Reality vs. Fantasy

Before I offer brief thoughts about the Mike Tyson fight, I want to inform you that I’ve had trouble with my blog/website. It has taken a couple of weeks to fix various issues. The main issue (the Jetpack plugin) has been fixed, and some others (related to coding issues) have been fixed.

So, my apologies for my radio silence.

This will be a short post as the topic I’ll be discussing is already OLD NEWS.

Some have noted that professional boxing has declined in popularity relative to the UFC and MMA-related events. Many have attributed this to the remarkable marketing skills of Dana White and the UFC. There is something to this theory. It seems that boxing has been receding in popularity relative to MMA.

Due to this declining popularity, I have to give props to Netflix, Mike Tyson and Jake Paul for their brilliant marketing of this fight. More than 60 million tuned into Netflix to watch the fight. Unfortunately, due to this influx, Netflix had severe buffering issues. As a result, I could not see any of the undercard fights in its entirety. Whether this gives boxing a much-needed boost remains to be seen. At least this event got a huge amount of publicity.

While I missed the undercard fights due to the buffering issue, it cleared up in time for the main event.

My impressions of the main event? I was not entirely surprised.

Setting aside the issue of whether this was “scripted” or “fixed,” the age issue would rear its head. If you read my previous post about this fight, you will know that I gave Tyson the edge regarding experience. However, Father Time can be cruel and exact its toll on us, even Mike Tyson.

Tyson looked great in his pre-fight workouts. However, I noticed many clips were curated 10-second clips against a compliant trainer. Here’s an example.

For whatever reason, Iron Mike couldn’t take it to Jake Paul. The 30-year gap was just too much. I do not doubt that a 28-year-old Tyson would have knocked out Paul in the first round. No doubt. Anyway, the reality is that Tyson, at age 58, is not the Tyson of 1985 to 1988. Not close. He may look great for his age, but he ain’t the fearsome Tyson we all remember.

Here’s a decent recap of the fight.

How does this apply to us?

I know that some readers will say that this fight was fixed or scripted. Maybe it was. Let’s set that aside for a moment.

If you are a 50 or 60-year-old practicing martial arts, how realistic are you about self-defense skills? You better not be a fool and think you can take on anybody. Be real. I see folks at the gym who are younger, bigger, stronger, and probably faster than me.

My 42 years of experience in the martial arts may not be sufficient against the younger crowd. In addition, you never know what skills or experience they may bring to an encounter. It is better to reserve your martial skills as a last option and only for self-defense. Use the element of surprise and efficiency to defend yourself.

It is better to be grounded in reality than in fantasy. Right?

Be realistic and respect Father Time.

Speaking of Father Time, I am dealing with a right shoulder issue that has gotten progressively worse over the past six months. I recently had an x-ray that revealed “chronic dislocation at right AC joint.” It also revealed an “old nonunited fracture at distal end of right clavicle.” Yikes.

This is a 1987 martial arts injury finally catching up to me. I dislocated my right shoulder from doing a very high dive roll over a belt. As I dove over, I got snagged on the belt, affecting my descent and resulting in an awkward and painful landing on my shoulder. I popped my shoulder back in place. Oh my god, that was a painful moment. Long story short, I do not recall an x-ray being taken at the ER. After all, this is 37 years ago. After the ER visit, I visited a shoulder doctor who assured me that all was okay.

I’ve not seen an orthopedic or shoulder doctor since then.

I’ve had recurring problems with my right shoulder over the years. Most of the time, it presented as a dull ache at the end of the day. It’s possible that I aggravated my shoulder with my push-up challenge as I approached my 60th birthday. Oh well.

My shoulder is functional when I teach private lessons. However, it is often inflamed and painful at the end of the day. This is not good. My doctor prescribed Voltaren (diclofenac). It helps, but it is only a short-term solution.

I have an appointment with a shoulder practice group on Friday, January 17th and hope to get some answers. I’ll keep y’all posted on this.

Other stuff I’ve written

• Mike Tyson Vs Jake Paul
• Back in Action!
• Happy New Year!
• Paul Vunak and Filipino Martial Arts
• Dark Times Ahead?

Before you venture into the wild jungle of the Internet, might I persuade you to fuel my caffeine addiction?

I appreciate your kindness!

A huge thank you for your ongoing support!