Unwritten

A brotherhood was forged in blood, sweat and tears. We started our boxing career roughly the same time. We spoke great dreams and aspirations that one day we would climb to the top of the ladder and to bring home the gold medal in the Olympics. Since we were just kids starting out, we pushed each other to the limits to make that dream a reality. As iron sharpens iron, we excelled in the sport to become the best fighters representing our gym. Under the tutelage and guidance under watchful eyes of our coach, it created a platform in which our skills, technique and athleticism flourished.

It was a cold February morning in 2008. Reveille was 6am. I quickly got dressed and embraced the cold for a routine morning run. Today was the final qualifier for the Canadian Olympic boxing team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The streets in white snow so pure, it sparkled with the sweet scent of fresh air. As serene and relaxing it may have seen, my mind was quickly focused to the task at hand; qualifying for the Olympic team. The qualifier was a tournament elimination style match. I was victorious in all my fights, advancing to the finals. As I climbed into the ring for the finals, I thought to myself, “This is it…the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole entire life”. I looked across the ring at my opponent. To my startling surprise, Adam stood there in his corner mirroring my disbelief. The opening bell sounded, the 4 rounds that followed changed our relationship and comradery, forever. This was it. We’ve dreamed about it, we’ve talked about it and most importantly, we are passionate about it and we’ve dedicated a lifetime of sacrifice for it. We’ve come so far with countless of hard work, pushing beyond the point of exhaustion and pain. Winning would validate that it was worth it after all. 2008 Beijing Olympics meant the world to me. It meant more than just proudly representing and wearing the Canadian emblem on our team uniforms, but a chance to compete against the best in the world on the biggest stage in front of my home land, my heritage and most importantly the people of my nationality. What had quickly transpired was our rivalry and our quest for supremacy. But in every corner of the world, the quest for supremacy is in some form is evident. Men seek power over one another. The power that gets wealth, influence…and in its strongest forms; immortality – a guarantee of being remembered long after one’s greatest days have passed. This stage is created for the express purpose of determining supremacy.

But sometimes in extraordinary circumstances, the result inside the ring differs startlely from the realities evolved far beyond. Three and a half years ago, Adam and I found ourselves pitted against each other in the ring for the Olympic team qualifier match. And 4 exhilarating rounds of boxing, revealed only how even of a match we were. An evening that yielded a victory in his favour in the eyes of the judges but also an echoing quantity of dispute between the fight fans in attendance that night. The bout hardly determined who was superior. From the time passed since, both of us have become world class fighters. Both of us broadened our horizons; competing around the world in higher profile matches, racking up wins with higher levels of competition and thus, refining our art in the sweet science. However, there can only be one who can rise to a standing that transcends his place in the sport…the Olympics. But inside these ropes, we both know that in its purest of forms, supremacy remains very much unresolved.

I’ve taken my defeat like a man. I never had any excuses to discredit Adam’s great performance as the victor that night. When asked about my poor performance that fateful night at the Olympic qualifier, I simply replied that he was the better man that night.

And as the Olympic trials draw near this time around, it is destiny that we meet again. This is not just another outing for either one of us. Both of us have a lot to prove, personally and professionally. I’ve been carrying this loss on my mind for the last three and a half years. It’s time to settle the score. It’s time to show who really reigns supreme.
This time will be different. I’m a lot better fighter than I was before. My body , mind and soul has never been more primed. The passion has returned; the warmth in my heart, peace in my soul and fire in my blood. The quiet rhythms of rural life have provided an ideal hamlet for training.

So this is where three years of ecstasy and agony, confusion and defiance, anger and tragedy have left us. As two men who agree on one truth; that the only way to resolve our saga is to reunite, and renew scrutiny right where it began. In a place that has no tolerance for conflicting narratives and no room for excuses nor explanations, only a simple capacity to render the most direct of verdicts.

I was once told, “A man doesn’t require the approval of others. He’s willing to follow his heart wherever it leads him. When a man is following his heart-centered path, it’s of little consequence if the entire world is against him.” May the best man win, may we make peace of the final outcome and finally bury the hatchet between us.