ARTICLE: And these IDIOTS wonder WHAT kills boxing? Articles like this one...

Kball1519y ago

--------------------------------------------------------------- Boxing is almost down for the count By Bill Simmons Page 2 Editor's note: This column appears in the May 4 issue of ESPN The Magazine. The De La Hoya-Mayweather fight feels like a trip down memory lane, back to the days when boxing still mattered and people asked questions like "Where are we watching the big fight this weekend?" Before May 5, most every group of pals will force the one guy with the biggest TV to host a pay-per-view party, either by guilting him into it or by going through the charade of pretending someone else with a much crummier TV is hosting, knowing full well the buddy with the giant plasma will step up in the end. Sounds just like the old days, right? When was the last time boxing captured the attention of casual sports fans? Consider this: When A-Rod turned into Roy Hobbs, somewhere between his ninth and 12th bombs, my mother (the most casual sports fan alive) innocently wondered on the phone, "Hey, what about this A-Rod?" I knew it was coming. And within the next two weeks, she'll definitely weigh in on the Mayweather fight, even if it's a hard-hitting analysis like "I hope Oscar doesn't get hurt; he's so handsome," or "Somebody needs to wash Floyd's mouth out with soap." Unquestionably, it's the biggest fight in years. It's also the last Big Fight, period. Here's a top-10 list of boxers who could be described as popular and famous right now: 1. Oscar De La Hoya. And we're done. De La Hoya is the only boxer who matters anymore. As with any other superstar athlete, Oscar generates a wide range of opinions -- he's a classy dude, he's never beaten anyone great in his prime, he's full of himself, he's a warrior, he's overrated, he has a gravity-defying noggin that looks like Sputnik -- but at least people have opinions about him. You can't say the same for Mayweather, the best pound-for-pound fighter alive but also someone who could show up on "Lost" as one of the Others and go unrecognized by viewers and everyone else on the island. We need Floyd's brilliance to push the fight to another level, but Oscar's star power makes it relevant in the first place. Well, what happens when Oscar retires? Only one megafight remains that doesn't involve Mike Tyson and a grizzly bear: the Klitschko brothers breaking their lifelong vow and battling for the heavyweight title, which won't happen unless they both go broke (impossible) or a girl comes between them (improbable, but not impossible). So unless Don King hires some überhooker to play one against the other, or unless someone improbably emerges as the Tiger Woods of boxing, this could be the last Big Fight for a long time. And it might not even be that good a fight: The bookies originally made Floyd a 3-1 favorite, mainly because he's a sleeker, deadlier, more polished version of Sugar Shane Mosley -- yes, the guy who beat Oscar twice. The outcome doesn't matter as much as boxing's brief return to the mainstream, which has been propelled partially by HBO's De La Hoya/Mayweather 24/7, a masterfully entertaining "reality show" about the lead-up to the fight. The first episode alone featured Floyd dropping about 10,000 f-bombs, 50 Cent improbably showing up at Floyd's camp on a Segway and Floyd's uncle Roger answering the question "What would it be like if Flavor Flav was a boxing trainer?" Meanwhile, poor Oscar has to balance sparring sessions with family life and his many business interests, and as we watched him sitting in his enormous kitchen or training in front of hundreds of media people, the parallels between Oscar and the "domesticated" Rocky Balboa (from Rocky III) were more than a little creepy, right down to Floyd's playing the role of a hip-hop Clubber Lang. You'd have to hark back to Leonard-Duran for a matchup with such clearly defined white hat/black hat roles. Floyd hasn't just positioned himself as the villain; he wants to be the villain, making him different from Jones Jr., Holmes, Tyson, Hagler and everyone else since Duran who has begrudgingly worn a black hat to sell a fight. Deep down, every boxer from the past 25 years has wanted to be loved. Floyd wants to be remembered. Big difference. For our purposes, it's been a revelation to watch two superior boxers promote a fight without forcing mutual contempt simply for the hype. Floyd genuinely dislikes Oscar and resents his fame. Oscar genuinely dislikes Floyd for not showing him respect. Over everything else, that's what makes this a special sporting event: In a world where NBA refs hand out flagrant fouls like parking tickets, baseball pitchers aren't allowed to protect teammates and hockey players settle scores by high-sticking someone in the helmet and waiting for three other guys to jump in, it's nice to know that two athletes can still settle a feud by beating the crap out of each other. So why does boxing have to go away? Sure, it's a completely corrupt sport that lacks any semblance of organization, but that's been the case since, well, forever. The bigger issue? Lack of star power. American kids don't grow up hoping to become the next Ali or Sugar Ray anymore; they're hoping to be the next LeBron, Griffey, Brady or Tiger. The thought of getting smacked in the head for 20 years, soaked by the Don Kings of the world, then ending up with slurred speech and a constant tremor doesn't sound too enticing. Fifty years ago, before anyone knew better, Allen Iverson might have been the deadliest middleweight alive and ended up broke and incoherent. In 2007, he's worth tens of millions and there's a chance he'll be able to hold an articulate conversation when he's 70. Which scenario sounds more appealing to an inner-city kid with serious athletic chops? Take a guess. It's ironic that Muhammad Ali -- once upon a time our most popular athlete and a boxing ambassador -- damaged the credibility of the sport more than anyone else by turning into a quivering mess. Maybe he is a great man, maybe he had a great career, maybe he was the warrior of warriors, but nobody wants to end up like him. Even the sport's most talented boxer (Mayweather) started fighting only because of his father and uncle (two former boxers). Raised in a different family, he'd definitely be playing centerfield or point guard for a living. Boxing could have staved off its decline, at least a little, with a UFC-like business plan that included a constant presence on one cable network, one loaded PPV card per month, one championship belt per division, better marketing and promotion, and a charismatic, accountable leader like Dana White. But it's a pipe dream, and we know it: Too many dirtbags make too much money feeding off the perpetual disorganization and lawlessness, so that's how things will stay. The sport resembles a broken-down mansion that seems as if it can be salvaged -- right until the housing inspector tells you about the water-damaged walls and termite-infested foundation rotted to the core. We need to knock down the house and start over. And in the years following the De La Hoya-Mayweather fight, as boxing crumbles from a lack of mainstream interest, we will. Until then, let's enjoy the Last Big Fight. Call your buddy with the big TV and tell him you're coming over on May 5. Just like old times. ------------------------------------------------------ WHY did this man write this article, in a very popular magazine, on the cusp of the single biggest boxing event in years? What purpose could this article possibly serve??? Every article now-a-days is about the crumbling sport of boxing. What do you think the casual fan does? HE picks up the article, reads it over, and decides not to watch boxing, not even the fight the fuckin article talks about. God forbid we get a decent boxing article now-a-days, but when we do its about this shit. The media is just as at fault for killing boxing, as the corrupt promoters and officials who run it.

