Tethered

I woke up to the sound of gulls over the St. Johns Harbor.  My eyes opened to a porthole window throwing light onto a ceiling of thin wooden slats with flaking paint, trying once again to trick me into thinking I’ve woken up in the belly of a fishing boat.

In other days, this might’ve tossed me into a moment of mind-busting lightness.  Everything has to be mixed just right;  new smells and surroundings, a relaxed body, and some alien ambient noise as the catalyzing garnish…and a thin sliver of mindlessness that lets me slip through to the other side.  Like that one time on the couch in New Orleans, smelling the hot breeze through the window of our shotgun house.  Some ghost ship on the Mississippi blows its trombone horn, and with it goes anything left of myself.  For a divine moment, I was one of the spirits of this bayou bardo.

Here where I lay a stone’s throw from the high and frigid Atlantic, the ingredients were mixed just about right.  Just as my crown might’ve begun to poke through, I felt the tether at my ankle chained down to some stubborn wrinkle.

I felt like my life was over.  It wasn’t dour or self pitying; but the idea of “my own little important life” was enough to keep me from joining the glorious everything.

Maybe it’s the right thing to give up on all these projects that were supposed to make me feel like I didn’t squander all my gifts.

It’s probably some type of irony, but now I’m irritated by my partner and my dog wrestling nearby, upheaving the twenty minutes that I’ve finally put aside to do something creative.

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Lack

You’ll throw anything into the Lack.

You’ll throw the money you earn, the people you called friends.

You’ll throw the dream you’ve held since when your fingers were soft and tender.

Right now, just this second, it takes from you.

Unless you look just right.

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Santiago Dominates: Collects 2nd Consecutive 1st Round KOs

Dover Downs, DE

(Feb 21) Santiago demolishes Christian Daniels, racking up his second 1st round KO victory and rising to 2-0 (2KOs)

In his first month as a professional, Milton “El Santo” Santiago has shown why he was the first fighter ever allowed to turn pro at 17 years old in PA. Despite his youth, he has shown the command, instinct, and poise of a veteran in his prime. Within 30 seconds of Round 1, Santiago staggered Daniels with a powerful overhand right, and the writing was on the wall. By the time of the stoppage, Daniels could do little more than shield himself from a relentless flurry of Santiago’s body blows.

Managers Moz Gonzalez and Eddie Woods have stayed true to their promise to keep Santiago busy, and are already setting their sights on Santiago’s next challenge. “We’re excited to see Milton’s development – the sky is the limit for a fighter with the potential that Milton has, and we’ve put a great team in place to support him. Everything’s going to plan, and we’re excited for the next steps in his career.”

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Farah Ennis battles it out on April 12th! 8pm PST on ESPN2!

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Quick Update: Farah Wins in Atlantic City!

In his first nationally televised bout, Farah Ennis patiently sliced up Richard Pierson in a dominant, one-sided victory that is Ennis’ 20th.

Ennis came out to a strong start, collecting the first four rounds with confident, thudding combinations to Pierson’s body.  Pierson, in a show of respect to Ennis’ power, kept his arms up in a tight defensive position, but Ennis powered through with stiff right hands and vicious hooks to the body.

Pierson came to life in the 5th round and stunned Ennis with an errant right hand, but Ennis showed his maturity by patiently snapping out jabs and regaining his momentum.  By the sixth round, Ennis was back to dominating with patient, convincing combinations.

The end of the fight was a grind, as Ennis tried to engage a fighter that was intent on remaining on defense.  Despite that, Ennis still managed to break off several stunning combinations, and easily collected a unanimous decision.

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On the Wings of…

On the Wings of the Black Condor

My legs are hugging its ribcage, my fingers dug into its feathers.  Through the darkness of space we fly together.  Luminescent, twinkling stars are all around us, enchanting us, as we roar and roll through cosmic winds.  My heart beats euphoria; my heart is a sun among the stars.  The black condor breathes deeply, I inhale emptiness and exhale love.  Where the warmth from my heart meets the cold blackness of space, there are the edges of my body.  Where my breath mixes with the winds of all worlds, there is the path to my ancient home.  The condor looks up at me with glowing white eyes, I smile back through the tears streaming down my face.

