Why has boxing died?

[brewerjamie15]

I'm a boxing fan. I used to watch Friday Night Fights every week with my buddy. I usually stop flipping channels if I see a fight is on.

That said, I don't mind (even kinda like) Teddy Atlas talking boxing but when HBO has a fight I cringe. I can not stand Larry Merchant. I really, really dislike that dude.

[brettac1]

Merchant is semi-retired now. Kellerman worked the fights last night, and then once Merchant fully retires, it's Max's gig.

[lovehate]

I actually love the HBO telecasts, I wish Jim Lampley was still doing mainstream work. Merchant is bad, but I grew to just love him as part of the circus that pro boxing is. His demented, rambling philosophy stuff is great. Lennox Lewis is alright, I'm a big Max Kellerman fan, and Harold lederman's scoring updates are hilarious.

 

As far as Taylor/Pavlik, i saw the first one, and I don't think Taylor has a chance, he just doesn't have the power to hurt Pavlik.

[brettac1]

Well, Taylor knocked him down (and almost out) in the second round. So, I would say he's got the power to hurt him. Any referee other than Steve Smoger would have most likely stopped the fight.

 

I hate Taylor, but I'm just saying. I think he's the naturally bigger guy, too, so fighting at 166 gives him a really good shot of winning.

[brewerjamie15]

Ya know, if I were to really try to break down why it is that boxing has "died" in the circle of sports, I suppose I'd be hard pressed to give any one specific reason.

It seems to me that there are a few factors contributing to a loss of popularity.

 

Currently, boxing has no poster boy or huge draw. DeLaHoya has had his skills diminish and he has sort of faded into the background, Lennox Lewis was never (unfortunately) fully embraced by the media. Tyson has become a total whack job, Trinnidad and Mosley were never really marketed to boxing's best interests.

 

The Heavy Weight division is mostly filled with Russian sounding names that people are not at all wanting to or able to identify with. Hasim Rahman is probably a more recognizable name, but he's basically a washed up never was. There is no "feel good American boy" fighter anywhere on the horizon at this point IMO.

 

Light Heavy Weight is a nice division to be watching right now, but it's not touted like the big boys are which is a shame. I feel that the better fights are in this division and lighter. If you want lots of action, you need to think 180 lbs and below. People who don't watch much boxing are not aware of this, so it remains rather secret. Look at the big boys in the heavy weight division. Lots and lots of tying up and resting. The punches that land are hard yeah, but ya don't see a guy throw but maybe 20-25 per round. This makes for a slow and boring fight so not many people come back to watch more boxing.

 

Boxing needs to promote itself more, and in a positive manner. It seems to me that the times it does get any notable press is when someone goes to jail or there's question of poor judging. Judging is another sore point about boxing. How can three people be watching a fight and call it 10-8(a) 10-8(a) and a third guy see it for the other fighter and call it 10-9(b)?

 

Two words-- DON KING.

 

If boxing could somehow get themselves under one basic title instead of having a thousand different names, it may help a bit. A guy can hold like ten belts at one time. That sorta diminishes their value in the eyes of many. For example: IBF, WBF, WBC, etc, etc.

 

Maybe boxing needs to not only unify itself, but get into the homes and bars of sports fans. Get off cable TV all the time and see if you can somehow get a good fight on ABC/CBS/FOX/or NBC for goodness sakes. Football does it. Baseball does it, so does the NBA.

 

These are just a few opinions I'm offering. I don't have the answers to boxing's woes, but maybe these would be some ideas we could talk about.

[lovehate]

I forgot about that Brett, I guess my selective memory was just taken with Pavlik's power, maybe Taylor will come out with "that fire" for the rematch.

[brettac1]

Should be a GREAT card tonight under Pavlik/Taylor II:

 

Castillo vs. Montiel

Mijares vs. Navarro

 

Ronald Hearns is also scheduled to fight an 8-rounder tonight, and I'm guessing that they'll televise his, also.

 

This is worth your $49.99, actually. The main event should be one of the best fights of the year. Again.

[danzig6767]

Should be a GREAT card tonight under Pavlik/Taylor II:

 

Castillo vs. Montiel

Mijares vs. Navarro

 

Ronald Hearns is also scheduled to fight an 8-rounder tonight, and I'm guessing that they'll televise his, also.

 

This is worth your $49.99, actually. The main event should be one of the best fights of the year. Again.

This is one reason boxing has died for the most part

I have some interest in watching this fight, but i'm not going to pay 50 bucks to watch it

 

[brettac1]

You can watch it for free next week on HBO prior to the Klitschko/Ibragimov fight (I cannot believe that Ibragimov is a champion - unbelievable), and it might not be big enough of a fight that you could possibly avoid the result for a week if you wanted to. I don't buy every PPV, but this is one that I have to buy. There are pretty easy ways to watch it online for free if you wanted to, I suppose, too.

[JonnyLungs]

All right... I'll throw down the $50.00 and get the fight. I've got nothing to do tonight (working tomorrow) and there is nothing else on TV.

 

Hope it's good. I haven't been a huge boxing fan but I also love watching old Ali fights and stuff like that.

 

What's the story on Pavlik/Taylor for somebody who hasn't even heard of them?