Comments (20)

velvet_fog

There's another article on ESPN Page 2, I don't have time to post the link, that bashes boxing. Its about how UFC has taken over and boxing is dead. I think she says that UFC is a pitbull and boxing is an extinct dinosaur. The article was published a couple weeks ago. I think that it is undeniable that in mainstream america, boxing is dying. There is nothing wrong with the sport inside the ring, there just needs to be an overhaul outside the ring. I don't want this to happen, but I wonder how a death in the ring on national TV (Mancini v. Kim) would effect UFC and their viewing, just a thought.

19y ago

2120

The writer made some good points but heres the thing as a world wide sport boxing is doing good but in america its not and its true american kids arent saying i want to grow up and be the next mayweather boxing decline has to do with a lack of a younger aduience thus less american kids tryout boxing thus less american are competing in boxing and less american are paying attention to boxing instead the mainstream is wondering why boxing still exist so they critize and write hateful article praising boxing doom because the casual sports fan in america has no clue about whats going on in boxing so this kind of article is something most sport fan can relate to in their view about boxing the reason ufc is doing so good now (not metion their marketing and lack of corruption) because there are so many american competing and are considered the best. catching the american public attention in boxing how many american do u have competing that are considered the best and are white the biggest group of sport fans in america are white lack of good white american talent and lack of american talent period!in the hw division in particular has alot to do with boxing decline in america and the rise of ufc in america

19y ago

Antonio

Where did he say boxers arent athletes? He said kids would rather get paid to play basketball than to get pounded in the head for years. He makes a point. The negative outcry to this article is hilarious imo.

19y ago

Southpaw16

One of the comments in that article that really fucking pissed me off was the talk about how obxers aren't elite athletes. He says that Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be playing centerfield for a major league baseball team right now if he didn't grow up in a boxing family, and the problem is that no kids are interested in boxing nowadays. Fuck you Simmons. Ever heard of a 130 lb major league centerfielder? Because that was Mayweather's natural weight when he would have been of draft age. Also he says that in a different age Iverson would have been middleweight champion of the world. Not only does Bill Simmons not know anything about boxing, comments like these indicate to me that he has never actually really played sports. At least not at anything resembling a high level. If he was an athlete he would know that abilities in different sports really don't transfer over quite this easily, and that being a good basketball player does not make you a good boxer. This sounds really stupid but so is Simmons. The media is completely biased against boxing. The sport just can't catch a break. There is finally a big fight and stuff happening in the sport and they say that De La Hoya is the only boxer worth watching. Fuck the media.