We see the twinkling of some galactic cluster up ahead, the smells become alien and shadowy entities begin to emerge.  The condor snorts, my nose is runny from the cold.  She pins her wings back and dives through the cloud of Qoya.

Ahead of us, a sun is rising.  Beautiful white light illuminates our path and reflects into my eyes.  This path is the only one, the divine one, the path to heaven.  Be fully in love, because this path will never end.

I shift into fourth gear, and we roar down the mountain together.

Healing

The man always had to be so strong, so strong for everyone.  Now he is crumpled on his hands and knees, in the darkness where no one could see him.  She and I came to him, I placed my hand on his back with the strength and tenderness that she had taught to me.

I know a song that he loves, and I sing it into his ear.  She brings her love to him, and we hold him and massage his body and kiss his face.  He cries, he laughs.  It’s ok to let go now.  It’s ok to sprawl and be taken care of.  It’s ok to receive this love.

He leans heavily upon me, I hold him tightly.  A crack in my back; the pain I’d been dealing with suddenly gone.  Gone in my love for him.

We sigh heavily together, we begin to laugh and cry and sing.  His face is light and angelic, smiling from ear to ear.

We return to the room and see someone deeply in need of love.  The man, full of abundance, goes straight to this person, and hugs him, and assures him, and appreciates him.

The love moves, it heals, it opens.  It is the highest religion

How Could I Forget?

We have been tricked into thinking that we are weak; because they have been feeding us poison, into our bodies and into our minds.  They are the psychotic gardeners, raping our existence so that their private table may overflow.

Remember, my sweetness, that your power grows like a flower.  Eat the true fruits of Pachamama, food prepared in love, without poison, blessed in gratitude, and your petals become soft and moist.  Breathe without stress or fear, be gentle to yourself, and your stalk will be firm and move gracefully with the winds.  Receive love, give love, give thanks, and be open to the sunshine of the divine, and your petals will become the rich colors of your heart’s desire.

Don’t let them poison you.  Don’t listen to the noise, or you’ll become a weed.  Remember to give thanks, and to do your work.  Remember that you are gentle, beautiful, and wise, you beautiful, beautiful flower.

Doing the Work

This weekend I am now fully at the controls.  My visitor, my dear beloved brother, has returned to the States.  After reflecting on my work the last few weeks, it’s been a little distracted and I’ve been effective but not full power.  My focus is now re-doubled as my autonomy returns.

The path ahead of me is exciting, and will require all of my skills.  My job has grown, while my hours have shrunk.  A problem with Peruvian Internet has shrunk the job slightly, and this week all things feel as if they will become normalized.

I have so much gratitude for my team, for the vision of my company, for trusting my autonomy.  This week my intention is to complete several challenging tasks, to exceed my own expectations, and to cultivate more abundance for all of us through my contribution to key projects.

A few key notes from this week:

• Be gentle with yourself
• When your song plays, it’s time for you to dance
• Open the floodgates to love;  the supply is unlimited, and it flows through the world like pure, clean water

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Settling, Swooning, Scheming, and Surrendering

Every time I poke my head up, another big wave is headed straight for me.  My soul-brother Mark D has been in town for the last week, and I’ve been doing my best to get all my work accomplished, be a good host, continue to sort out living logistics, and somehow stay focused.

Motorcycle

Pingala and I have been enjoying each other.  I’m feeling confident, but not brash, and have been zooming all over the Valley, either taking Mark D to different sites, or just flitting down to town for a nice dinner or groceries.  Even though I feel more connected on the bike than in a car, I’ve amended to walk when I can so that I can continue connecting with the people I pass and all the smells, sunshine, and sights of the Peruvian valley.

