I watched the grainy figures on the tv. Black and white as seen through the translucences of gauze. Muhammud Ali up against George Chuvalo, Canadian champ, and the toughest opponent Ali ever beat. It was brutality and beauty but in the end, Ali won.
I always think of that fight. Chuvelo was being pummelled but he stayed upright and got in a few hits that rocked Ali.
I am a member of U-turn Parkinson's boxing club, a Rock Steady Boxing affiliate.
But this has little to do with real boxing. We don't hit each other; rather, we are taught a combination of hits and our opponent is the heavy bag. I learned there is a certain beauty to the sport, a delicate dance if you will. The class also features resistance training, stretching - you know, all the things that studies show can slow the progress of the disease and in some cases, reverse it.
We do it because it gives us a sense of control over a "disease" that has been described as uncontrollable.
But there is more to it than that. I also go for the company of my fellow victims. At U-turn Parkinson's, there is a lightness in the air. We try our best for our leader and her squad of dedicated volunteers but the dominant emotion is laughter.
The members of the class accepted me and we bonded quickly. We share our stories, our setbacks and celebrate our triumphs. Above all, we encourage one another.
In short, we are a family.
We are George Chuvalo, up against a formidable opponent but, like George, we will never give up.
After the fight, Ali went to a hospital; Chuvalo took his wife out for drinks.
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