Posted on 12/29/2009 5:15:27 AM PST by Kaslin
The tragedy is not decorum or manners, but that boxers were permanently damaged from boxing. It damages the brain so assuredly that none escaped serious brain damage. The moment their career ended, they were and are discarded, most to live in poverty, their wealth having been looted from them by corrupt management.
Ironically, it is the smarter ones today, or at least their management, that goes for the sideshow, the color, that the author objects to. They do so to make their matches more entertaining and interesting, thus to get better box office. Instead of just titillating the blood lust of the “purists”, they would rather go home having put on a show, yet not being crippled in the deal.
I cannot find fault in this. Is a dog fight more entertaining than a dog show?
He must be referring to Cassius Clay
******
Yep, the Mouth from Louisville changed the dynamics of the “sport”.
Just watch an episode of 24/7 on HBO with Floyd Mayweather and the family.
The elder Mayweathers look like crack fiends in high dollar pimp clothes. And no. Money can’t buy class.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of classy guys still in boxing, but they don’t get the airtime afforded to Mayweather et al. Money May should relaize the gift he got in his first fight with Jose Luis Castillo.
Mayweather needs to quit making excuses and fight Pacquiao. He’s looking like a scared little girl at the moment.
It happens EVERYWHERE now.
EVERYBODY’S a rock-star nowadays, in WHATEVER field they’re in.
For boxing, I believe it was Cassius Clay who opened the door for this. I think he was GREAT, but a lot of the attention he got was for his outspoken, over-the-top behavior outside the ring.
And, of course, after him comes the next guy who has to be even bigger, louder and badder... and so on...
It is considered the greatest knockout in heavyweight boxing history.
the actual knockout punch
Greatest Fight I ever saw was the third Ali-Frazier - The Thrilla in Manila.
That was Marciano's first Championship fight. He was the challenger.
Marciano retired as the only undefeated Heavyweight Champion. 49 fights, 43 by knockout.
Gerald McClellan seemed pretty classy, too, but he was badly injured in a fight with Nigel Benn and is now blind.
I remember that the showmanship started with Ali and though he and others were good fighters boxing as a sport went downhill as Dr. Sowell noted.
I really liked the Hearns-Hagler punchout. The first round was just about the most intense I've ever seen. After that, Hagler chased Tommy around 'til he got him.
I've always loved this painting.
At least there's still golf... oh wait...
Evander cheated with headbutts. He was headbutting like crazy in the fight where Tyson bit his ear off.
Thanks for the ping jaz.
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