WHO IS IN YOUR CORNER??

Last Saturday waking up to Sunday of last week.Boxing fans around the world were treated to one of the biggest matches in the recent past to echo the words of promoter Frank Waren of Bloomsberry promotions.

The bout dubbed "Don't Blink" involved two British boxers who were very difficult to predict going by their matching abilities.The card was so close that it seemed that whoever pulled one wrong move or blinked would give their opponent significant advantage.The match ended in an 11th round referee stoppage.

Fabio Wardley the then incumbent WBO heavyweight champion got a really bad day in the office.By the time the man in the middle was stopping the fight he was barely seeing anything infront of him.The "Ipswich bomber" suffered a significant cut on his nose that bled quite profusely and the left eye was closed due to another swelling.Unbelievably, Fabio was still hanging in there, willing to still go all the way to the 12th and last round and loose by a unanimous decision rather than by TKO.Remarkably so,Fabio Wardley never once touched the canvas despite the huge barrage of combos coming his way.

Daniel" Triple D" Dubois the former champion and challenger had been dropped in the very first round and was again dropped in the third round only to like a phoenix coming from the ashes rise to pull a stellar performance.

Noticeably, Dubois seemed to have a very charged team in his corner.When the bell rang to end a round, especially in the first few where he was being caught with jabs dropping to the floor.His coach one 65yr old Don Charles would be heard shouting "hey Daniel,how are you feeling? ,you are not making use of your jab" ,and blah blah blah.

Then something remarkably unusual happened around the fourth round to the surprise of many.When Dubois was rising from his corner seat to get back to work.His coach Don Charles asked him to look into his eyes and delivered two rapid back to back slaps on his cheeks .

.And that's when all hell broke loose.That was the Damascus moment right there.Dubois completely switched on and brought out his A game in the next rounds dominating Fabio all the way to victory.And when the stoppage came ,you can only imagine how merrily his corner jumped into the ring to celebrate this victory.They had the world title back in their corner.

During the post match interview ,Daniel Dubois confessed to not having his head in the right place getting into the fight.He had come from a loss in his previous fight so his nerves were on him.Performance anxiety taking its toll.His corner even though he was being dropped.Including in the very first round didn't loose hope on him.They,believing it was in his ability to take the title back kept pushing him.Dubois also said he really needed those slaps from his coach,and it was for this reason that he dug deep and got back to a winners mindset.

In life as would be in a boxing match.Where for the "gladiators" their reputation is at stake.

Most times even their life is on the line(it's arguably the most dangerous sport in the world).Most times even family is around,think of kids watching daddy or even mummy these days,being thoroughly outboxed(must be traumatic).It comes down to who is it that you have in your corner.Do you have people who genuinely want to see you win,believe in you and would even go unconventional(the slaps)if you attempted to lag or shy away from an achievement that they know you deserve and has thoroughly been prepped for .

The importance of support systems even in everyday life cannot be downplayed.Fabio had a corner,skillful but probably a bit passive. Doing a casual job,probably having already done the math for the oncoming pay cheque if he won or otherwise.....But Dubois' corner had zeal,they knew a second loss would only work against his career going forward.They were hungry and they wouldn't let a cloudy judgement,nerves or shreds of uncertainty in their boxers mind stand on the way.Especially when they so well knew his acumen, combined with the preparation they had given him towards the fight.

The poignant question then becomes. Who do you have in your corner?.As has been clearly demonstrated, at times it's all that matters.The composition of your corner will directly correlate to your positive or negative trajectory.You are the average of...bad company corrupts...and other maxims have already been stated to this respect.Then look who is in your corner, and make sure it's comprised of the right men and women.And in my opinion, we all need a Don Charles.That person who is willing to even be a little mean for a good course.When it's possible to be cacooned in pity party,disblief and other unbecoming shenanigans that would block sight to the prize.

Shshsh.Someone just said they don't have a corner ,let alone know who it should comprise.And the response becomes,we all should advisably have a corner,there's no way you can go form A to Z to completion all stand alone.A corner would lighten the work by a huge margin,give clarity and much needed insight.So they should create a corner,network with the right people,the like minded and take it up from there.

You may all break,the sermon is over.

Ok kidogo...,Fabio Wardley has already activated the rematch clause so we are going to have a second take even within this year God willing.Plus I really like it that there's no bad blood between the two.There's mutual respect and sportsmanship.It's purely for the sports. No,for business. Yes, in perks worth millions of GBP's.