New Things

There is something invigorating about doing new things.

I have never been in the corner at a professional boxing match. Until last night.

Yep, I carried the bucket in on Manu Vatuvei’s ring walk and shouted encouragement from his red corner for the short time it took Manu to prevail.

In that short time and in the preparatory hours before I learned heaps.

Manu himself is on a new road. After a storied career in rugby league and becoming a dead set celebrity, “The Beast” made some bad decisions, paid a big price for them, and is now rebuilding himself in many ways. Part of this is fulfilling a desire to have a number of pro fights to prove some things to himself and others and, like so many in combat sport, earn some money starting with none. He has already done that once in his life and is now doing it very differently in a very different space.

He works with my brother Dave Letele himself a sport and social action legend, giving a lot of himself to others young and old in a process of inspiration for them and himself. Dave and he are close, they share much, and a love of boxing is but a part of that. When they spar each other they are like kids playing. Big, hard, strong kids for sure and no longer young themselves, but with the same obvious free enjoyment of the activity and each other.

They work with the equally legendary John “Rebel” Conway who has about as many pro bouts across various disciplines as Manu has pro league games. Rebel lives in the game like an old time boxing movie coach totally committed to the fight world and anyone in it and to his woodwork trade.

Together these three take me way out of my past career and present work. Just by being so authentically who and what they are and being open to me. I’ll happily carry a bucket with them anytime.

Here are the things I learned last night - apart from reaffirmation that I do not belong inside the ropes.

Respect. The people in my team, their opponents, others preparing around us and the officials involved show deep respect for each other. It’s a real, dangerous fight but mutual respect is palpable. Other worlds could learn a lot from it.

Preparation. The work of training and otherwise preparing for such a bout is immense in terms of time, effort and precision. Gear, checking compliance, strategy, nutrition and more are followed meticulously and with personal responsibility which could well be followed similarly in wider areas of life.

Skills. Skills both in hitting and avoiding being hit, in moving and reacting are paramount for scoring and protecting. The practical skills really matter in the ring and the most valuable ones are treated as such. We all know that is far from always the case in other workplaces .

Calmness. Facing the big challenge they were the fighters were mainly quiet and reflective. Manu was almost meditative, prowling silently, calm as a monk. Not wasting any energy on what did not matter to the task. A big contrast to many other spheres.

Courage and commitment . You can’t be ambivalent or half-hearted in the ring. You get beaten. You won’t last posturing in the centre trying to look good without doing anything like many politicians.

The ice in my bucket was not to keep the champagne cold.

What a great Saturday night.