Hi

 

Hope you have had a good week so far?

 

I was lucky enough to do a little bit of work with Tony Bellew at the start of his professional career.

 

Even then he was a huge character, and despite perhaps being a ‘marmite’ character to some, I always found Tony to be intelligent, charming, polite and a gentleman to be around. When I’ve seen him at boxing shows over the years, despite his huge success that has never changed.

Here are 3 lessons he has taught me: -

BEHAVIOURAL FLEXIBILITY – In the field of Psychology and Mindset this is also known as getting into your ‘state’. Outside of the ring Tony is a thinker, a commentator and is known as a family man. Inside the ring he is like unleashing a caged animal. Tony adjusts his personality, and flexes his behaviour depending on, and to suit the situation he is facing.

NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT’S COVER – Tony didn’t have the best looking body. He even joked about it many times including his fights with David Haye. But his body was fit, strong and more than capable of winning fights. The punishment a boxer puts their body through is beyond imagination both in training camps and in fights, and is regardless of their weight class. They do not need their body to be perfection to look at. But it must be able to do what it is required for on a day to day basis.

I call this having ‘A Body For Purpose’.

THE RESULT IS ALL THAT MATTERS – Every single person sat on an armchair has their own view of sport, and the people who play it. There will always be ups and downs, highs and lows, and opinions will always be polarized. Whether you love him or hate him, Tony Bellew became the WBC Champion of The World! He was in huge fights on TV, and retired I’m certain with enough money to last more than a lifetime! He backed himself 100%, and has also starred in a Rocky film!

That’s a good enough lesson for me.

 

Speak soon

 

Ric
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