Someone told me once that winning is not as important as playing the game and having fun. Sure, having fun is one thing but winning is everything. Ask the boxer who comes out second in the contest if it feels as good as coming out first. To be a champion you need to be first. You need to win. Same as in business or a profession. You can live in mediocrity or you can excel. The choice is yours.

This may not be the 'popular' or 'politically correct' thing to say but good boxers never become champions. Great boxers do. Once in a 'blue moon' (I've never seen a blue moon) a good boxer wins a championship but a great boxer takes it away and usually keeps it for a length of time. The boxers who come in second generally never get to HBO, Showtime, and especially Pay-Per-View. Boxers that come in second are the ones that lost. It is amazing how often the big promoters and cable giants only want winners. The losers generally are not the ones that get the big opportunities. So yes, coming out second is no place for someone who wants to become a boxing champion.

Becoming a boxing champion is no different than running for political office...leading an army to war... or bidding for a job in your business. When you come out second you lose. Plain and simple..It is winning that counts. I know my peers reading this may give me a lot of criticism.and that I am being a little arrogant but the plan in becoming a champion is easy to understand . You have got to beat the other guy. You have got to win.

Everytime a boxer goes into the ring, his or her life is on the line. That is putting it bluntly. That is the choice and decision made by that boxer alone. When that bell rings every muscle in that boxer's body has to be ready to cooperate. So does the brain. I am not talking about brain damage but talking about using the mind. The mind must control everything. The mind must think like a winner..otherwise thinking like a loser can get you hurt. So the goal is to think winning.

The next best thing that comes into play is to fight with your heart. This is where heart now controls the mind...and the muscles within the body. At this point is where you will find the boxing champion. The champion who fights with heart and with a positive mental mindset along with great conditioning never leaves the ring coming in second...in other words losing.

Winning or losing by disqualification is the mark of a coward.not a boxer or true pugilist. You must have the heart to win by the rules and compete fairly...to know the rules and abide by them. That also makes a boxing champion.

I've learned the humblest of men are the strongest. Although some boxers who 'run their mouth' do win...sooner or later they've been forgotten. The only man who ever got away with this was Muhammad Ali who, in my opinion, today is very humble. The humble man is always remembered as a true champion..the champion of 'we'....not the champion of 'I'.

All champions don't mind the 'blood, sweat, and tears'..and if the truth be told..they enjoyed all the discipline and hard work they engaged in to become a winner. Deep in their hearts they know the intestinal fortitude they displayed in getting ready and prepared to become a boxing champion was all worth being called the 'winner'. I've never heard an announcer say.."And now the LOSER and new champion of the world." Yes, whether, you like it or not...Winning is everything.