A Champion in Our Midst

Carl asked that I include the following poem by Shaykh Taner Ansari.

Boxing Match

I thought hitting the other guy is winning the match. 

I learned that winning the match is how much hitting I can take before the other guy gives up.

Holy Cow! The Thai Boxing Association recently had their Championship rounds nearby in Clive. KSMA brother, Carl Ross, drove up from his stomping grounds in Oklahoma. He fights at Super Middle Weight and there were only a few fighters in that weight class.
Elimination rounds were on Saturday and he fought Michael Jackson (I swear) and defeated him soundly. This put him in the ring with Sacha Leonard-Hijazi the Canadian Champion. Carl went the distance, but lost by decision. He was proud of his efforts and we talked about the lessons learned from the bout.
Sunday, Carl had planned to kick back and watch the fights. Early that morning, however, he received a call that the Canadian had withdrawn because of an injury to his knee. We decided that is was from all the hits he applied to Carl’s stomach. So, Carl found himself fighting for The Belt.
Carl fought Missourian Elmir Kulosman and once again went the distance. It was in the hands of the judges and they reached a split decision 29-28,29-28,28-29 in Carl’s favor and he won his division.

      Congratulations Carl!