M S Nazki
The same hand that can write a beautiful poem, can knock you out with one punch—that’s Poetic Justice! But boxers are of that kind………!
Never Fight ugly people—they have nothing to Lose. An unknown boxer!
Boxing’s not that straightforward,” said Eldric. “You can practice and practice, but the real experience will always be different. Lots of things are like that, actually………― Franny Billingsley, Chime
In life and in a boxing ring, the defeat is not declared when you fall down. It is declared only when you refuse to get up………….!
Rhythm is everything in boxing. Every move you make starts with your heart, and that’s in rhythm or you’re in trouble. Your rhythm should set the pace of the fight. If it does, then you penetrate your opponent’s rhythm. You make him fight your fight, and that’s what boxing is all about………..
One way, he thought, the whole thing of ring fighting was hurting somebody else, deliberately, and particularly when it was not necessary. Two men who have nothing against each other get in a ring and try to hurt each other, to provide vicarious fear for people with less guts than themselves. And to cover it up they called it sports and gambled on it. He had never looked at that way before, and if there was any single thing he could not endure it was to be a dupe……………!
As usual history of boxing:
Boxing is one of the world’s oldest combat sports, tracing its roots over 3,000 years to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
The sport evolved from ancient Olympic bareknuckle brawling into a highly regulated global phenomenon defined by the Marquess of Queensberry Rules and iconic athletes.
Ancient Origins: Fistfighting dates back to mankind’s prehistory, with the earliest visual evidence found in Sumerian relief carvings from the 3rd millennium BCE.
Ancient Greece: Boxing was added to the Olympic Games in 688 BCE, where fighters wrapped their hands in leather straps (himantes) and fought without rounds until a winner was decided.
Ancient Rome: The Romans expanded on the sport, taking it from the Olympic arena to deadly gladiatorial combat involving metalstudded wraps.
The Birth of Modern Boxing: After a long hiatus following the fall of Rome, fistfighting reemerged in 17thcentury England as a bareknuckle prize fight.
The Broughton Rules (1743): Champion Jack Broughton introduced the first set of rules to formalize the sport and reduce fatalities, which included giving downed fighters 30 seconds to recover.
Marquess of Queensberry Rules (1867): Written by John Graham Chambers, these rules revolutionized the sport and established the modern blueprint: they mandated the use of padded gloves, instituted threeminute rounds, introduced a tensecond knockout count, and defined weight classes.
The Golden Age to the Modern Era: Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the “sweet science” transitioned into a mediadriven global spectacle.
Early 1900s: Trailblazers like Jack Johnson (the first Black heavyweight champion) and Joe Louis elevated the sport culturally.
The Superstar Era (1960s1980s): Muhammad Ali revolutionized boxing with his incredible footwork, speed, and cultural impact. This era also produced legends like Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Roberto Duran.
Modern Boxers: Payperview stars like Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (who finished his career 500), Manny Pacquiao, and Canelo Álvarez have dominated the contemporary era.
Ten top boxers of all times:
Determining the ten best boxers of all time is a highly debated subject, but a consensus among historians and fans generally centers on fighters who demonstrated unparalleled dominance, skill, and impact.
The top ten boxers, in no particular order, include: Sugar Ray Robinson: Often cited as the greatest poundforpound fighter in history, known for his incredible speed, power, and versatility across multiple divisions.
Muhammad Ali: The “Greatest,” renowned for his charismatic personality, brilliant footwork, and historic victories over legendary heavyweights like Sonny Liston, George Foreman, and Joe Frazier.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.: A defensive genius with a flawless (500) professional record, who won world titles in five different weight classes.
Manny Pacquiao: The only eightdivision world champion in boxing history, celebrated for his relentless aggression, speed, and power.
Joe Louis: “The Brown Bomber” held the heavyweight championship for over a decade and is remembered as one of the most devastating punchers of all time.
Henry Armstrong: An offensive machine who simultaneously held world titles in three different weight classes during an era when there were fewer divisions.
Roberto Durán: Known as “Hands of Stone,” he was a legendary lightweight and welterweight champion renowned for his ferocious brawling and longevity.
Rocky Marciano: The only heavyweight champion to finish his career undefeated with a perfect 490 record.
Jack Johnson: The first African American heavyweight world champion, who dominated the division during the early 1900s.
Sugar Ray Leonard: A dynamic and electrifying champion who won titles in five weight classes and won spectacular bouts against other alltime greats like Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler.
Time for two short stories:
Leo stepped into the ring, taping his hands with practiced precision. The only spectator in the dimly lit gym was Maya, who had traded her ballet slippers for a heavy bag years ago.
She was his anchor, teaching him that the truest strength wasn’t measured by a knockout blow, but by the courage to stand back up.
Their love was a quiet sanctuary away from the punishing roar of the crowd. Maya was the only one who saw the gentle soul hiding behind his calloused knuckles and bruised exterior.
Whenever training camp left Leo battered and exhausted, it was her soothing hands and unwavering belief in him that healed his spirit.
One evening, just weeks before his championship bout, Leo sat on the canvas, defeated and ready to walk away from the sport.
Maya walked over, knelt beside him, and softly placed her hands over his. In that intimate moment, she became his most sacred defense and his fiercest motivation.
She reminded him of the champion she saw inside his heart. Inspired by her grace, Leo found the courage to keep fighting. When he finally claimed the championship title, the very first thing he did was look to the corner of the arena, finding Maya smiling back at him.
