“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, and a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill”— Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali, the heavyweight boxing champion whose brash yet playful public persona, admirable mental toughness and outspoken political stances made him one of the most widely recognized and admired Americans in the world, died Friday evening. He was 74.

Ali fought for and won the heavyweight title a record-setting three times in his 22-year career, and his rivalries with Sonny Liston, George Foreman and, especially, Joe Frazier are the stuff of boxing legend.

Charismatic, proud, and quotable, Ali’s trash-talking, self-aggrandizing and often rhyming interviews made him a new kind of sports celebrity, and his commitment to acting upon his personal convictions redefined the role of professional athlete as public figure.

People who never watched a boxing match in their lives, or who never learned to speak a word of English, knew who Muhammad Ali was, and knew he was, as he himself said, “The greatest.”

Muhammad Ali taught us many things through his words and his actions. Below are some few important life lessons from the champ which can help you improve your football confidence and football mental game.

Confidence has its rewards- Of all the athletes and figures in history, very few had the outspoken and portrayal of extreme self-confidence the Ali had. Before every fight, in every interaction and during every fight he went in with self-confidence and boldness. The result of his self-confidence were multiple knock-outs, media endorsements and championships. Self-confidence can help you to control your football mind that can take you all the way to become the best.

Preparation is painful but necessary – Preparation and training is something that Ali was not a fan of but he deemed it necessary. He would normally train six weeks for a fight, and for the rumble in the jungle he trained six months for the fight. For the fights he prepared for well he would excel; for those fights he did not prepare for so much he would struggle a bit. With hard preparation you will often excel but if you cheat you may suffer. Preparation may be painful but it is necessary for you football confidence and good results.

Never be afraid of you greatest challenges – Ali faced many challenges in his life without fear. He became a rising star during a time when America had not come to terms with civil rights for African American people. He was unafraid to speak out about the injustice. Though it meant being stripped of the heavy weight crown that had earned and cost him three of the prime years of his life, Ali held to his commitment to non-violence and refused to engage in the Vietnam War. In later life, he fought Parkinson’s disease with grace and dignity. Sure, the fights with Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman demonstrate that Ali would face his biggest foe in the ring but it is what he faced outside the ring that makes him great.

The biggest cause of people backing off or loosing motivation towards their goals is ‘doubt’. You must have the football mental toughness and faith that your hard work will come to fruition. The minute you start doubting yourself, or your goals or your abilities to achieve those goals – that’s when the writing will be on the wall.

Champ – May you Rest In Peace.

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