By Dave Sholler

As we enjoy some of the finest weeks of boxing in quite some time, it is time to put to rest the topic that you see filling up message boards and sports blogs across cyberspace. With an outstanding Taylor-Pavlik fight in the rear view mirror and many huge bouts to come in the next few months, boxing, despite what some contest, is by no means dead. Moreover, in a day and age when observers wonder if MMA is preparing for a takeover in the world of combat sports, boxing has reaffirmed itself as one of the world’s finest athletic competitions. Thanks to the Kelly Pavliks, Manny Pacquiaos, Ricky Hattons, and Miguel Cottos of the boxing world, the Sweet Science appears alive and well.

Ladies and Gentlemen: make no mistake though; MMA is a thriving sport featuring exciting athletes and great battles. Given its increased popularity, it’s hard to blame those that think MMA will surpass boxing. After all, MMA executives have struck gold by understanding the value of marketing and the need for media exposure. However, in light of the well-promoted, finely executed, Pavlik-Taylor fight – that, by the way, did live up to the hype – it is readily apparent that boxing executives do have a clue as to what they are doing, too.

With that said, one must still ask, why do boxing purists and MMA aficionados feel the need to constantly duel over which sport is better? Why do we constantly need to hear debates over whether Chuck Liddell could win a boxing match or whether Kermit Cintron could survive in the Octagon? Why must executives like Bob Arum denigrate mixed martial artists in the same way some MMA honchos downgrade the skill of boxers?

Unfortunately, the answer is fear. Boxing traditionalists see the no-holds barred MMA world as one that threatens the future of the Sweet Science. Similarly, MMA folks have struggled for so long to see their sport succeed that they worry that it won’t remain a mainstream fixture. But while the concerns can be viewed as valid, they are also extremely ridiculous. If you are a sports fan, do you vow to solely follow the National Football League because football is your favorite sport? Or, do you, as a sports fan, like to watch baseball, hockey, and basketball, even though football is where your heart lies?

In short, the point is that there is room for both MMA and boxing. There is no need for a fight to the finish to see who reigns supreme. While debates over which sport is better can be fun, in the end, they serve little purpose. No where in the manual of being a sports lover does it say that you must only like one sport. Furthermore, there are no guidelines that mandate that if you like Sport A, you may not watch Sports B and C.

In essence, this becomes an instance where we all must broaden our horizons and disregard silly, preconceived notions. Just because MMA is hot now doesn’t mean boxing fans will leave “The Science” behind. Equally, even though a fighter may have been raised with jiu-jitsu, it doesn’t mean he or she can’t appreciate skillful boxing.

Therefore, instead of questioning who would win the MMA vs. Boxer battle, shouldn’t we be applauding two combatants who step inside a ring or cage alone and are willing to leave it all on the canvass?

Unlike, say the NFL, a fighter is the running back, quarterback, lineman, and kicker all rolled in to one. He/she enters the combat zone alone and their fate rests solely in the strikes they deliver. Instead of enjoying the fact that boxers and mixed martial artists are some of the most versatile, well-rounded athletes in the world, though, we choose to wonder how Floyd Mayweather would do pinned on his back against the cage or how Matt Hughes would do at the end of a Bernard Hopkins’ jab.

However, just like Peyton Manning won’t be pitching Game 6 of the World Series, Floyd won’t be in the Octagon anytime soon. The same can be said for Hughes’ boxing career. So why not appreciate the two forms instead of casting them off?

In the end, count me in as a big fan of both boxing and MMA. There’s no need for me to pick a favorite because I’m truly pleased with the progress both sports have made. With that said, while I was raised with 10-12 ounce gloves, I’ll continue to embrace the competitors who don leather of the four-ounce variety. For me, both sports bring so much to the table, that it isn’t fair to alienate one. So before we hear anymore Lou DiBella vs. Joe Rogan debates, let’s be happy that two great sports are alive and, err, kicking.

Dave Sholler covers boxing and MMA for ESPN Radio 1450 in Atlantic City.