Still Fighting

By Emmanuel Bamidele

'Still Fighting' is an inspirational literary fiction about Joe whose parents went out of the village to a city to avoid being banished by the king as a result of his troublesome lifestyle.

Joe found a career in professional boxing and was popularly known as 'Still Fighting' because of his unprecedented display of enthusiasm and the chanting of 'Still Fighting' after either winning or losing a fight in the ring.

Joe soon became the toast of the media all over the world with increasing number of fans. He became a brand ambassador to a number of corporate firms.

While granting an interview on the day of his retirement from his boxing career, he discovered a previously hidden ability in him to become a motivational speaker and success coach by telling inspiring stories.

His stand against oppression, corruption, human right abuse, and perversion of justice prompted him to defend a helpless victim of a uniformed man and thus floated 'Still Fighting Foundation' as a platform to fight against gross misconduct in the society.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publiseer Publishing
• Release date: Jun 20, 2018

Book preview

Chapter 1

Joe was a professional boxer who once lived in Oron city. He was widely known as Still Fighting. Each time he fights on the ring and looses the fight, and the referee declares his opponent the winner, he would grab the microphone from the referee booming with a statement that soon became his slogan; Not a looser, but still fighting. He would step out of the ring with great enthusiasm and motivation as ifhe was the one that won the fight. He would excitedly throw punches into the air while walking through the crowd to the changing room. His opponents usually look on with so much astonishment, while the spectators look at him with surprise. Virtually everyone almost forgot Joe as his actual name which was soon replaced with the nickname Still Fighting.

He became a toast of the media. So much attention was given him during each fight. The spectators have fallen passionately in love with him, so much that whenever he is going into the ring the crowd cheers and chant with intensity Still Fighting, Still Fighting, Still Fighting.... The atmosphere always become very charged to the extent that his opponent would become intimidated, and at times the fight will not last beyond the first roundbefore he wins.

The boxing association took advantage of his growing popularity to increase ticket fares to enter the boxing arena in order to reduce the crowd that his fights command.Whether he loses a fight or wins does not make any difference anymore. Hesoon became brand ambassador of many corporate organisations.

One day, a veteran journalist posed a question to him after his fight for the day in which he lost.  The journalist asked, Why do you still display so much enthusiasm after losing a fight? I need you to explain to me because this has never happened before in the history of boxing.  Joe replied, Very soon, I have to fight against a world heavy weight champion, afterwards I will disclose the reason for my attitude that birthed the slogan Still Fighting."

Other boxers gradually avoid fighting with him on the ground that whether he loses or wins a fight, he carries the day with the intense chanting of his slogan Still fighting. What his contenders get at the end of winning each fight against him, are the belt and the raising up of their hands by the referees. 

On the day of his fight with the world heavy weight boxer, he lost the fight. The veteran journalist stepped into the ring asking him to fulfill his promise to him by telling the whole world what prompted his ideological approach to life on the ring even when he loses. Other media outfits are also on standby to broadcast the interview live.

Joe answered, "Still fighting was born out of my understanding of the fact that this life is like a boxing ring where most people sets out for a cause or a project with the aim to succeed or win. In case you lose or you are yet to succeed, in other to stay on top of your dreams and aspirations, don’t ever see yourself as a failure or looser; but rather that your dreams and aspirations are still in progress. It means that you can always come back to try again and again until it’s all over. This is my belief; this is the reason why I always believe that the fight is still on-going.  The moment you agree that you have failed, then you have truly failed. It all starts from our mind. It doesn’t matter how many times you have failed, I still maintain a strong position that you are not a failure until you agree in your mind that you have failed. How you see yourself really matters. Still fighting is the phrase I choose in other to stay motivated and inspired on the ring. I programmed it in my mind to remain on top of the likely negative sides of life that I may find myself.

Let me also use this as an example to buttress my disposition. In a football game, everyone involved are there to win. We all agreed that the winner is the highest goal scorer at the end of ninety minutes and possibly extra time allocated. If side A has scored three goals while side B is yet to score any goal, does that mean side B has lost the match and that side A has won? Not yet, so long that the ninety minutes has not lapsed and possibly the extra time. Side A can only be declared winner at the end of the game. If a player lost a goal attempt, does that mean that the player has lost or automatically disqualified from the match? Again, the answer is no! The match is still in progress. I see every fight to achieve a goal as a match. I can still win today the fight I lost yesterday or win tomorrow the fight I lost today, because it’s a fight in progress. I’m Still Fighting. I am still within the ninety minutes, I haven’t quitted yet, therefore, winning is still possible.

In anything you are doing, don’t get demoralized when you lose today. Prepare for a good come back so long you are still within the ninety minutes of either your career or life. If I have not quit, then I have not failed. Let me put it to you this way, Having lost the fight on the ring does not make you a looser until you lose the fight in your mind. Fight is still in progress when the fight is on-going in your mind. Before you can agree to quit a cause wherein you failed, it means you have agreed in your mind that you have failed. Whatever a man thinks about himself that is who he is. If anyone calls you a failure, tell them you haven’t failed because you haven’t quitted. 

Also know that within the ninety minutes of play, after the first forty-five minutes, you are given fifteen minutes to rest. The fifteen minutes is necessary to rest your head. It’s necessary to reform and reinforce yourself. It’s a time of reflection on your performance to know if you have done well and note areas where there are lapses. These are what you get from your coach or through your personal reflections. It’s a fifteen minutes of retreat for a better comeback and not surrendering. It’s a fifteen minutes to re-strategise. Fifteen minutes with success coach, inspirational speaker or counselor in your field.  Fifteen minutes with those with wealth of experience in your field. A proverb says, If you must know how the journey is ahead, ask from those returning from there. Fifteen minutes of laughter and fun to unwind your mind. As boxers, we are treated for a better comeback after each round. Our coaches or managers also make us know our opponent’s weak and strong points. Always get treated, if you must remain fit to win. We may not be bodily weak but can be emotionally and psychologically weak. Get to unwind for effective performance.  What you get from your coaches, managers and fans are feedback. You don’t get feedback during active time but during your break time.

I also play the game of draft, and I have come to observe and understand that those watching are better informed of your opponent’s strategy than you the player. You can have their opinion during your break time. It leads to distraction when comments are made during active playing time and in the game of draft it is an offence. Under- performance or failure are inevitable when distraction sets in.

How do you make use of your break time? the journalist asked. Joe answered, I make use of my break to study my opponent’s new strategies. I have come to agree as a competing force that I don’t need to place my strategy on what I discovered previously about my opponent. When offensive strategy changes; the defensive strategy has to change. My competitors know that I must have studied their strategies, they may therefore, come up with a new one. I also know that my competitors must have studied my strategies, therefore during my break; I try to come up with a new offensive strategy to stay on top of my game and career.

The journalist said, What a precious time we had with you today. Today will leave a lasting memory in the heart of those listening to or watching this interview. This has gone beyond just an interview but a life transforming teaching session. This day revealed a hidden and untapped aspect of your life in area of success coaching and inspirational speaking. Sir, if you will agree with me, this is an avenue to better impact people’s lives and destinies after your career on the ring. Permit me to ask you this question sir. How did you feel after losing the fight against the world heavyweight champion?

Joe answered, "You just asked, how I felt after losing the fight against the