On September 2, 1892, a boxer named Gentleman Jim Corbett stepped into the ring with arguably the greatest boxer who would ever live, John L. Sullivan. Sullivan was the last heavyweight champion of the bare-knuckle era and the first champion who wore gloves. In fifty fights, he had never lost.
This night would be different. For the only time in his remarkable career, Sullivan lost a fight. Corbett won by knockout – in the 21st round.
How did Corbett do it? He lived by the mantra, “One more round.”
He would later reflect on that fight. “When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your face is bloodied, fight one more round. The man who fights one more round is never whipped.”
Recovery step: Enter the ring of recovery with a plan, “not beating the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26). You may never knock out your opponent (lust), but you can win the fight – one round at a time.
