Who would have thought a year ago that the world would be turned upside down by an unknown virus virtually appearing from nowhere?
Who would have thought a year ago that we would be confined to our houses and prohibited from leaving such quarters?
Who would have thought a year ago that no live sport would be taking place, and that major events would be canceled or postponed?
Who would have thought a year ago that we would be walking around with masks, socially distancing ourselves and told no more hugging, kissing and shaking hands?
Who would have thought a year ago that airlines would not be flying and that people could not travel from one country to another?
The world have changed, and until such time that a vaccine knocks out this dreaded Covid-19 virus, it will remain changed.
We are a boxing community and the virus and the impact thereof has certainly affected us all.
Boxers who are reliant on fighting to earn their income are struggling on all fronts. Managers, trainers, cut men, promoters are all facing a similar predicament.
We are down, but we are a boxing community and we are not out.
In fact, we will get up and eventually knock out this virus and return to some semblance of normality.
While we sit during these difficult times – times of illness, death, economic decline, we still have choices.
Our choice should be to not take things for granted in the future, but more important to stand up tall and be positive.
Boxing will be back and will be back bigger and better than ever before.
Yes – we will learn lessons from this current climate, and yes – we will embrace the future with gained knowledge but one thing is for sure: no-one and nothing can and will destroy the greatest sport in the world, a sport with the greatest people in the world and a sport with spirit, humility, courage and dignity.
That is our world of boxing.
Stay safe and I hope to see you all sooner rather than later.
Until next time, keep punching.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing Federation
