What's a real Battle?

I'm sitting here watching Friday Night Fights.  As I watch these proud fighters brawl in the ring, I began to reflect on the life of Vladimir Klitschko.  Most have no idea who Vladimir is.  Of course they recognize the last name, Klitschko.  Vladimir was the father of heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali.

I watch boxing on a daily basis.  Some may say that is a waste of time, but I say you can learn a lot about a man in the confines of the "squared circle."  The Klitschko brothers have owned the heavyweight division for years.  Regardless of how people feel about the state of the division, they've fought everyone.  Every challenger has stepped up, run their mouth, and essentially been defeated.

That brings me back to their father, Vladimir.  Vladimir passed away Wednesday after a long battle with lymph node cancer.  He was a Colonel in the Soviet Air Force, stationed near Chernobyl when the "NUKE" disaster happened.  It kind of brought me back down to Earth once I read his story.

I wonder if Vladimir had the opportunity to leave Kiev.  I bet he did.  He chose to stay and help, no matter what price he had to pay.  He lost to Chernobyl, like so many others.  He did raise two amazing young men.  Young men that accomplished more than he could imagine.  Smart, talented, PH D's, and Heavyweight champions of the WORLD!

As I sit here watching these young men battle I think, how much can a man really take?  Then I think of Vladimir, and I realize that they have never seen a real battle.  I think about Wladimir and Vitali.  I think that they are just as proud of their father as he was of them.