By Eric Peters, CIO of One River Asset Management
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see,” said Muhammed Ali, the greatest boxer to ever live. He used his jab unconventionally, as a tool of deception, setting up for powerful punches. “A man who has no imagination has no wings.” He flicked the jab rather than planting his feet for a stiff, powerful one, allowing him to stay light on his feet and move fluidly. “The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”
“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision,” said Ali. Many boxers use a single jab to set up a combination, but Ali often threw two or three in rapid succession. His jab was as much about mental dominance as it was about physical impact. We see the same psychological games being played in today’s Great Power fight for geopolitical dominance. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”