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Ennis Brothers Rock Blue Horizon

The victorious USBA Jr. Middleweight Champion Derek ‘Pooh’ Ennis is in the ring posing for pictures as the Blue Horizon crowd empties out, and from somewhere in the balcony a person says audibly, “That was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen in my life”.

On this night, April 2nd, ‘Pooh Ennis’ (22-2) battled against the relentless Jose Adelaydo Gonzalez (13-7) in what was surely one of the most electric main events in Blue Horizon history.  It was far from a flashy fight of crisp boxing skills;  rather, it was two gladiators in a brutal grind of toughness, endurance, and most of all, the pure will to win.

At the opening bell, Gonzalez smothered Ennis with a non-stop barrage of short, stiff punches.  Ennis, who typically relies on his speed and elusiveness, was pacified early and was forced to close his defenses to stop the unrelenting hooks and straight right hands coming from his scrappy Mexican opponent.

In the second round, the crowd fell silent, mistaking Pooh’s closing down for a resignation that he could not outpunch the busier Gonzalez.  In round three, however, in the midst of a barrage at the hands of Gonzalez, Pooh unleashed his first power combination of the night and staggered the Mexican back several steps, causing the crowd to roar back to life.

Gonzalez closed in again, punching consistently, until Ennis would explode out of his defense with a power combination that would drive his opponent backwards, but Gonzalez would not to submit.  Ennis, backed into the ropes by the advancing opponent, dug downstairs and landed two uppercuts to the mid-section of the Mexican, who stumbled backwards to the middle of the ring, but regained his footing and advanced on Pooh again.

In the crowd, someone asks about the 620 on the back of Gonzalez’s shorts.  Another person answers, “Thats his model number – this guy is a Terminator”.

Gonzalez showed a heart the size of Guadalajara, eating at least a dozen shots that would have leveled any lesser fighter, whose mouthpiece was knocked out twice during the fight, but who fought ten non-stop rounds.

The big winner, though, was Derek Ennis, who received a standing ovation after the majority decision was announced in his favor.  His speed and power is obvious, and now so is his determination to dig deep and take the next step towards a world title.

~

Leading up to the main event was a brilliant display of strength and slickness by Pooh’s brother, Farah ‘The Quiet Storm’ Ennis (13-0), who fought the veteran Frankie Santos (17-8-4).

Farah has fought outside of Philadelphia for most of his career, and he was clearly excited to fight for the Blue Horizon crowd.  If there were any folks in attendance who didn’t know of Farah, they won’t soon forget what went down on April 2nd.

Farah showed up in incredible physical shape, and as he boxed Santos he showed a smoldering intensity and discipline.  He wasted no movement, and easily dismantled the defenses of the more experienced Santos with precise, hammering shots.

Anyone who saw Farah fight for the first time got to see why he is being nicknamed ‘The Body Snatcher’, as he crushed both sides of his opponent with scary vicious body shots.  Although Farah has left several of his opponents writhing on the canvas holding their insides, it would be two overhand rights and an exploding uppercut in the 2nd round that would put down Santos for the count of 10.

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Philly stable flashes dominance; goes 3-0 at Blue Horizon

Tommie "Big Poppa" Speller and Mario Mina

Mario Mina and the Battlestrong Team

[10/16/2009, Philadelphia]  It was a chilly Friday night, but you couldn’t tell from inside the Blue Horizon on Broad Street.  There was smoldering heat coming from an Ecuadorian boxer standing in the red corner, while he glared as his opponent approaching the ring.  The audience came to life, because many of them knew that these two particular boxers had almost brawled at the weigh-in the day before.

The stare-down added some drama to a stacked fight card for the 10th Anniversary Power Productions show, which was to be headlined by the USBA championship bout between Derek “Pooh” Ennis and Eromosele Albert.

Back in the Blue on Broad, the crowd was hollering because the referee could barely keep the two men away from each other before the bell rang.  As soon as the ref got out of the way, The Ecuadorian drove his opponent into the ropes and threw a barrage of power punches to the head and body, and would continue to do so for four straight rounds.

