Growing up training, I use to get up so early I would wave to

Hear the humble and heartfelt words of Gerry Cooney, a warrior of the ring, who reflects upon his youth: “Growing up training, I used to rise so early that I would wave to the garbage men going by. So, I had this relationship with Blue Collar America, and I really liked it. I felt that many of those people looked forward to me winning.” These words reveal not only the discipline of an athlete, but also the bond between the fighter and the working people whose lives are built upon toil and perseverance.

To awaken early, before the sun itself has climbed into the heavens, is to walk the path of dedication. While others slept, Cooney labored, his body and spirit honed through countless hours of training. In those quiet, lonely mornings, he would greet the garbage men, whose own labor began before the day’s first light. In this simple gesture, a kinship was formed, a silent recognition that both shared the struggle of rising each day to face hardship head-on.

This bond with Blue Collar America ran deep. These were the men and women who worked with their hands, who bore the weight of society’s burdens without praise or glamour. In Cooney’s relationship with them, he found strength and inspiration. Their lives mirrored his own fight — not in the ring, but in the endless bouts against fatigue, poverty, and unseen challenges. His victories became theirs, symbols of hope that hard work and resilience could triumph.

When Cooney says that they looked forward to him winning, he speaks of a profound truth: the hero does not fight for himself alone. Just as ancient champions carried the dreams of their tribes into battle, so too did Cooney carry the hopes of the working class with every strike and every round. His triumphs were a shared celebration, proof that those who labor in obscurity are not forgotten.

Let future generations remember this lesson: greatness is not born in isolation, but in connection. The fighter, the artist, the leader — all stand upon the shoulders of those who rise before dawn and toil without recognition. To honor them is to win not only for oneself, but for all who silently struggle, carrying the weight of the world with unbroken spirit.