“Be me, or fight me“ Conor McGregor
By: Gabriela Yareliz
I grew up watching boxing and fighting, from a young age. At the age of four, I was sitting on Muhammad Ali’s lap for a photo (went to pre-school with his son). My grandfather would order the fights on Pay-Per-View– usually on a Saturday night. Puerto Ricans– we are big on our fights. We have produced some of the world’s best fighters.
I always got a thrill from it. Some people see these sports as pure violence, ignoring the discipline and mental strength it requires. I love the discipline, the strength, the bravado and the fact that when you are there to fight, you are there to win.
I think life would be different if we approached it in this way, with: discipline, strength, courage, a pinch of bravado and whole lot of passion to win.
In my head, I have always seen my life like a boxing match. And at the end of it, I am determined to be the one left standing.
[Inspired by Conor McGregor’s comeback against the Cowboy on January 18]
GABRIELA YARELIZ 
I do think it’s a cultural as well as a personal thing. I have a really hard time watching boxing. My ex-husband, who came from a Hispanic family, he loved it :-). He was raised watching it and didn’t think twice about it.
Yes!