The Ecuadorian was Mario Mina, and he battled the larger Tommie “Big Poppa” Speller to a unanimous decison.  This was the second victory of the night for the Battlestrong Boxing stable; the first went to the young gunner of the group, Killer Coy Evans.

Coy Evans punishes Diaz

Evans fought the first bout of the night against Carlos “Bam Bam” Diaz of Philadelphia.  Even though Diaz was by far the more experienced boxer, Evans set the tempo of the fight early and maintained control for four solid rounds.

Prior to this fight, promoter Greg Robinson called Evans the “baddest 126 pounder this side of the Mississippi”, and Evans made a stake at this title by showing off an arsenal of dangerous hooks that seem to come from all angles.  Diaz is known to be a solid puncher, but Killer Coy easily overwhelmed the challenger with speed, aggressiveness, and a precision counter-punching campaign.  The decision was unanimous, and the Battlestrong crew was 2-0.

(watch the exciting first round HERE)

The final bout of the night featured the most prolific fighter on the Battlestrong team, the dangerous and well-rounded Derek ‘Pooh’ Ennis.  His opponent was the two-time Olympian from Nigeria, Eromesele Albert [18-2] from Miami.  The winner would walk away with the USBA Junior Middleweight Championship and a world ranking.

Details of this fight are in the previous article.

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Derek Ennis wins USBA Jr. Middleweight Title in decision

PHILADELPHIA (October 16th, 2009 @ the Blue Horizon)  – Eromesele Albert entered the arena first, and a small section of the crowd stood to cheer.  They were all wearing light green and white to match the trunks of Albert, who was wearing the colors of his native Nigeria.  In a very solid career, Albert was a two-time Olympian and has collected 22 wins against quality opposition.

The Philly crowd erupted as Derek Ennis arrived on the floor of the Blue Horizon, wearing his signature black ring attire and flanked by a team that had already drawn blood this same night, and were looking to end the evening with one more blockbuster win.  Earlier, Ennis’ stablemates Coy Evans and Ecuadorian newcomer Mario Mena had notched solid victories, and this dominant Philadelphia faction was looking to make a run a 3-0.

The first bell rang, and the non-stop motor of the Nigerian Olympian started firing.  The Nigerian was relentless, constantly pressing forward and throwing an endless barrage of jabs and hooks in the direction of the Philly favorite.  Despite the tireless assault, Ennis avoided damage by relying on his tremendous defensive speed and brilliant counter-punching ability to neutralize the attack and land the more damaging blows.

Fighting from a defensive stance for the majority of the fight, Ennis managed to land several pounding body shots, one that landed with enough power to stagger Albert two steps sideways and elicit the cheers of the crowd.

In the later rounds, Albert started to control the tempo of the fight with his non-stop attack, and with Ennis a half-step slower, managed to slip a few straight right hands through Ennis’ gloves.  At the onset of the tenth round round, Ennis returned with a series of blistering combinations, an by the end of the round, a stream of blood was running down Albert’s left eye.

The tense battle was infused by drama near the eleventh round when the Nigerian, now bleeding steadily and tangled against the ropes, threw a deliberate headbutt at Ennis’ exposed cheek, causing the crowd to roar with disapproval.  Ennis battled back furiously in the final round, and managed to match the tempo and stamina of Albert in a one final stand as the bell rung.

Both fighters were hoisted, and the judges’ scorecards confirmed the evenness of the bout;   116-112, 115-113, 115-113 to Derek Ennis, who escaped with an narrow, but impressive win and the USBA Jr. Middleweight belt.

Ennis is now poised to make his entrance to the Grand Stage, and a win in his next bout will likely solidify him as a contender for a world title.  This Philly faction, controlled by the team of Moz Gonzalez, Eddie Woods, and Mike Fingerman, has invaded the tenth anniversary Power Production show and walked away with all the spoils.

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