Sergio Mora

Sergio Mora, as many boxing fans know, is an American boxer of Mexican descent. He is known as “The Latin Snake” because of the viper-like speed with which he punches his opponents. He rose to fame after his appearances on The Contender a hybrid reality show and boxing competition, which he won.

Though he is devoted to boxing, Sergio Mora also has time for hobbies of gambling and card games. In a recent interview with Ed Ludwig of BraggingRights.com, he stated that he likes to spend his spare time playing poker and watching movies.

There is little specific information about Mora’s love for poker, because it appears he does not compete publicly. (Boxing is definitely the competitive activity he is best known for.) However, there is a site called sergiomoraboxing.com that purports to be about boxing and gambling. As of this writing, it contains short articles or write-ups about strategies for poker and blackjack. There is not much hard proof that this is the website of the “real” Sergio Mora, besides the fact that his Wikipedia article links to it. (Wikipedia is not necessarily the most reliable source on the Internet.)

It must be said that it is rather logical for a boxer to also like poker. Both activities require many of the same traits. Firstly, a boxer must be able to think and plan over several rounds, as does a good poker player: money is made in the long run, and sometimes one has to lose certain hands in order to eventually get a large pot. Furthermore, both boxers and good poker players must be able to read their opponents well in order to understand their strategies and predict their moves. This must often be done at the spur of the moment, especially if a boxer or poker player faces an unfamiliar opponent. Of course, the player/boxer must assume that he or she is being “read” as well, and should try to hide his or her own “tells.”

Besides skills, certain attitudes or beliefs may be held in common by both activities. A boxing champion must be able to take risks, as does a great poker player: there is a hazard of great physical or financial injury in every game. Then again, they should also know when and if to back away or go on the defensive. Still, the main difference is that a boxer might have less control over his or her decisions, as he or she is subject to the rulings of the referees or trainers. Poker players can fold whenever they like, but it boxing, the games are usually stopped by the referees, trainers, or a knock-out.

Though Sergio Mora is not necessarily a high-profile poker fan, and has also expressed a wish to focus exclusively on boxing (and drop his “side projects,”), the fact that he likes poker can still be a good endorsement for the sport. It shows that poker has a broad appeal, and even implies that poker-related skills might help a person succeed in other competitive activities.