I came so early in this filthy gym , for my amateur boxing match . Not something specific , but i need the couple of bucks to pay my rent .The month has passed and i’m behind 3 rents already . I’m not in my best shape , because i have missed many trainings on my neighborhood gym .

I can’t combine the boxing level of the physical training it needed even to participate , to these amateur “light” boxing matches , and to my daily job , as a ” tax collector” for a guy down in the docks .

But what can i do ?

I need the money and the “things” i do for my boss , pay my bills . To be honest with myself , i don’t like this “job” . I push myself to do it and sometimes tis is so painful . Maybe this is the reason for my stomachaches the last couple of days and the insomnia at nights .

I must find another job . A decent one . So , my coach and the owner of my training gym , would accept and don’t yell at me in any oppportunity he gets . But where is he ?He isn’t here with me . He didn’t like the idea of this very amateur boxing match , from the beginning .

He said , that i waste my time fighting these “silly bums” and smash my face for nothing .Anyway , i’ll step alone in the ring with an unknown guy in my corner to help me as usual .The other fighter isn’t anything scary to me .I walk towards the ring and i take a look to the surroundings .

Filthy tube pipes licking water , horrible lightning from some cheap flickering lamps , pieces of plaster and stuff falling from the roof , crap in the corners from tha gigantic rats , and the smell , JESUS .

Tons of Misery , poverty for misery & misery from poverty , lost dreams , abandoned dreams , abandonded lifes in luck , lost and abanonded eyesights , resigned lifes left in the hands of fate and other stuff which make me so sad .

A mix of moisture ,piss ,mold ,cigarettes and the most sad :

The spectators ?

Bankrupt pimps and gamblers ,some small neighborhood “dealers” of all kinds ,some neighborhood kids who are making the small favors to olders , some night pub -bad reputation- owners …..

All of them are counting some wrinkled bucks from their pockets and , and run to gumble them , hoping to make a “fortune” . If luck smile to them . We are in the second round and nothing of routine is happening .

I and the other guy , aren’t much of a fighters ,we are boxing as “bums” ,with no technic ,with no plan , with no “hunger” for victory ,with complete lack of class and beauty .

We are two “wasted” guys , who punch each other faces randomly as “apes” . My feet are so “heavy” , my arms are so “heavy” , my soul is so heavy . I feel so FAILED INSIDE ME . I think i don’t fight the other guy .

I PUNCH MYSELF !!!

The croud is yelling , cigarette smoke enters my lungs and eyes as i try to breathe , and i pray to finish this parody and go home .

But in the middle of some punches we give and as i’m in the ropes ,defending myself , the other boxer , sneaky and dirty he knocks me in the head with his head , which is utside the rules and rips my eyebrow .

The instant acute pain i feel , makes me mad .This “below the belt” dirty hit , WAKES ME from my misery life and enters me in ANOTHER MODE .

I DON’T BELONG HERE .

We are in the final round and the match will be judged in how many points we both have taken . No knock outs for us today i think , and i don’t care much .

The mode : I’LL DEMOLISH ANYONE and ANYTHING who wants my DEMOLISH !!!!!

I have experienced this reaction of mine a couple of times in my life , but i haven’t paid any attention , from where this reaction comes .

I only know this : this reaction of mine , COMES FROM DEEP DOWN INSIDE .

A couple of “different” punches from me , and the match ended with knock out .

Immediatelly , i take a look to the defeated , if he is ok and WITHOUT ANY HOSTILITY FEELINGS FOR HIM , i go to the locker room ,to take care my eyebrow and take my winners bucks .

Things with my eyebrow isn’t so bad , i clean my face a little bit and put out the tapes from my hands and wait for the match organizer to give the winners money .

Of course there are more , from the one who lost the fight . Oh , man there are less then i thought . I can only take a decent meal for tonight for me and my only friend in life , at home . Who cares .

The streets are empty , some sirens are “breaking” the dark silence of the night , but my inner sadness caused by my drifter life , cannot “break” so easily . I stop outside the pet-shop of the neighborhood , say hello to some kittens and a happy thought “invade” my mind .

And it isn’t only the contact with the cute kittens . In this pet-shop works , a woman I LIKE SO MUCH . I know her brother , but she doesn’t give me any attention . Maybe she’s shy .

Maybe she doesn’t like the bodyguard and fighting life style of mine .Maybe she doesn’t just don’t like me . Maybe she doesn’t want relationships with a bum like me . Maybe all the above together .

But i DON’T GIVE UP . Maybe one day i’ll succeed and take her out with me , in a date as all human do .

With this happy thought , i go home , feed my turtle and take a good sleep , because tomorrow , it is payment day for my boss and i must “terrorize” people , as a “good” bodyguard does .

My bones and head are hurting me so bad this morning , i must light a cigarette to relax the pain .I had a bad-payer down in the docks and my orders are to brake his little thumb , for his disrespect .

He cries a litte , he promises that next week everything will be ok and the thumb thing …… i let it go . Not that i would have break it , of course .When my boss learned this , he yelled at me a little but no big deal .

At noon , i go to my trainer’s gym to box a little . I haven’t trained for over a week now . But i try to open my locker and i can’t .It has a new name on it .I go to the coach to complain . He trains a new promishing guy , as he says to me that’s why he gave him , my locker .

I am NOTHING .

A bodyguard street bum . I take the way home so dissapointed and sad the same time . NOONE GIVES A DAMN FOR ME .

