patio door! So on instinct, I ran like the devil had ahold of me, hoping to escape my wrong doings.

About ten minutes later, here comes my father and Mr. Decker, with looks on their faces that could have made even the toughest of men feel a bit nervous, let alone a seven year old boy. So, feeling a bit panicked, I put on my saddest face and let out the most pitiful “I’m sorry” ever. Then, I let out a sigh of relief out knowing that I was off the hook.

Well folks, reality was not kind to me on that day, let me tell you. My father gave me the wallop of my life and sent me to my room, later informing me I was grounded for a month with no allowance to boot. I was not sure what went wrong? I mean, “I’m sorry” was the ace up my sleeve, a never fail cure all.

About a week later, I asked my mother why I was still punished, even after I said I was sorry? That was the moment I learned my first life lesson, although I had no idea what it meant at the time. For some reason, the words stuck with me.

“You see”, she started out, “when you keep doing stuff you know your not supposed to do and the other person knows that you knew better than to do it, just saying “I’m sorry” isn’t enough. Sometimes you have to show you mean it. Actions always speak louder then words”.

Excuse me? That was the first thought that entered my mind after leaning over towards Mom to see if I could detect a hint of dad’s secret whiskey stash on her breath. Actions speak louder then words? “Sorry” was not enough?

This was all gibberish to me and the next 30 days of pondering did not help sort out the whole conversation at all. It was also an expression that I heard often through my childhood years and it was not until I became much older did I realize what those words meant. Those words are what brings me to my point of the day.

Super Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe, 43-0 (32), had long been craving the respect he felt he rightfully deserved as an all time great after years of going undefeated and defending his belt on a consistent basis. But analysts, journalists and fans alike still criticized him for the quality of opponent he faced during that time.

Many believed that Calzaghe and his promoter Frank Warren handpicked either opponents of lesser caliber or former greats on the downslide. This criticism continued until on March 4, 2006, when Joe faced off against then IBF titlist Jeff “Left Hook” Lacey, a power packed young champion who at the time was highly regarded.

Joe masterfully disposed of Lacey, taking home a unanimous decision and quieted his harshest critics in the process. Calzaghe had proved that he was, without a doubt, everything that he claimed he was. Soon afterward, he and his promoter called out every big name there was; Hopkins, Jones, Taylor, Tarver and Glen Johnson were all put on notice.

Calzaghe and Warren were planning to conquer the pound for pound list from 160-176 lb and they wanted to do it NOW! Calzaghe’s old fans and new fans alike could hardly wait for the Welsh Dragon to come through on his promises.

They waited with their breathe held at who would be next. And they waited. And waited. And waited. Sakio Bika was announced as Calzaghe’s next opponent. Nothing to worry about said Calzaghe supporters, he is just waiting for an empty dance card. Right?

Well, after beating Bika, one of the top guys had to be available, right? Who was that next name on the Calzaghe hit list? You could have knocked me down with a feather when Peter Manfredo, the runner up from season one of the boxing based reality TV show “The Contender”, was announced as Joe’s next opponent.

Just as quick as Calzaghe became an instant sensation for beating Lacy, he became an instant disappointment for fighting Manfredo and once again leaving himself wondering why he is not getting the credit he feels he deserves.

Zab “Super” Judah, 34-4 (25) 1NC, sits in front of a TV camera talking about his comeback fight against Ruben Galvan and says how he is going to not only beat Galvan, but also prove a point to both himself and the fans who will be watching.

Judah says that he will also send a message, that he is back and better than ever, to current WBA Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto, the man Zab is penciled in to face on June 9 of this year.

Judah was coming off a year long imposed layoff due to his actions during the Floyd Mayweather fight, which was the second suspension of his career. The first came in 2001 when he put his hands on referee Jay Nady for counting him out via TKO after being knocked silly in the second round of his showdown with the legendary Kostya Tszyu.

During the interview, Judah spoke like a gentleman and stated several times how he has used his time to reflect on not only his career, but personal life as well. He stated that he was more mature and knew what the main focus was. He wanted to give his upcoming opponent Ruben Galvan credit for taking the fight, while assuring that he would beat Galvan.

Unlike in previous years, Judah’s confidence was not that of arrogance or self praise. He was upbeat and built himself up, but made sure that he mentioned that it was a fight he took serious. He was not going to overlook Galvan, rather, he was going to use him to help prepare for Cotto, a hard hitting champion in which Judah claimed he had respect for.

