This quote by Joyce Carol Oates is a reminder of the value of the third guy in the ring when it pertains to boxing. The 3rd man in the ring is the referee, who is responsible for making sure that the guidelines of the sport are followed and that the fighters are safe. Without the referee, boxing would not be possible. The referee is the one who makes sure that the boxers are not taking unfair benefit of each other, that the rounds are timed correctly, and that the fight is stopped when required. The referee is likewise responsible for ensuring that the fighters are not participating in any unlawful activities, such as hitting below the belt or using unlawful methods. The referee is the one who eventually decides the outcome of the fight, and without them, boxing would not be possible.
"All of the sports have a safety net, but boxing is the only sport that has none. So when the fighter is through, he is through. While he was fighting his management was very excited for him, but now that he is done, that management team is moving on"
"It's less about the physical training, in the end, than it is about the mental preparation: boxing is a chess game. You have to be skilled enough and have trained hard enough to know how many different ways you can counterattack in any situation, at any moment"
"People say it's a movie about boxing, but... I don't agree at all. I don't think it's a movie about boxing. Boxing is like a platform. It's just a stage where this is played out"
"Muhammad Ali was the kind of guy you either loved or hated, but you wanted to see him. I happen to really love him. He brought boxing to another level and always made you laugh"
