Andrew Santiago
English 420
Title: A Warriors Heart
By: Mickey Ward Mickey Ward was a professional boxer was born October 4, 1965 in Lowell, Massachusetts, at a time where there were not many jobs as a result of the great depression nearly a half a century ago before. He was the second youngest of a family of 8 sisters and one step brother Dicky Ecklund. As a youth he had to deal with a lot growing up that most people wouldn’t be able to rebound from. He was introduced to boxing from his brother who was known as a prospect in himself in boxing and had gave boxing hall of famer “Sugar” Ray Leonard one of his toughest bouts of his career. But his career would short after be derail due to his constant battle with drugs (crack/cocaine etc..) and trouble with the law. Mickey on the other hand wasn’t as athletically gifted as his brother but what he didn’t have in talent he made up with in heart , hard work and dedication. His life was like a rough and rugid boxing match he got knocked down plenty of time but he kept getting up ultimately to rise out of the ashes. Mickey is the epidemy of a journey man meaning he would take fights that would pay sometimes only a measly 2 thousand dollars which forced him to also work a part time job work as a road paver for his uncle being paid under the table. Nothing was ever given to him everything he got he earned as a boxer it is unheard of for a boxer to have 13 losses in his career and still earn a 7 figure pay check.
Quotes:
-“Fighters are mostly born, not made. You’re either blessed with courage and an ability to harness fear, or you’re not. I really believed that. But a boxer? Well, that’s something else. A boxer is a tactician, a strategist… an athlete. A boxer is made, not born, his technique honed through endless hours in the gym, skipping rope, working the speed bag and heavy bad, pounding his trainers mitts until his knuckles bleed and sparing so often that headaches become his best friend.”
-“My emotional state, which had become increasingly fragile. It’s easy looking back now to recognize the Mungin fight for what it was: not merely a physical over which I had no control, but the beginning a downward slide that would end only with a temporary retirement. That fight hurt in so many ways it made me question my own ability as a boxer; more important it provoked feelings of doubt and frustration about my entire career.”
-“Boxing is, first and foremost, a business in some ways it’s among the bloodiest and most bloodthirsty of businesses. Sometimes, though, a few honorable men rise above the ugliness and agreed and make it something special. Throughout my career I tried to be one of those people and I was fortunate to encounter a few others along the way.”

Theme:

A boxers is much different than any other career out there it is a lot of the time perceived in peoples eyes as this sport where you go fight go