Judah said that he did not expect Galvan to be a lay down opponent, nor was he going to treat him as one. Come fight time, things went a bit into left field when the bout was stopped due to a cut. Confusion came when it was announced that ringside officials were not sure where the cut came from. A head butt? A punch or an elbow?

After about 20 minutes, they still had no definitive answer and declared the bout a no contest. Instead of going off the deep end, Judah accepted the fate and then went into the press area for his post-fight interview and to talk with Miguel Cotto, who was ringside, about their up coming bout.

As the conversation started, Judah kept up his new persona. This was a new Zab. The mature, focused and respectful version that was here to stay.

Then, just as the disappointment had fallen over the seven year old me on the day that “I’m sorry” failed, I felt that sudden disappointment once again. Judah began to go on a tirade about his “greatness”. This was followed by how Cotto was just an up and comer that he would put in his place.

Judah began to brag, then discredit his opponent. He had brought back the old Zab Judah. The overconfident, self absorbed Judah that cost him the first Spinks fight and the Baldomir bout, in which he lost the undisputed welterweight crown.

If that weren’t enough, Cotto did not look at all pleased with Zab’s comments. Making a guy like Cotto mad at you is not exactly wise for a guy who has only fought two minutes in over a year. It was the Nady incident and Mayweather bout all over again. Judah had mentally self destructed. If he destructs on June 9 against Cotto, one of the top fighters in the game today, Judah’s career will destruct with it and he knows this.

Boxing fans have heard the same lines from Joe Calzaghe and Zab Judah one to many times.

Joe has been promising to leave Wales and seek out one of the top guys in or around 168 for longer then I care to remember. Longer then even the loyalist Calzaghe supporters care to remember, to the point that the promise has become as much a myth as his nickname Welsh Dragon implies.

You know, if you were to actually see a dragon, it would be a grand sight that would leave you in awe. Yet in your heart, the knowledge of knowing that the chances of it happening are slim to none keeps you from getting to wrapped up in the mystique of it all, until you finally dismiss the idea.

Like that dragon, Joe Calzaghe is on his way to becoming just a myth and will be dismissed by everyone but his most loyal fans and along with his chances of being remembered as an all time great.

Judah has left and come back more times than a WWE legend. He loses to Tszyu, then comes back to win the WBO Light Welterweight title, promising the first “New” Zab Judah. After one defense, he jumps to welterweight.

A few fights later, he loses to Cory Spinks due to the fact that Judah was, just like in the Tszyu fight, overconfident and he overlooked the slick St Louis fighter. After that loss, Judah returns again a new man for the second time and earns his rematch with Spinks.

Judah dominates and then KO’s Spinks, claiming the WBA, WBC and IBF world titles, along with the undisputed world champion moniker only to repeat his trademark mistake yet again by overlooking Carlos Baldomir. Zab not only lost all his belts but his pound for pound status as well in that fight.

Judah then trains harder then ever to face rival Floyd Mayweather Jr., vowing to dispose of the pound for pound champion. Given little chance at all to succeed, Judah handily won the first five rounds against Pretty Boy, exposing flaws in Mayweather’s armor and even stunning him with a left.

Judah had everything going his way like clockwork but by the seventh round, when things were not going just as planned, Judah started to self destruct, becoming reckless and even causing a mini riot in the ring. After all was done in that fight, Judah earned himself a loss and a suspension.

Now, here we are, to believe once again he has changed. Grown up. Become a new man. Words we have all heard before. This time, his mouth started to show through the disguise before his second return bout. Like with Calzaghe’s claims of looking to fight the best there is to offer, Judah’s antics are becoming more and more ignored, putting him in danger of undoing all that he has accomplished.

As these two fighters reach the climax of their careers, they both want one thing; to be remembered as a great and each of them knows exactly what needs to be done to accomplish this.

Judah has been the holder of five world titles. Joe Calzaghe is boxing’s longest reigning champion. Success is nothing new to them. One still holds his riches. The other knows what he needs to claim more of them. Except now, it is not titles they fight for. It is their legacy, because every other professional dream has been fulfilled. It seems to me at this moment, the only obstacle standing in their way is themselves.

If they retired tomorrow, both would be remembered as top fighters of their era. Yet neither seems satisfied with that. They seem to want more. Except, like a seven year old boy who learned the hard way that saying”I’m sorry” doesn’t always get you out of trouble.

They to will learn their lessons the hard way. Telling the world how great you are and where your rightful place among the all time greats should be doesn’t get you there. Unlike that seven year old, these two don’t have time to ponder it over and learn from their mistakes.