The power and Glory of Boxing in the Olympics

By James Blears

We hope, we pray to The Almighty that the Full Assembly of the International Olympic Committee, will officially welcome back Boxing into the Los Angeles Summer Games, following a winter of discontent, transformed into blossoming fresh Spring, by the blooming marvellous efforts of our Guardian Angel- World Boxing under the leadership of WB President Boris van der Vorst and the heroic efforts of legendary champion Gennady GGG Golovkin.

The follies, foibles, failures and overall faux pas of AIBA, who then unsuccessfully tried to change its spots, blemishes, carbuncles and rubicund blushes, re-naming itself IBA, disillusioned the IOC about its stewardship of Olympic style boxing, and for the first time since 1904, the amateur arm of our beloved sport was lowered, as Boxing was banished.
World Boxing Led by Boris Van Der Vorst now has more than eighty national Federations, with new additional countries joining every day. In recognition of their tremendous efforts and dedicated work to save amateur boxing from the brink, the IOC`s Executive Committee has granted provisional approval, which will hopefully, God willing, be confirmed by the full Assembly.

Olympic Boxing is an essential apprenticeship en-route to the professional ranks. It provides a vital chance and a school of opportunity to yearning young people, often from modest homes and poor neighbourhoods to transform their lives, reaching from the cradle for the stars, while working diligently to transform their dreams into reality then glory, an Olympic medal.
The Olympic Games have written the first chapter of many glittering, illustrious careers, formulating legends. Cassius Clay who later re-named himself Muhammad Ali, was petrified of flying and almost had to be dragged on to the plane bound for the 1960 Rome Olympics.
He won the Gold Medal in the Light-heavyweight category, but on returning home to Louisville, Kentucky he was denied the right to buy a hamburger, as odious segregation was still rife. Disillusioned, he threw his medal into the Ohio River. Years later, after the battle for Civil Rights was won, he was humbled and touched to receive a replacement medal from the IOC.

In the 1964 Olympics Joe Frazier who was competing as a heavyweight, fractured the thumb of his left hand, famed for its crushing left hook, during the semi- final. Winning gold was so important to him that in spite of the injury and the searing pain, he fought and he won the final. That`s how much it meant!

Four years later, at the Mexico City Games, Big George Foreman won gold. He had learned to box in the Job Corps and it had turned his life around. While two hundred meters gold medallist Tommie Smith and bronze medallist John Carlos, gave Black Power salutes on their podium, victorious George walked around the ring waving a Stars and Strips flag. His own individual way of celebrating a key and enabling moment of his life. A turning point moment in history, leading to greatness.

Sugar Ray Leonard`s ambition was to win a Gold Medal in the Olympics which he gloriously achieved. But then his father needed treatment for diabetes and so he turned pro. The start of a legend.
Roy Jones Jr and Floyd Mayweather were controversially denied Olympic gold medals, respectively winning silver and bronze due to circumstances which were deeply regrettable. Yet it motivated and spurred both to excel as professional boxers striving towards superstardom.

Oscar De La Hoya, who himself won a gold medal, says it was his zenith achievement, dedicated to the memory of his Mother, who had died of cancer. In spite of all he subsequently achieved in his professional career, it stands out as the jewel in his crown.
The Trinity Icons of Olympic Boxing, each of whom won three gold medals are: Lazlo Papp, Teofilio Stevenson and Felix Savon. They are gold standard legends to which all young fighters aspire. To be the best once is a phenomenal achievement. To achieve it thrice is prizing open a shell to discover a pearl of great price.

One important motto of the Olympics is that it`s the taking part rather than the winning, which is the fundamental ethos. The Olympics is also the most viewed sporting event in the world. Countless millions are glued to their television sets, to see and savour the extraordinary feats of the greatest athletes. The sheer inspiration this engenders is beyond estimation. Boxing is without a doubt one of the most viewed sports in Olympic Games worldwide.
Such memorable moments as the Spinks brothers Leon and Michael winning Gold medals. Claressa Shields winning golds spanning two Olympics. Alfonso Zamora winning silver in the 1972 Munich Olympics, where eleven Israeli Athletes were massacred by gunmen of Black September.
Alfonso is the only Mexican boxer to have won a silver medal and then a professional world championship. He has just celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his pro bantamweight championship triumph. His Olympic glory and subsequent progression made all of this possible.

The Olympics is an odyssey for boxers. The start of a long road, riding the whirlwind chariot of the Gods, leading to summit of Mount Olympus.
Muhammad Ali so aptly said: ‘’He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.’’
Katie Taylor who won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics said: ‘’ Only the strongest shoulders can carry the hopes of a Nation.’’
Current Heavyweight King, Oleksander Usyk is a two time Olympic champion, so was Lomachenko giving Ukraine much pride.

Countless fighters who even did not achieve Olympic glory went on to conquer world championship in professional boxing.
Everyone who loves and lives and breathes Boxing, has combined to take the plunge, to swim against a riptide, so as to again reach terra- firma footing, trying with all of our might to regain Boxing`s rightful place in the Olympics.
We belong.
It has taken courage and fortitude to get this far, not losing sight of the objective.
Writer Andre Gide observed: ‘’You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.’’
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian, with twenty-eight medals, twenty- three of which are Gold, put it best: ‘’You can`t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get!’’