I'm not the biggest boxing aficionado in my neck of the woods, but I've always been fascinated by the sport. It triggers something primal in me—the idea of two gladiators stepping into the ring to go toe-to-toe, mano-a-mano. I'm not the type to buy a pay-per-view match, much less pay to see a bout in person...but if I do happen to catch a fight on TV, I know enough about the sport to enjoy both its visceral and technical appeal.
And that's why I was so disappointed on Saturday night.
The truth? The show almost got the job done by itself.
I was wowed by the sheer physicality of the training. These guys were fit and lean—and they never quit working to get in even better shape. It was awe-inspiring to watch two men sacrifice so much—to go through hell and back—for an event that would last only a single, bloody night.
The point: I was hyped for this match, more so than for any I'd ever seen. I was fully prepared to give my heart to boxing. I went over to a buddy's house with some beer, hunkered down in front of the boob tube, and...
If there was a word to describe my feelings after the fight, it would have to be "meh."
The result, of course, was a 12-round split decision in favor of Mayweather—although many in the crowd disagreed. The fight was mechanical, with the fighters only mixing it up in a few widely-dispersed flurries. In the end, I was completely underwhelmed. It reminded me of every other high-profile boxing match I've seen in recent memory—overhyped, with a payoff that fell far short of expectations.
Call me picky, but when a fight is billed as the "fight of the year" and "boxing's saving grace," I at least expect a good boxing match. Not a solid, technically-sound boxing match (that's what I avoid Olympic boxing for)—a boxing match that'll get my heart thumping.
I may sound crass for saying this, but I wanted more gore on Saturday. I wanted a slobberknocker of a match...and instead I got two fighters who went at each other methodically, without taking any major risks. The only really exciting moment didn't come until the very end of the match, when both Mayweather and De La Hoya ditched the strategy and resorted to throwing one wild haymaker after another.
That was the boxing match I wanted to see—and it barely lasted a minute.
I can understand how longtime boxing fans might have enjoyed the fight on its technical merits...but for this fence-sitter, the bout fell miserably short in its effort to save an ailing (and still multi-million-dollar) sport.
It seems that lesser-known fighters—those who have nothing to lose—are the only ones who put on good performances anymore. Boxing's big names are almost timid in comparison, as if they're fighting not to get hurt.
Or then again maybe I'm just too barbaric to enjoy the finesse of big-time boxing.
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about 1 year ago
Let's face it. Boxing is dead. We live in a country where sports come and go, and boxing is on its way out. Sure there are a few big fights, just as there are a few big horseraces. But tradition only gets you so far. Boxing does not jive with the politically correct world we live in, nor does the level of corruption sit well with an audience that is far more educated and far less naive than it was fifty years ago (split decision my ass!)
about 1 year ago
This fight may have been over-hyped, but that s not what s hurting boxing.
The reason boxing is dying is two fold.
First is the absence of big name, big hitting heavy weight fighters. There is no Mike Tyson, no Evander Holyfield, no Joe Frazier, no Mohammed Ali, hell there isn t even a Tommy the machine Gun. With this void at the top, the prominent boxers today are all lower weight class fighters where speed and technical ability are the most important aspects. This is not to say that lighter fighters don't hit hard or knock-out don t happen, just that in lower weight classes technique and speed are paramount leading to fewer knock outs.
Second, the American public loves to see a good hard hitting, power punching fight. As you said in the article the idea of two gladiators stepping into the ring to go toe-to-toe, which translates to one guy knocking the other guy the fuck out. This, in the past is what pro boxing at least held the promise of, and what people still expect to see. If they don t see it, that fight sucked.
The combination of these two aspects is what has taken the appeal away for the average sports viewer, as well as most fence sitters , and what is hurting boxing. The much hyped fights of the past few years have all been lower weight class, i.e. technically rooted, fights. That just doesn t do it for the masses. This leaves only the lovers of the sweet science to marvel at the technical ability and boxing proficiency of today s fighters.
If you don t believe me, look to the recent surge in interest and viewership of Mixed Martial Arts competitions. A sport with hard hitting, frequent knock-outs, constant knock downs, and general action that you can enjoy with 0 idea of the technical aspects. two gladiators stepping into the ring to go toe-to-toe and in this case fighting till someone is knocked the fuck out or can t fight anymore. It s the guaranteed gore which is the real crowd pleaser.
Boxing is hurting, but it isn t dead and likely never will be. If it doesn t receive some massive shock treatment soon, and a technical fight isn t going to do it, then it may pass out of the minds of many, if not most, sports fans. But it will always have a following for those of us that truly love the sport.
about 1 year ago
I've noticed over the last 10 years or so that when the biggest fights in the sport happen, the boxers never go for a knockout any more. They're much more content playing conservative for 12 rounds and taking the chance in a decision.