 

edit: $60.00 for the HD

[jwill535]

Taylor was considered one of the best fighters in the division. Pavlik was your typical "Great White Hope". In the first fight Jermaine came out throwing and knocked Kelly down in the 2nd round. They danced for a couple rounds until Kelly caught Taylor with a couple great shots that put Taylor on his butt in the corner.(only time i jumped and yelled by myself while at home for a fight). If i heard it right it wont be for any titles tonight since Taylor came in 6 lbs over weight. Look for Taylor to come out throwing looking for revenge. If Kelly can withstand the first couple rounds he should be able to out box Taylor and put him down again. Where Taylor leads with skill Kelly makes up with heart and chin.

[brettac1]

No, the fight was to be fought at 166 all the while. The auto-rematch clause in the contract for the first fight had the stipulation.

 

Pavlik's more than just a white dude with a heart. He's got a huge right hand and is a KO machine. Granted, though, him being white is good for the sport. Taylor isn't all that skilled, IMO. He's still extremely raw, and managed to somehow get WORSE while being trained by Manny Steward. He also lacks in heart quite a bit, the fact that he fought guys like Ouma and Spinks instead of making big fights pretty much proves that. Those fights were garbage from the minute they were signed, and everyone knew they would be, but he just fought mandatory challengers (unlike a great fighter like a Mayweather who goes out and fights guys who challenge him - I expect Pavlik will, too).

 

I personally am expecting Pavlik to KO him inside of 5 rounds. But it should be exciting.

[GAME05]

I'm really excited to see this fight tonight. There's a BW3s where I live (not in WI) shows all the MMA and boxing pay-per-views with no cover charge.

 

I'm thinking Pavlik tonight, too. ah, hasn't been a good bout in a while. what's cool is we get this fight tonight, and in a month we've got the Marquez-Pacquiao fight, which also has an excellent undercard.

 

quality boxing!!! yippie!!!!

[burniebrewer]

Brett, when does Calzaghe fight Hopkins?

 

There's a guy who I really enjoy watching fight.

 

I just don't want to pony up the $50 tonight though, even if it is gonna be a good card.

[GAME05]

Calzaghe/Hopkins is April 19th in Vegas.

[burniebrewer]

So, you guys share the appreciation of Calzaghe?

[JET15]

Not to hijack the thread, but lack of network TV seemed to have killed boxing... what's the NHL's excuse? They seem to have dropped off the map as well and to me that's sad. There are some real great athletes playing the game right now and it is a great game. Sad.

 

That said, take me out to the ballgame. Spring seems to far away here in Wisconsin today.

[brettac1]

So, you guys share the appreciation of Calzaghe?

 

Sometimes. I have warmed to him after the Kessler fight. Usually I think it is pretty sound strategy to be skeptical of British fighters who pretty much never leave their home or fight anyone of note.

 

I think the fight with Hopkins will be awful, though. It won't be Calzaghe's fault - but Hopkins hasn't fought an entertaining fight in a decade. He throws like 10 punches a round. I hope Calzaghe whoops him, and he should on sheer activity alone. Too bad he doesn't really have much power.

 

And GAME05 - The fight I am looking forward to the most is Marquez/Vazquez III in two weeks on SHO (not PPV - everyone should watch that). The first two (especially the second) were amazing, amazing fights.

[burniebrewer]

So the Klitschko/Ibragimov fight is on HBO tonight. The way things are with boxing, I figured this would also be some sort of PPV.

 

They are showing the Taylor/Pavlik replay right now before tonight's fight.

 

Hopefully the heavyweights can put on a show. I'll be keeping an eye on it (and Tenn/Memphis).

 

For the gambling folks, Klitschko is favored at 1.28/1 with Ibragimov at 3.5/1, or if you're feeling real lucky, a draw will get you 21/1.

[brettac1]

Yeah, that fight was pretty predictable tonight. Guys like Ibragimov, etc. don't have any business being called heavyweight champion of the world. Klitschko is very good, but he just has no competition.

[burniebrewer]

Yeah, no drama. Just a business-like win.

[GAME05]

yeah, just wanted to jump on the site to see if anyone else here endured the fight tonight. yippie, we all got to see a champion fighter win on 60% effort. yawn.

 

the judged should have deducted points from Klitchko for even allowing that fight to go past 6.

[jordanmuehl]

In my opinion, boxing has died because MMA is just simply more publicized and, dare I say it, more entertaining to the common eye.

[GAME05]

once boxing gets some good characters back in the heavyweight division the interest will return, those are who the casual fan wants to see (klitchko sure didn't help things). at the least, it looks like HBO is making a great effort to put more fights on its regular schedule and off PPV. MMA still lives entirely on PPV.

 

there'll be a return to boxing once the country has a guy to get behind and root for. Pavlik has the potential to bring back a lot of fans on his own. plus i think boxing is one of those sports that's never exactly going to go away, just lie dormant for a little while.

[brettac1]

Pavlik is the best hope right now. There's Pacquiao, too. Maybe Cotto.

 

But, people don't love the little guys as much. Even when the fights are 10 times as entertaining. A great Olympic hero would help a lot, too. That's how guys like Leonard, etc. got so popular back in the day. Seems like now, though, guys who do well in the Olympics haven't translated that well into the professional ranks.

 

I still love boxing nearly as much as anything else, though. I mean, it's better than the NBA.