Kid Dynamite
I was not a boxing fan growing up. I didn’t have much of a chance of that living in a single mother house with 2 women (mom & sister). I’ll never forget, though, one boxing match I did watch. I was staying with my dad in the summer, and we were at a beach house in South Carolina.
Every year, I would travel with my dad from Florida to the Myrtle Beach area for a huge family reunion. During one of these trips (I was in elementary school at the time), my older cousins were watching ABC Wide World of Sports or something, and a boxing match was on.
The match featured Mike Tyson, known among other names as Kid Dynamite.
Tyson, leading up to and in his prime, was a lean, mean boxing machine. He was all muscle and no fear.
Not being a boxing fan, I didn’t understand what I was witnessing, but my cousins did. Tyson’s opponent (honestly, I have no idea who it was because it doesn’t matter) was knocked out in less than a minute.
It was amazing.
Within a minute, the boxing match has begun and ended with a body heaped on the ground.
This wasn’t abnormal for Mike Tyson. 8 of his matches ended in less than a minute. Tyson was a beast, and everyone of his opponents knew it. The Kid was unbeatable.
Until he wasn’t.
Fat and Happy
Iron Mike (another nickname) was amazing. He won his first 19 professional fights by knockout – 12 in the first round! He was able to win the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world title in in 1988, and he defended his various titles (IBF, WBA & WBC) successfully 9 times over a several year period.
Then in 1990 (25 years ago this week), Tyson faced a relative unknown – James “Buster” Douglas. Douglas was supposed to be a warm-up for the real, next contender – Evander Holyfield. But Iron Mike came in soft.
Tyson officially weighed in only 2 pounds heavier than his previous fight, but something was missing. During the bout, he was slower than normal. He looked for the big knockout blow, rather than really boxing.
After 10 rounds, for the first time ever, Tyson was knocked out. Kid Dynamite lost his titles, and he would never regain what only moments before he had.
The story is typical. Mike got distracted by life and success. He was the champion, and Douglas was a nobody. Maybe physically, Iron Mike prepared, but mentally and emotionally he wasn’t ready.
The rest is history. Mike Tyson was arrested for rape, spent 3 years in prison, attempted to regain his title from Evander Holyfield (twice) and famously bit off Holyfield’s ear.
ATTACK
My Word for 2015 is ATTACK. I’ve never achieved anything like Mike Tyson had. He was a superstar. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get complacent.
Like Iron Mike, I can easily get comfortable with my life. I can say enough is enough. I did it before, I can do it again. I’m ready.
I’ve decided to ATTACK the year.
Life is good, but that doesn’t mean it’s good enough. God has more for me, so I’m going to ATTACK.
I’m not going to be another Kid Dynamite.
What about you? Have you become complacent? What do you need to ATTACK this year?
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