Tag Archives: ring

by

Champion Warrior

My good friend Fitz “The Whip” Vanderpool just won the Canadian Middleweight Title in his mid 40′s despite most people telling him he was too old. Once again, the Whip proves that “With Hope, It’s Possible!”

title

Champion Warrior

They told him “It’s too late, old man”
“You’re much too old to fight”
But Fitz “The Whip” knew that to be
Judged by age isn’t right

Those who judged were short sighted
And didn’t see the training
The heart, desire, sacrifice
The passion still remaining

The board, the public, so many
Gave doubt and disbelief
They tried to steal his Hope and tried
To fill his heart with grief

But Champions are not affected
By another’s words
Champions are not sheep that
Walk along with the herds

Champions look within and
They listen to themselves
A Champion sees strength inside
And bravely, deeper delves

A Champion does not hear what
The pessimists do warn
A Champion blocks it all out
‘Cause Champions were born

To jab, to hook, to uppercut
To fight ‘till final round
To take all that life has to give
And pound and pound and pound

And rip respect from clutches of
Those who don’t try their best
To take it by force from all those
Who much prefer to rest

Congratulations, Champion
You have proven once more
That with Hope it is possible
Now no one can ignore

~Congrats Fitz “The Whip” Vanderpool, 45 years young
New National Boxing Authority Middleweight Champion
March 2nd, 2013

by

Warrior Whip

The Whip makes successful return to the ring – Guelph Mercury article

“With hope it’s possible.” ~Fitz “The Whip” Vanderpool

Warrior Whip

They told him that he couldn’t do it, “Sorry you’re too old”
Little did they realize this Warrior was bold
The naysayers and doubters scoffed and said it was too late
But he silenced them all and showed no one controls your fate

Nobody can tell you what you aren’t capable of
Nobody can convince you that you can’t rise above
Unless you let them take away your focus and your hope
The Champ trudged on and proved he is still Royalty of Rope

He fought a man that’s fifteen years younger and took it all
Through flurries, jabs and uppercuts the Whip not once did fall
With heart, intensity and focus and experience
The Whip proved every single one of his doubters were dense

He proved to anyone who’s gotten used to wanting less
He proved to everyone who’d rather not deal with the stress
He proved to each and every person who thinks that you can’t
That anything is possible if your feet you just plant

Take a stand and disagree with what they have to say
Refuse to be silenced, swept under rug and go away
This Warrior’s an inspiration that if you believe
In yourself and abilities, your goals you will achieve

                                                                             Congratulations, Champ!

by

Ring Warrior

“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” ~Rocky Balboa


Ring Warrior

“One!” the ref calls out but he seems very far away
The boxer tries to stand but both his legs have turned to clay
“Two!” the ref continues as the crowd gets on their feet
The ringing in his ears and pain makes him want to retreat

“Three!” he hears and wonders if he has given enough
But then he feels the beast inside, the deep down, buried “stuff”
“Four!” he hoists his head up and he sees his only son
Look on him with sympathy as if the old man’s done

“Five!” he locks his eyes across the ring at the the young champ
He’s winded, sore, and grimacing along with his whole camp
“Six!” the boxer faintly hears but now in his own head
He hears a louder voice that causes strength to his legs spread

He hears the speech he gave the kid about taking the hit
“Seven!” ref calls out as the old champ builds up his grit
“Eight!” he hears and remembers it’s not what he is throwing
It’s all about the punishment you take and still keep going

“Get up” he hears himself growl and plants a foot on mat
“GET UP!” he hears again and slowly rises for combat
“Nine!” the referee warns as the former champ does rise
Many people in the building are caught by surprise

All except for one who stands and grins and shakes his head
The current champ who’s watched as the old boxer hurt and bled
And took all that he threw at him and still kept moving on
None of his offense, his speed, his technique or his brawn

Could keep the old man down and now the champ has new respect
For the old man who’s standing there beaten, bloody and wrecked
But still willing to take the hit, he knows right then and there
Even if his points save him and judges do declare

That he has won, he knows deep down that in a test of heart
The old man won decisively right from the very start
The ref tells both combatants to again resume the fight
They punch and and jab and hook and uppercut with all their might

The bell rings and without delay the two men do embrace
The champ’s surprised by the look on the old champion’s face
Appreciation, gratitude, elation, thankfulness
He says “You’re a great champion and heart you do possess”

“Thanks” is all the champ can think to say as pictures flash
He cannot bring himself to be pompous, boastful or brash
He watches as the old man leaves the ring and walks to back
Before announcement’s even made of who won the attack

