This was one of the best experiences I've had in a great while!  I saw boxing like few ever have!!  From the inside.    I talked to, observed and learned from several phenomenal athletes, managers and other business professionals who are all, in one way or another students of  "The Sweet Science"  ( an A.J. Liebling quote inferred onto boxing).  "Baby" Joe Mesi (www.BabyJoeMesi.com), "Smokin" Bert Cooper, & "Downtown" Leona Brown all fought at the Border Explosion II and I learned from them all something about fighting that I'll keep close in my fights to come.
Niagara Falls,NY and Toronto, Canada!
The way Joe (left) & Bert (right) approached the days before the fight were in deep contrast.  Bert was tenacious! Like a beast that needed to be fed!  Joe on the on the other hand was quite serene, he ate alone many mornings and contented himself with his family milling around.  In the end I, as many others learned, he was just saving it all up!  In the 41st second of the 7th round the ref stopped the fight in favor of Joe after he'd avoided Berts earlier, menacing, stalking tactics (which almost won Bert the fight as Joe barely recovered from one of Smokin' Berts Hook-Punches) and delivered a series of blows that made even the strong hearted wince!
That's Bert, myself & one serous rising star, Bryant "The Heat" Sterling below. Those are 2 of the most dangerous hands in boxing!!
I've watched Leona sacrifice  in favor of nutrition but I couldn't completely understand what could be worth giving up a tasty meal until she dropped her robe! Just look! On the left is a  picture of her in action, and of course, the victory hug below!
Instead of "The Heat" it should be Bryant "EL  CHULO" by the looks of these 2 pics ;-)
Hopefully I'll have fighters like these training me and in my corner when I start taking prize-fights!  I plan on going to a place called "Sor Vorapin/Jitti Gym" in Thailand to train more extensively in Muay Thai (Kick-Boxing) at the beginning of this year! 
Toronto is a wonderful city. I'm only upset that in all my trips there this is the first time I took pictures! Most people know I am an avid player of a game called Magic, The Gathering (www.wizards.com) It's a strategy game, you try to defeat your opponent with creatures & spells you create!  It's a truly mind boggling process that's easy to learn but hard to master.  Like a chess game that ads new squares and new pieces to the game to periodically make it different!  All the old strategems and theories go out the window!  Well I've played this game around the world and this time I wanted to pit myself against the best! I attended the Worlds Magic Tournament in Toronto, Canada.   I was completely demolished (laughing) & I had a GREAT TIME DOING IT!! Fun was the point anyway!! 
The only thing I did win was a match against  Richard Garfield!!! Who is the mastermind behind the game, the  Magic phenomenon is his creation!  He was playing  against any and all comers...Enter, The Adventurer  I don't know what his win/loss record for the day was but I managed to squeeze a win by him!  To the left is one of the few serious brain teaser moments I had.  Playing against the man who has re-defined gaming was a bit intimidating.  On the bottom is us sharing a good laugh at my finally pulling out a win against him!!  hey Richard, Have your people call my people if you want a rematch ;-p
Magic wasn't the only competition Going on that weekend.  In a tight cluster just off of Yonge St. in Toronto there's a tight cluster of stone tables reserved for the SPEED CHESS players.  My Good friend Pat introduced me to this version of play.  With your entire game being overshadowed by a timeclock that will decide the winner for you in a few short minutes if you don't defeat your opponent, it seriously increases the intensity level!! These two combatants were hard at work when I snapped off this shot!!
Yonge St. can best be described as a collage of people!  Bright, flashy colors and personalities walk these streets every day.   Below are a few pictures of things put in front of me to catch my eye... 
While aimlessly wondering I cam upon the "Freedom Arches"  pictured below and to the left. They are a dedication to the lives lost in search of freedom. The plaque explaining so is mounted on a slab of a once notorious symbol of tyranny and oppression...THE BERLIN WALL.
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The name on this robe is one many a boxer knows all to well!! "Downtown" Leona Brown!!  The TWO TIME, TWO TIME Womens Champion who on her 41st birthday took on a woman 1/2 her age and delivera most savage beating.
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