By Cliff Rold

Who did Cory Spinks (36-5, 11 KO) tick off?  That was the last question that popped into my head as Spinks, who appeared to solidly outbox Verno Phillips (42-10-1, 21 KO, IBF titlist) over twelve rounds on Thursday night in St. Louis, saw his Jr. Middleweight alphabelt transfer ownership.

The questions generated by the odd decision are fleeting.  Having seen now, officially, that a major American promoter can pull off a full card without a freezing stream, and with quality visuals, there is a lasting question as well.

How soon until online boxing is the norm?

Perhaps Boxing’s power brokers will, following by example, finally take advantage of the internet.  Tonight’s broadcast was not perfect but its wrinkles ironed out fairly early.  Upon first logging on to Don King’s new web TV venture, the streaming broadcast wasn’t streaming immediately.  During the second fight, the stream froze.  Early on, the audio skipped in places as well. 

Then, the technical problems disappeared and it played through four fights until the end. 

After awhile, it became easy for the technology to become forgotten.  It was a well-produced Boxing card, regardless of the media and opened up possibilities that many major cable cards do not.  Were it to have been on HBO or Showtime, Super Middleweight prospect Marcus Johnson’s impressive first round knockout win would have led to a dead time filled with some renewed prognostication about the impending main event.  Instead, fans were treated to a look at Super Lightweight John Jackson.  In other words, rather than filling the dead time on a fight card with rhetoric, it was filled with fights.

Cool concept.  Nothing against TV’s various talking heads, but it’s irksome to some fans to be stare at ringside T.V. announcers talking while four feet drift behind them locked in combat.

Of course there’s a down side.  Now that it can be done, it’s only a matter of time until fans are asked to pony up.  Considering that Boxing fans already spend more money than any other sports fans to enjoy the best of their favorite sport, that’s serious cause for worry. 

The alternative upside is that there aren’t a lot of fights worth charging for that, now or ever, will be best served through an Ethernet cable.  Those that could would be cause for celebration.  A strong streaming ability could finally open up the world of fans to the world of the sport.  There are dozens of quality fighters in Europe, Asia and South America whose promoters can now mimic tonight’s action in getting their product, their best fighters, to a global audience.

Live online Boxing has seen fits and starts over the last few years.  Tonight may prove, in retrospect, to be its true beginning.  It’s years later than it should have been, but Boxing’s digital age may finally be here. 

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com