There is something to be said about heart. Most athletes at the age of 42 are broken down like a dilapidated Model T. With their eyes weary and their bones fragile, the body will no longer commit. But the heart will keep pounding. And for only a few, the heart will restore the rest of the anatomy and continue its course, the path that their bodies were chosen to march. Carlos Baldomir's body is still fighting at the age of 42, literally still fighting. In the past few years, he has bested not one but two younger champions. The first being none other than Zab Judah, the quick and arrogant slugger. The second being Arturi Gatti, the hard hitting brawler.
Baldomir's rise to the top was not predicted by anyone. With his nine losses and three draws, his record was a bit more than blemished; and then there was his age. Nonetheless, after a twelve rounder with Judah he emerged as a first time champion. Boxing analysts know as well as I know that Judah thought all he had to do was simply show up to win. But I believe a win is a win regardless of the opponent. Baldomir showed us his heart that night, and Judah showed us his ass.
As for Gatti, I wish I could say that he also pranced and danced his way into defeat, but he did not. Gatti took the leap up a weight class that is common among many boxers today. He was known for his power and for his quickness. But he hit a very stiff wall when Baldomir, with his own hard hitting and jaw of granite, knocked Gatti to the canvas twice in the ninth round defeating the younger yet seasoned fighter.
Baldomir allowed Judah and Gatti to defeat themselves. He fought the fight he was trained to fight, and used his heart to progress passed both great boxers. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, and to this I say, maybe. But you can teach an old boxer how to use his heart to win again. And for those of you critics out there who believe that Baldomir rose to the top because Judah didn't show us much of a fight, I say in retort for you to consider: Remember what he did to Gatti?