Story2
A deeply moving and wellknown true love story from the Indian boxing community is the romance between sixtime world champion Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom and her former husband, Onler Kom.
Before Mary Kom became an international icon, she struggled to fund her training in Imphal, Manipur. In 2001, she lost her luggage and sports gear in Delhi while returning from a tournament.
Desperate and stranded, she called a fellow Manipuri student leader, Karung Onkholer (Onler), for help. Onler stepped in immediately, supporting her at the station and ensuring she safely returned home.
What started as a supportive friendship quickly blossomed into love. When Mary’s father initially objected to her pursuing boxing—fearing it would ruin her chances of marriage—Onler stood fiercely by her side.
He actively encouraged her athletic dreams, becoming her confidant, manager, and biggest promoter.
The couple married in 2005.When Mary’s international career took off, requiring her to travel for months at a time, Onler made the ultimate sacrifice: he put his own career on hold to manage the household and raise their children.
His unwavering support behind the scenes allowed her to focus entirely on winning medals for India, creating a remarkable partnership that defined her legacy.
Boxing in Rajouri:
Boxing in Rajouri truly took off as a competitive sport around 2023, following the establishment of a dedicated boxing facility at the Rajouri Sports Stadium under the Indian government’s Khelo India scheme.
The Spark: The Rise of Mohd YasirThe sport’s popularity and local pride were cemented by the incredible story of Mohd Yasir (also known as Yasser).
The Beginning: Yasir and his younger brother were discovered by local boxing coach Ishtyaq Malik, who recognized their raw talent and brought them into the professional training program at the Khelo India centre.
Overcoming Adversity: Yasir’s journey started against severe odds. Following the loss of his father and family home, he worked odd jobs—like cooking for MBBS students and doing domestic work—to support his family while training.
Making History: In 2025, Yasir made regional history by winning a gold medal at the SubJunior National Boxing Championship in Noida.
This momentum propelled him to further international success, eventually securing a gold medal at the U15 Asian Boxing Championship and becoming a celebrated sporting icon in the Pir Panjal region.
Local ImpactCoach Ishtyaq Malik and the opening of the Khelo India training centre turned the Rajouri Sports Stadium into a recognized hub for raw talent. Yasir’s meteoric rise—from training against harsh financial realities to representing the country on an international stage—brought national attention to Rajouri’s boxing scene, inspiring a new wave of local youth to take up the sport.
Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. The old white man didn’t look into your eyes, he looked clear through your eyes, and straight to the inside of the back of your head. ‘Instead of running from pain, which is the natural thing in life, in boxing you step to it, get me!………..!
The Indian Army plays a transformative role in promoting boxing in Rajouri, acting as a primary catalyst for youth engagement and grassroots development in this remote border region.
Key Initiatives and Roles Grassroots Tournaments & Leagues: The Indian Army organizes a vast majority of local sports tournaments in Rajouri. By hosting local boxing events, the Army provides young, untapped talent with a structured platform to compete, display their skills, and gain exposure.
Promoting a DrugFree Culture: Through major outreach programs like the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, the Army uses boxing and other martial arts to steer local youth away from substance abuse. Physical training is used as a constructive tool to build discipline, patriotism, and social responsibility
.Providing Infrastructure & Coaching: The military works collaboratively with local administrations and Khelo India centers in Rajouri to provide young athletes with free training, equipment, and mentorship.
This continuous support helps identify and train local champions, despite the region’s historical lack of sports facilities.
Building a Pipeline to National & International Glory: The combination of Armybacked grassroots programs and dedicated local coaching has produced historic results.
Notably, young prodigies from the region—such as 14yearold Mohammad Yasser from Darhal—have won gold medals at National and Asian Junior Boxing Championships. These successes put Rajouri on the Asian sporting map and serve as powerful inspirations for other children in the district
Boxer Mohammad Yassir from Rajouri awarded Rs 2 Lakh Cash Award and Rs 1.00 Lakh Scholarship by Commissioner/ Secretary Dr Shahid Choudhary IAS.
Yasir achieved this distinction by defeating Nelson Khwairakpam of Manipur in the final. Despite financial constraints, Yasir did not give up. His mother, Naseem Akhtar, works as a domestic help, while Yasir earned money by cooking for MBBS students for his studies and training.
International Triumph: Yasser represented India and secured the gold medal in the U15 Asian Boxing Championship held in Uzbekistan.
Hardship to Glory: Raised in difficult financial circumstances by a single mother (his father passed away), he often relied on determination and local support to pursue his training under coach Ishtiaq Malik.
Government Support: Recognizing his extraordinary achievement and the need to support his international training, Commissioner Secretary (Youth Services & Sports) Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary and the district administration provided him with a financial package of a Rs 2 Lakh cash award and a Rs 1 Lakh scholarship.
Fourteenyearold boxing prodigy Mohammed Yasir (Yasser) from Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, competes in the Under15 category, primarily fighting in the 58 kg (and occasionally the 52–55 kg) weight division.He recently etched his name in history by winning the Gold Medal in the 58 kg division at the Asian Boxing Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Prior to this, he also bagged gold at the SubJunior National Boxing Championship in the 52–55 kg category.
So we arrive at the final cut: In the ring of life, remember, no one can strike you harder than life itself. In the realm of boxing and life, the most formidable blows are dealt not by opponents in the ring but by the challenges life throws at you! Think it over………!
