Coming from a rough upbringing himself, Charles identified with many of the troubled personalities he would deal with in boxing. From CNN's piece on Nick's passing:
Charles would cry when he talked about the strength of boxers, because when he looked at the ring, he saw young men like him from the inner city who had to rely on themselves to reach success.
"You have to walk down that alley way to the ring," he said. "You're going to get hit. You have to take pain to get it. You have to fight through fear."
A many about whom few have ever had a negative word to say, Charles inspired many as he battled for two years against an aggressive illness."You have to walk down that alley way to the ring," he said. "You're going to get hit. You have to take pain to get it. You have to fight through fear."
In remembering Nick, I'll turn once more to CNN's article:
"If I don't make it," he said, "there's no need for any pity parties."
"People won't remember who you are or what you said," he said. "It's really about: Are you going to be remembered as a good person?"
"That's victory to me. That's success."
Rest in peace, Nick Charles."People won't remember who you are or what you said," he said. "It's really about: Are you going to be remembered as a good person?"
"That's victory to me. That's success."