How are you?
There’s nothing I can’t do. I do things more in moderation. I listen to my body a lot more than I used to. When my body tells me to slow down, I heed that advice.
Mentally, spiritually, I’m in a very good place right now. I have been five years sober. My relationship with my kids is wonderful, and with my wife, it is amazing. I am in a good place. You know what I found out? That the simple things are the most important things in life. I really smell the roses.
Do you stay in your boxing shape?
I am getting older. As a boxer, as an athlete, I was in super-superb shape. I think I feel that we as individuals, if we took better care of ourselves, we’d live a better life. We neglect our bodies for the fortune. Now I understand there has to be a balance between monetary and physical things, that’s your body. Your body is a great asset.
When did you notice when you were less agile, your response time was slower?
I talk about that all the time, to young, up-and-coming athletes. I felt that way when I turned 40, because I was not as focused. I didn’t have the same commitment that I had when I was in my 20s or maybe 30s. I was preoccupied with other things instead of what I call tunnel vision. Tunnel vision is total focus. It’s like looking through the tunnel, you see straight ahead, and you’re not distracted or deterred. I was at my best when I had tunnel vision.
Why did you lose your tunnel vision in your 40s?
I was at a point in my life, at the time, that I allowed myself distractions, whether that was because of my marriage, about being with my kids, a bad deal, all those things are factors.
You mean substance abuse — drugs and alcohol?
All of the above.
What are you doing now?
I give motivational speeches around the world and use fighting as a metaphor. We are all fighters, even outside of the ring, because we need great corners, or a great stab. Everything that allowed me to be a world champion inside that ring gives you that same success outside the ring.
Tell me how you balance your day.
All the years I dedicated myself to boxing, I always ran about 5, 5.30. I still get up early, about 6. I don’t want to disturb my wife. I tend to go downstairs. I read or open all the windows to let the sunshine in. I work out in my home gym. I have a bunch of punching bags in my house. I do anything to break into a sweat within 20 minutes. I am still trying to convince myself to stretch more, which we all should do as we get older: We lose our flexibility. I haven’t totally convinced myself.
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