After the decision is made, fans start whining about why the outcome wasn't fair. Wah wah wah wah wah well I'm not buying it.
If you are a boxer and you decide that you're going to rob the American people of what they paid for forcing judges, rather than your fist, to decide the outcome of a match then you run the risk that you are going to lose in that decision. End of story.
Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather both deserve to lose Saturday's match, as they fought like little bitches for 12 rounds and cut and ran with a bulkload of money that decent Americans gave them to watch a good old fashioned slugfest. What did they get in return? Two fluzzies prancing around the ring, masquerading as legitimate title contenders. If you thought there was justice in this world, think again...
Unfortunately, the rules of boxing dictate that someone has to be declared the winner at the end of the match, even after such a pathetic display of sportsmanship. That being the case, the simple fact is that Mayweather landed half of his punches and De La Hoya landed less than a quarter, making Mayweather the clear winner of the bout.
Regardless however of which figher technically "won" the match, the one thing that is indisputable in regards to the fight is that the American people lost once again.
As much as I hate to say it, the only thing that could save boxing is if Mike Tyson were to come back from rehab/jail/anger management and show these morons how the sport is supposed to be played. Say what you will about Iron Mike, but at least he had the balls to go for the knockout rather than pussy-foot around and try to win in a decision.
about 1 year ago
Wouldn't you be more disappointed if the fight lasted 42 seconds and ended with a KO? That's the kind of fight we all should have been expecting. I was glad to see it go the full 12, and to have 2 fighters moving just as well in the final round as they were in the first. That's something you won't get in the heavyweight division.
I agree that it did feel like an Olympic match in that both fighters came away looking as if they had been wearing head gear... funny you brought that up.
about 1 year ago
It was an intensely close match, heated until the very last round. Seeing two strategic fighters duke it out for 12 rounds is clearly preferable to a knockout in round 2.
Let's be honest here guys: it was a damn good fight and you know it.
PS: Does anyone know what Oscar's "I'm going to hit you 8 straight times in the body, but not all that hard" strategy was all about?
about 1 year ago
In contrast to the extremely boring fight put up by Mayweather and de la Hoya, the undercard fight of Rey Boom Boom Bautista and Sergio Medina was much more fun for boxing fans like myself. There were three knockdowns in that fight. First Boom Boom knocked down Medina, then Medina almost knocked out Boom Boom before Boom Boom sneaked in another knock down in the 11th. If you want to enjoy an all out slugfest, check out the fights of Manny Pacquiao, according to some possibly the true best pound for pound fighter today. I saw the Mayweather de la Hoya fight twice and my verdict, extremely boring, and I would still give de la Hoya the fight just for being more aggressive.
about 1 year ago
It blows me away how so many people are obsessed with gore. How could you possibly expect a Hagler - Mugabi fight with these two cats? No way. Do your homework. Mayweather is a straight up boxer, an artist in the ring. Oscar can mix it up but he needs a willing partner. It was a good close match, just the way I expected it to be. I don't care about the MMA or Monster truck racing. I prefer sports. I'm so tired of MMA talk. WWE and MMA appeal to young kids cause of the storylines and characters they play.
Boxing, hockey, soccer, baseball and NFL. That's for me.
about 1 year ago
usual...skillful, but not full of excitement for the average fan.
UFC/MMA has excitement and thats where all the fans are.
http://www.FROMTHECAGE.com
about 1 year ago
Why is it that when two tacticians engage in a battle, it is deemed boring and is unappreciated? Yet, a football game that ends 7-3 is a great game.
There is no denying the talents of either fighter, and a split decision merely suggests how close these two really are.
Look for the sequal.
about 1 year ago
Sequel? If Mayweather has his way he'll retire with his undefeated streak intact even though he's still more physically capable than the majority of boxers out there.
about 1 year ago
Yes, I agree that heavyweights (and their more frequent knockouts) tend to draw a bigger crowd, but I don't think the lack of star heavyweights is what's affecting boxing. I switched to UFC because of a simple rule of that sport: if someone's not being aggressive, they lose.
It's interesting that someone above compared boxing and football. They are similar to me, and I've given up on both for the same reason: LONG stretches of nothing, followed by a second or two of excitement. I can watch non-sports television and be more entertained.
Here's what the sports need --
Boxing: Change the rules to be harsher against holding and hiding.
Football: No more punting, and cut time between plays (discarding the concept of separate defensive and offensive teams would go a long way, too).
And please -- pretty please -- no more reality shows. If you can't be interesting enough in the ring to draw a crowd, just give up (this means you, too, UFC).
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