In the corner i see a little girl who lives near me , smoking and hanging out with some street guys . I take her with me back home , giving her some advices about bad and good companions .

Get lost loser (!) , she says to me , rising her middle finger a little(!) , to me before she enters her home , and i go to my own realizing , that i’m noone who is worthy to give advices to anyone . Finally i manage to make a date to my pet-shop lady , with a “help” of her brother .

A strange guy , who seems he’s hostile , but he isn’t bad i think . He has just abandon his dreams and surrendered to his fate . Oh , how nice this first date is .

We talk about our lifes and ambitions ,we ice-scating a little ,we laugh and the electricity between us ,can light up the hole town .

After we made love , my heart isn’t so cold and sad , anymore . I think i’ll never feel alone from now on . The days are passing and one day , a boxing message came for me and it was clear .The manager of the World’s Boxing Champion , wants you in his office the sooner you can .

What can a World Champion wants from me ? I put on my best clothes i have and go to the manager . After a little waiting and social talking , he “throws the bomb” .

The current World Champion wants to give to an unknown and amateur fighter , the opportunity to fight for the World Title !! The shock for me is beyond words . And a small BURNING inside me in the territory of my stomach , reveals .

JESUS , what i’ve just heard ?

After the first couple of days , in which i tried to reset my brain to all of this , some talk with my woman and a deeeper talk to myself , i said YES .

I will ACCEPTED THE FIGHT . Media and stuff are getting mad to all this story , and i’m in the middle of it .But beyond all this , i need a serious coach .

At night , the bell is ringing and my gym’s owner is outside my door .He enters and begins telling me the dangers of my fight with the Champ and what i must do .Till yesterday , he didn’t give a damn for me and now he wants to protect me spontaneously (!) with his advices .

The lights and publicity work like a “magnet” i suppose . But what do i think ?

This old guy isn’t like this .

I accept his offer and from now on HE WILL BE MY GUARDIAN angel – TRAINER .

The work infront of me is Mammoth . Four in the morning wake ups for 10 miles running to fix my aerobic resistance , heavy training with weights in the gym .

Work with the boxing-sack , mentality work , sparring with gym partners for fixing my technic and mistakes , hitting big beef meats(!) in my woman’s brother fridge work , to get tougher .

My daily diet had , beef for protein and 30 egg-whites per day .

The day of the big fight is getting closer . Before my sleep at nights , i only thing the big fight .Where am i going ? This “guy” will vanish me . All the ODDS ARE AGAINST ME .

Fear and SOMETHING ELSE i cannot specify , “occupy” my entire existance . Today is the day .I’m ready , i think . I take the blessings of a priest near my house and go .The stadium is full and wait .

My coach tells me i’m ready , i whisper i’m ready and the entrance of the champ makes the croud crazy . They love him very match .His body condition is beyond criticism .He seems so sure for himself .He is the World Champion . But i’ll do the best i can .

Round 1 :

He plays a little with me and i cannot even touch him , not hit him . The rounds are passing and i’m ON MY FEET .This is something he didn’t expect . Now he hits me real . His punches are like hammers in my head . But i’m STILL ON MY FEET .

My head is working as a boxing sack for him , but i’m STILL ON MY FEET .He wants to finish this parody and he comes with everything he has . And i PUNCH BACK with everything i’ve got .

I keep punching him with full power and i SEE HIM HURTING .

“ELECTRICITY ” penetrates my whole being . I ‘m STILL HERE my friend .

Come and get me . Hit me with everyhting you’ve got , I WON’T FALL NO MATTER WHAT .

NO MATTER IF I DIE IN HERE .

The champ cannot put me down , even if i have some falls , caused by his full power “hammer” hits .

BUT I GET UP . NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I’LL FALL , I WILL GET UP .The final ring , rings(!) and we are both badly wounded and our feet , emraced by exhaustion .

The fight has no winner . Finished equal for both .JESUS I’VE MADE IT !!!

I’M NOT A STREET BUM !!!!!!

I’M NOT A BUM ANYMORE !!

WORLD CAN YOU HEAR ME ? I’M NOT A BUM ANYMORE !!

MYSELF CAN YOU HEAR ME ? I’M NOT A BUM ANYMORE !!

The croud is ecstatic from this epic battle of wills . My woman is near me inside the ring and tells me , SHE LOVES ME !!!!! . I LOVE YOU TOO !!!!

The ambulance takes me to the hospital , so does the champ , we are badly wounded . I finally made it . I won’t be the same human anymore till the end of my life .

Who knows , maybe i’ll continue boxing and won the world title . Maybe i’ll marry my woman and make a son . Maybe i’ll manage to defend the world title having my coach , my GUARDIAN ANGEL with me …..

Maybe i’ll fight some good fighters ,some arrogant ones and maybe just before the end of my good carreer make my country proud . Maybe i grow old and have a good life in general ,having my family and friends with me ,with the less losses possible .

Maybe i’ll have the chance to raise my son good and pass him my life’s approach , that WINNERS aren’t the ones who hit the strongest hits , but THE ONES WHO CAN TOLERATE THE STRONGEST HITS AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD .

And then i’ll rest . Maybe i’ll do that , who knows . In the world of Mickey , Andrian , Poli , Apolo anything can happen .

In the world of the Italian Stallion , anything can happen . In the world Of Rocky Balboa , anything can happen . In MY world , anything is possible .