one of my most vivid and heartbreaking memories as a boxing fan is that of Erik Morlaes sitting on the canvas during his fight with Manny Paquia. after boxing admirably for several rounds, Morales took a blow that landed him on the canvas. he then did something that i thought was both completely out-of-character and unforgivable--he shook his head, as if to signal, "this is the end...i cannnot win this fight." to me, that was unthinkable. a great fighter like him? giving up? calling the fight?
my foray into grad school has felt like watching that fight between Morales and Paquia. i'm morales. i can't keep swinging trying to win this match. i'm shaking my head. i'm on the canvas. i can't. stop the struggle. it's over.
Morales' defeat that night does not erase his excellent trajectory in the world of boxing. he will always be a great fighter. his defeat only proves that not all fights are won--and sometimes the fighter has to call his own fight.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
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