Realpolitik

I've been saving this photo for a special occasion - one
really appropriate for such a well-known photo.

Obviously, the photo shows Muhammad Ali being knocked down against his greatest opponent - Smokin' Joe Frazier.

Ali was just returning from a three-year long ban for refusing to join the Army and serve in Vietnam. The IBC strpped him of his title and nearly all he'd worked for - a hit he couldn't dodge. It was a harder hit than anything any opponent could throw in the ring. The results were devastating.

Those three years away from boxing are argued to have been his prime years. Ali returned nonetheless. And after making great progress, Frazier handed him his first career loss in a brutal battle.

Ali gets stripped of his world and achievements (arguably deserved), costing him the best fighting years of his life - then he comes back only to be defeated by the very man he was sure he could defeat. The series of events is enough to cripple even the best fighter in the history of boxing.

There's a lot to this story we don't know. We don't know what Ali did to train and get his mind right for a one-of-a-kind comeback. He did whatever it took. He won, and his end justified whatever means it took.

What we do know is Ali did come back. He brought himself to a level far beyond the competition. Newcomer George Foreman took Ali's prize belst from Frazier by knocking him down six times in two rounds before the entire fight was called off. Ali beat young Foreman in Africa and went on to survive two more wins over Frazier, including the Thrilla In Manila.

What if Ali never came back after being banished? What if he never continued after his embarassing loss to Frazier. What if he didn't find the means necessary.

Well this Champ did get back up. He ate his loss and the crushing banishment to regain the title after his own series of devastating events.

The blow that took the Champ out of the game came from somewhere else - a judgement. He was the fast-talking, over-confident Champ who knew he could win - people wanted him to lose. He was completely unprepared for this blow. Not only had he trained, but mastered what the Champ thought was the most important aspect of this fight. He channeled all his energy into this area, thinking it would win. He was wrong.

Something went wrong in the end of the 7th round. He went down. He didn't see it coming at all. Even though the Champ fought to get up three times in the same round - he had to stay down. And that was that. His entire life was in danger. It was a painful choice. He had to make the decision and it cost him everything.


Five years, and one comeback later, the Champ is in the ring again - and regained his title.

End justifies the means - and this is a perfect example. And to that end, I say Realpolitik.