Charles Oliveira: The modern-day Cinderella Man who conquered astonishing odds and won the hearts of a nation
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(Left) James Braddock and (right) Charles Oliveira
The story of James Braddock and Charles Oliveira is eerily similar in their tragedies and triumphs. Both men rose to the top of the world during a global catastrophe and acted as a symbol of hope for everyone whose ranks they had risen from.
The story of James Braddock can be best summarised as that of a working-class man forced back into boxing due to the great depression. However, while most might have simply remembered him to be a journeyman, his winning the heavyweight title during the peak of the depression was what made him immortal.
In a similar light, Oliveira too has always been a working-class man. Born in the favelas of GuarujaGuaruja, Brazil most may have counted out Oliveira as another child lost to the trials of poverty. Much more so because of his suffering from Rheumatic fever and almost being a paraplegic.
While novels can be written about Oliveira’s arduous journey from a nearly paralyzed child to a UFC fighter, it is his championship run that we would like to focus on today. Just like Braddock, Oliveira too became a champion during a once-in-a-lifetime event, the COVID pandemic.
While 2021 was the year where many felt they were getting ready to leave behind the memories of the pandemic it was very much still raging on across homes in his home country of Brazil. Due to mismanagement and misinformation rampant throughout the country, the favelas/slums were most affected by this.
What made Oliveira’s title run so memorable was the sheer vulnerability of it. He was never flawless like Khabib Nurmagomedov, he was not precise and untouchable like Conor McGregor, he was human. In his first title fight against Michael Chandler, he was rocked and almost out in the first round, but he persevered.
His second title fight and first title defense against Poirier had a similar vibe to it. He was knocked down repeatedly in the first only to come back stronger in the second and third. He persevered. His fight against Gaethje, where he was expected to be knocked out cold due to his problem of taking too many hits, he knocked out the KO artist. He persevered.
What Oliveira embodies through his fights is the art of perseverance itself. Never clamped down by life or everything surrounding him, he keeps fighting back and that’s what helps people gravitate toward him. Even the former icon of Brazillian MMA, Anderson Silva can’t help but be gravitated toward Do Bronx
Related: “I’ll be there” – Alexander Volkanovski is ready to fill in for Charles Oliveira against Islam Makhachev if Oliveira doesn’t show up
Is Islam Makhachev the Joe Louis to Charles Oliveira’s James Braddock?
James Braddock’s cinderella story came to an end at the hands of one of history’s greatest boxers, the seemingly unstoppable Joe Louis. Oliveira too is at that point in his career. His next opponent Islam Makhachev has been hailed to be the second coming of Khabib Nurmagomedov himself.
Makhachev is decent on his feet and destructive on the ground. This is a type of opponent Oliveira hasn’t faced since Kevin Lee only much more skilled in grappling. Makhachev has all the ingredients in place to be a combat legend on par with the likes of Louis.
Also Read: “Could be extremely boring” – Justin Gaethje gives an UNEXPECTED prediction for Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev’s title fight
However, counting out Oliveira has been proven to be as useful as standing under an umbrella during a flood. Will his Cinderella story continue? Will Oliveira reign long enough to not be recognized as just simply another lightweight champion but the greatest lightweight champion? Or is Makhachev’s story as Joe Louis what we’re all witnessing here? All these questions will be answered in Abu Dhabi at UFC 281.
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Jerin Mathew
(713 Articles Published)