Well, let me begin with an interesting boxing related episode. Larry Holmes the undisputed World Heavy Weight boxing champion from 1978 to 1983 was in his younger days a sparring partner of Mohammed Ali.
Some wouldn’t believe that the upcoming and not-so-famous (at that time) Holmes was indeed legendary Ali’s training partner when he raved about it in his neighborhood. “I had to pull out pictures of me with him to prove it” wrote Holmes in his biography. Finally one day the “blessed moment” arrived, despite all the protective gear during the training sessions, one punch of Ali landed square on Holmes right eye giving him instantly the “Black eye” and what was Holmes’ reaction to it!!! Let’s hear it straight from Horse’s (Holmes sic) mouth “I wouldn’t put ice on it. I wouldn’t put dark glasses on. I went around telling people, ’Ali gave me this black eye.’ ”. Boy was he mighty proud about the fact that he bore on his body the mark that marked him as Ali’s training partner!!!
Ditto with Apostle Paul who spake proudly thus: “…I carry on my body the scars of the whippings and wounds from Jesus’ enemies that mark me as his slave.” (Gal 6:17-TLB).