The Hurting Game
August 22nd is the date and the Cosmopolitan Casino and Hotel is the venue. My team mate, Badou Jack will defend his WBC world super middleweight championship title against my fellow west Londoner, George Groves in the main event.
It’s the third week of training camp. Six more tough weeks to go. I’ve got 38 victories spanning 12 years in 45 professional fights. The show will be televised by Showtime in America and Sky Sports in Britain. I’ll be looking forward to getting my sixth win with Mayweather Promotions and my 39th overall on this show.
Each week has gotten harder, and harder. We’ve been pushing the limits each week and we’ve added some new training techniques to my programme. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished article in 6 weeks from now.
From mountain runs to track workouts, boxing sessions, strength conditioning, yoga, Pilates and swimming. Training camp is no joke, especially with the additional goal of dropping 10% of your body weight during this nine week process. Camp is stressful. It’s vital to be surrounded by an understanding and supportive team.
It’s not just the significant physical and emotional work load that sits squarely on my shoulders, but there’s also a lot that goes on that you have no control over. It’s essential that you have the trust in your team to make and take the decisions that will achieve your goals, and provide the platform necessary for an optimum performance.
In time we all learn that success is never straight forward. Glory doesn’t come without major sacrifice. My job hasn’t become any easier since I chose this path in 2002. I’m doing all I can – having faith, believing in myself and continuing to work hard.
Former world champion, Luis Collazo fought Keith Thurman on Saturday in Tampa, Florida. I’ve sparred with Luis a few times in NYC, and back in the summer of 2012 I came close to fighting Keith. I ended up as a boxing analyst for that boxing match for Boxnation TV.
140lb undisputed champion Danny Garcia recently enquired about my availability to be one of his sparring partners for his fight with two weight world champion, Paul Malignaggi on August 1st. I sparred Paulie back in 2006, at Gleason’s Gym in NYC. I’m expecting a very competitive match.
“The short and tragic life of Robert Peace” by Jeff Hobbs is a brilliant book I’m currently reading in my diminishing free time – it’s hard hitting, instructive and seriously gripping.
Remember, for everything you have lost, you have gained something else. Without the dark, you would never see the stars.
