Disappointment

Understandably, this is what heavyweight boxer Ben Marcov feels after seeing his season once again come to a screeching halt because of a fluke injury at the NCBA Midwest Regionals in Lexington, Ky., last week.

“Twenty seconds into my Regionals fight, I was punched in the throat and had my breathing messed up,” Marcov said.

“After I was hit, I planted my foot wrong. I knew something was wrong when my knee buckled – then I heard a popping sound. The preliminary diagnosis by my doctors is that I completely tore the ACL in my right leg.”

Marcov, senior in operations and supply chain management, was quick to dispel the notion that he was cursed.

“It was not the particular showing that I wished for. I’m not cursed, I just got to keep on trying,” he said.

In 2006, Marcov was less than a minute into his national tournament match when an ill-placed punch ended his season.

“When I threw a right hook, it hit the guy in the elbow and my wrist just snapped. Since I could no longer fight, I had to settle for fourth place.”

Looking to put last year’s terrible ending behind him, Marcov entered this year’s tournament as a man on a mission. Once again, his title hopes vanished in one punch – this time, it was thrown by his opponent.

Head boxing coach Terry Dowd, realizing the emotional and physical anguish Marcov had just endured, decided it was important to pass along this wisdom.

“If it happens, it happens. The world will not end. In your life, boxing is not the most important thing,” Dowd said.

“That you are still able to graduate – that is what matters most. There are certain times in life when you learn more from losing than from winning, and this is one of those times.”

Marcov states that of the two injuries, the most recent has been more difficult for him.

“Since I’m probably going to need surgery to fix it, it means that I am not able to do any cardio conditioning. It’s been frustrating since all I can do right now is watch my calorie intake.”

Despite suffering from two major setbacks, Marcov hopes to rebound from the injuries and to be able to fight again in the future.

He credits his team, family and friends as being a great support system for him in this difficult time.

“The best advice I have gotten is from my dad. He told me not to give up. ‘If you give it your best, you will eventually succeed.'”

Now that he is not able to fight, Marcov has now turned his attention to his fellow teammates.

“I’m going to be [at Nationals] so I can cheer them on and continue to support them. I wish them the best of luck and hope that they all come home as national champions.”