Big Jake
Gaming Trend Senior Member
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Posts: 1300
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« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2008, 07:19:52 PM » |
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Huge boxing fan here. I loved how this weekend played out (getting to watch Chad Dawson before flipping over to the Cintron-Margarito fight, which turned out exactly as I expected.) I CANNOT wait for the Cotto-Margarito fight in July, which brings me to a question: Tiktok, WHY did you want to see the gomez-cotto matchup? When it was made everyone knew how one-sided it was going to be. It didn't even look like a sparring session for Cotto it was so unbalanced. AS for Hopkins-Calzaghe: should be a great tactical fight, watching the sorta awkward all-offense Calzaghe vs the greatest defensive counterpuncher of our era. Frankly, it could also be a typical Hopkins title-fight: he outboxes his more active opponent, then loses the decision because the judges liked Calzaghe's intensity. Sadly (as I hate Calzaghe mush more than I hate the Executioner), this is very likely what will happen.
Now, to address ATB question, "why has boxing died?":
Smaller issues - greedy PPV's that stink (aka Tyson,Holyfield, Jones Jr, etc vs Bum of the Week)
Poor or crooked decisions - note, that these are two different issues. I think there are far fewer 'fixes' than people think, and it's more of a non-unified scoring system that causes problems (ie, one judge may favor punching volume vs heavyhandedness, skills vs energy, etc). This lack of easy scoring creates an issue where only die-hards can see why a De La Hoya loses to Mosley but Pacquiao wins vs Marquez. It kind of kills attraction of new fans where you can't rely on what the outcome of your favorite fighter's fight because of the judges. I'm still waiting for someone (like a Teddy Atlas type who groks boxing) to start a database/review of how specific judges score fights.
Biggest Issue:
The fighters themselves. Here we go:
Fraud Mayweather Jr. keeps thumping his chest about GOAT (great of all time) claim. Somehow, he has YET to face a single AAA fighter at their natural weight in their prime other than Zab Judah (who was coming off a loss). His resume? Beating a shopworn Gotti, an old DLH, a jumped up Hatton (who, as I have pointed out before, had already proven than the mandatory 10oz gloves nullified his fight style), and weight-drained Castillo and Corrales, and the aformentioned Zab after a loss.
Two decades ago?
Sugar Ray Leonard fights seven fights in a twenty month span. Among those fights: prime benitez (38-01 at the time), prime Duran (71-1), prime Duran (72-1), prime Hearns (32-0). Four HOF'ers at their natural weight, at their prime. This doesn't take into consideration the detached retina, the rematch with Hearns, or the showdown with Hagler.
Five decades ago:
...Do you even want me to list the Hall of fame fights Sugar Ray Robinson had?
This new era of fighter (I blame Roy Jones JR for starting this) has immense talent, but wants to fight an occasional fight every six months against an overmatched opponent, and put it on PPV so they can maximize income with least risk. A fighter on the other hand, wants to prove he's the best, and will take on anyone who thinks they're 'The Man'. This is why I LOVE Cotto & Margarito, who clearly have less talent than Mayweather - they are willing to step in with anybody (as evidenced by the fact they will be facing each other soon). Sadly, Promoters want to tout the Mayweathers of the world; they then wonder why the casual fans who watch a crap-fest like Mayweather-DLH don't come back to see absolute brilliance like the Vasquez-Marquez fights. This is the primary cause that is KILLING this sport.
Gee, see that after fighting (Sigh) freaking ...Steve...Forbes, DLH will be facing Wayweather again. No, Mayweather is not facing another top 5er, his reprising his role against the DLH who is 2-3 in his last five fights. You asked why boxing is dead/dying?
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