He slowly comes to realize that old man’s goal was not
To beat the champion and then demand a title shot
His mission on this night was simply just to take the hit
And to keep moving forward and to never, ever quit

And the look on the old man’s face shows he had in fact won
As he waves to the crowd and then throws arm around his son
And disappears through the curtain while crowd all chant his name
“He earned it” the champ thinks as he claps to show his acclaim

                                                                         ~Miro

by

Survivor

“I once had four brothers, and now I’m not even a brother.” ~Kevin Von Erich

Survivor

This is the legend of a man
Whose brothers numbered four
The five performed for thousands who
Did admire and adore

The eldest was the Yellow Rose
Of Texas, big bad Dave
This ornery tall cowboy was
Rambunctious, just and brave

Second was the Golden Warrior
Kevin, more soft spoken
The graceful barefoot hero whose
Focus and poise were token

Brother number three was Kerry
Muscle upon muscle
In the gym, the Modern Day
Warrior showed great hustle

Brothers number four and five
Were Michael and young Chris
They both possessed the same heart which
Nobody could dismiss

At first it seemed the tale would be
About a dynasty
The legend of five brothers and their
Endless winning spree

But life does not always work out
Exactly how it’s planned
This legend was not of success
But what one can withstand

The first to go was Yellow Rose
And thousands came to mourn
But no one took it harder than
The four who had been born

By the same mother, and three years
Later Michael followed
Leaving three remaining brothers
Feeling as if swallowed

By grief, despair and sadness and
In four years Chris fell too
The youngest of the boys had let
Too much heartache accrue

The pair of brother warriors
Remaining tried their best
To persevere, but Kerry had
Endured an extra test

He’d wiped out on his bike and lost
His right foot so his pain
Was physical as well and led
To drugs which strength did drain

And two years after Chris had died
The Texas Tornado
Had fought as long as he could and
Felt it was time to go

Shortly after that, their father
Joined his boys as well
Leaving one survivor to
On whole tragedy dwell

For years the crowd would wonder how
Much longer he would last
Rarely had one person had
So much sadness amassed

But years went by and legend changed
To one of strength and hoping
All by himself this survivor
Wrote a legend of coping

An influential lore of how
One must let go, move on
No matter what you lose, tomorrow
Always brings new dawn

A legend of the power of
Not focusing on loss
Finding peace and strength from friends
And the Man on the cross

Being grateful for the things
That still remain in life
His faithful fans, his children and
For thirty years, his wife

This legend of a survivor
Should serve to carry you
In times of tragedy and loss
It’s helped me carry through

And though the Golden Warrior
Is a brother no longer
He’s been blessed as a father of
Brothers making him stronger

Always keep in mind your legend
Isn’t ever finished
As long as you do not let grief
Make your spirit diminished

Survive the trials and the tests
Survive life’s very worst
Survive the feelings that you are
Unlucky or are cursed

Take control of destiny
And with warrior strength
Become a survivor who will
Endure at any length

                                      ~for Kevin

by

Dear Miro (age 15)

Dear Miro (age 15)

Hi there, Miro, how are you?
It’s me in twenty years
I thought I’d take a moment to
Send you my thoughts and cheers

Never fret, I’m not here to
Attempt to set you straight
I know at your young age how much
Advice does irritate

I wanted just to let you know
You will end up okay
There is no need to worry ‘cause
You will endure the fray

Every single challenge that
You will be forced to face
Will be survived and each time it
Will help build up your grace

I will not try to convince you
That problems should be met
With vigor and with gratitude
Instead of angst and fret

In time you will see for yourself
As you see your strength build
You’ll come to recognize those tests
As ways to feel fulfilled

Maintain your courage and your faith
And don’t forget respect
Pay no mind to what they say
And keep your ego checked

Never let the selfishness
And cruelty of one
Cause you to condemn the rest
And a new person shun

Keep in mind your enemies
Are just cowardly friends
Who have not yet found their courage
To go against the trends

Continue to say “I love you”
To all your family
You know that even though sometimes
You may not all agree

The ones who share your blood will always
Be there by your side
Your gratitude and love for them
Is something you can’t hide

And do not fret when you get hurt
By those who break your heart
You know full well that good things don’t
Have the easiest start

And if I may offer just one
Tiny bit of advice:
When you meet a tall brunette
Who’s beautiful and nice

Put a ring on her finger
The next chance that you get
It is without a doubt the smartest
Thing that you’ve done yet

Good luck, young warrior

                                          ~Miro (35)