Days like today make me question why I am a professional boxer. My hamstrings were so tight, the gym heater was not up to par (to put it mildly), my mouth resembled an old chimney on a cold winter's night as I spit out a fog of determination. And after my last round of bag work, my knuckles started hurting so badly I had to tear the gloves off and relieve the pressure.

I have never had problems with my hands, but maybe the 30-degree temperature in the gym had something to do with it. To be honest, it's days like this that keep the boxing interesting and build that character a boxer needs in the ring.

It makes me appreciate the grind pro football players go through, playing in sub-zero temperatures and having to perform at the level the NFL requires to be successful. I never underestimate what a professional athlete goes through, but until you experience it for yourself, you often have no idea.

Basketball players play basketball. Football players play football Soccer players play soccer.

Boxers don’t play.