The late-great Johnny Cash sings a song about 'Redemption-Day.'
Written by Sheryl Crow, the lyrics speak of heaven, hell, and speeding passenger trains; and also the hell-fire and damnation that goes along with everyday living—and how most of us secretly spend our days watching and waiting in futile-hope of some future redemption day.
However, there's no tougher foe, or harder battle, in my personal opinion—in or out of the ring—than the one many of us secretly wage each day involving drugs and alcohol.
And seeing as this writer is, admittedly, an alcoholic and an atheist who doesn't believe in either heaven or hell—I feel that a redemption from those types of personal-battles doesn't need to wait for 'a train leading straight to heaven's gate'..it can happen right here on this planet; a place where heaven and hell both reside.
The 30-year-old Youngstown, Ohio, prizefighter, Kelly 'The Ghost' Pavlik, may well agree.
Pavlik—a former champion before losing his belt to Sergio Martinez—has exorcized many of his own personal demons (including his battle with alcohol) in 2010, while at the Betty Ford Clinic.
During his career, Pavlik has amassed an outstanding middleweight-fight-record of 40 wins with only two losses—to Bernard Hopkins and Martinez...so just imagine what he could do sober.
Last night, July 7, 2012, Pavlik—who now seems well on his way toward a possible rematch-title- shot-redemption-day—extended his winning-streak to four-fights by defeating Will Rosinsky -16-1, 9KOs - at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
In addition, according to careful rumor from many boxing websites, we may now see more televised appearances from Pavlik in the near future. I hope so, as I'm a huge fan of redemption stories.
Stay tuned.
