November 5, 2024

THE ESSENCE OF A BOXING SUPERSTAR

WBC

WBCnews

By James Blears

Boxing`s  select band of superstars possess God given gifts, burning unquenchable ruthless ambition,  cast iron determination as well as granite chins,  awesome power and perfect timing,  but there`s yet more to being a head and shoulders above the rest…even World Champions.
At the launch of Hublot`s new edition watch at the St Regis Hotel,  in the heart of Mexico City,  a quartet of all time greats, namely:  Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez, Roy Jones Jr and Gennady Golovkin were each presented with a brand new exquisite time piece,  and took the time to consider and muse upon what makes them all time Greats.

Locquacious as ever Roy,  was absolutely certain of the ingredients that cement the icing to  the top layer soufflé:  “Heart!!!  Julio Cesar Chavez fought them all!  Salvador Sanchez fought them all!  I fought them all!  We know we may lose, but so what.  It`s  not about that.  It`s about making it happen for the fans who pay to see us fight.  Everything nowadays is so watered down.  It`s not reality any more.
“A superstar walks the walk and talks the talk…all the time.  Not just inside the ring, but outside of the ring.  And he`s respectful to his comrades and anybody else he comes into contact with.  God gave him the power, so he  embraces it, and he walks around like is means something.  Not just like I`m better than anyone else.”

Roberto Duran, legendary for his ferocious, mercurial  competitive nature replied:  “A superstar is much greater than a champion of the moment.  For me the fight is absolutely everything.  Your best moment is your first world title, but then there MUST be more and more.  Also,  in the moments of the fight there is fury,  but afterwards we are friends.”

Gennady Golovkin Golovkin, who was mobbed by the media,  fielding rapid fire questions thicker and faster than punches, momentarily mused: “It`s sheer hard work.  Harder work than anyone else.  It`s my dream, then it`s my, ideal,  then my plan and that I`m going to do it for certain.”

And Julio who was laughingly advising us all to: “Push it,”  as the throng intensified, stressed: “Nowadays there are several champions in each division.  Yet previously,  it was so much harder and more difficult to become a world champion, because you were fighting the best of the best!  Those fights were more competitive.  Now it`s much more to do with marketing.”

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