19y ago

EasyE

"Until then, let's enjoy the Last Big Fight. Call your buddy with the big TV and tell him you're coming over on May 5." last big fight? moron. random possible big fight outa the top of my head... marquez vs. paquiao. might not be as BIG as DLH vs PBF, but Marquez is not DLH. if it wasnt For DLH fighting, teens at my school wouldnt be saying, "who you thinks gonna win?" they could care less who he was fighting. I wouldnt consider that a big fight in a commercial sense. I think it would be great and would love to see it but these guys are too small to capture a mainstream audience, as much as it sucks.

19y ago

EasyE

Bill Simmons is an excellent writer, its a shame he has so much nengativity towards boxing. I dont think the media is killing boxing, but its not helping.

19y ago

ryu89

19y ago

Antonio

Whether you like it or not he makes great points. Especially the last few paragraphs.

19y ago

Kball15

Any press is good press. You guys should be happy Bill Simmon put an article in the magazine adressing boxing. The problem with boxing is its LACK of media attention. WHAT?!?!?! thats not true at all. He insulted the sport and basically convinced everyone to stop watching boxing after this fight. If you like boxing, you hated that article as true as it was. It was COMPLETELY unneccesary.

19y ago

Antonio

Any press is good press. You guys should be happy Bill Simmon put an article in the magazine adressing boxing. The problem with boxing is its LACK of media attention. People might read the article and take interest into it.

19y ago

Antonio

What are you talking about? That was a good article. He made some great points and the gay joke on the Klitschkos made me laugh.

19y ago

Kball15

I know its been compared to death but look at UFC's strategy. They have clear champions in there weight divisions so when they fight its a big deal. They were also getting blasted by guys saying Pride fighters would kick UFC fighters asses. So he buys Pride and now the top MMA fighters will all be fighting each other. Fans win with great matchups and promoters win with PPV sales. Well the writer had one could point. He said that only after the sport is dead can it be helped and i agree. If I had billions of dollars and i went right up to boxing officials and the people who run the sport and i said i wanted a change, nothing would happen and nobody would listen. But if the sport were on its knees, then anyone with a good amount of money could make some serious changes in the sport. Revamp its complete image. Lol. The only problem is, the sport of boxing is gonna die anytime soon, especially if DLH-MAYWEATHER is a great success. So some serious good and serious bad are gonna come out of this fight

19y ago

Kball15

19y ago

Left2body

Some points are valid in the article but the author doesn't know a lot of shit about boxing. He claims Klitch bro's being the last mega fight. Hell there are a ton of great possible matchups in the years to come. Taylor-Miranda, Calz-Kessler/Hopkins/Winky, PBF-Hatton and if Hatton and Cotto both win there next fights Hatton-Cotto is a possible MEGA-FIGHT with both fighters getting huge media coverage from there respective countries. Problem is that boxing is now like an abusive husband he keeps beating us say's he's sorry and he'll change then beats us again. We have too many belts for casual fans to follow. To a casual fan everyone decent is a champion, which ends up deflating the value of all champions. Added to this are the many champions who have 2-4 chump fights between decent fights. The multiple alphabet belts just confuse people and allows champions to avoid each other for entire careers. (IIRC, the IBF that can have 2 champions per weight class if the champion has here belt and 1 or more of the major other major belts they issue another one. The multibelt holder is considered by them as the linear IBF belt holder and the new one is regular I guess), I am not sure about the specifics but the ambigouity itself is whats destroying boxing. The contender has shown that there is still an interest in boxing its just up to the governing bodies to self regulate and begin to consolidate into 1 or 2 major titles or 1 International Governing body with 1 CLEAR champion per-weight class. Then you'll see how well known Champions will be. I know its been compared to death but look at UFC's strategy. They have clear champions in there weight divisions so when they fight its a big deal. They were also getting blasted by guys saying Pride fighters would kick UFC fighters asses. So he buys Pride and now the top MMA fighters will all be fighting each other. Fans win with great matchups and promoters win with PPV sales.

19y ago

The_Troll

Bad timing but the article has valid points watching ep 2 of 24/7 and seeing Freddie Roach , top bloke but with Parkinsons and slurred speech made me sad. If Freddie hadn't hit it big as a trainer , he would be a broke man with this ailment. And there are many many boxers in that position, werent good enough to make decent money from the sport but walk away from it with brain problems And yes Don King needs a bullet to the head I like Freddie Roach and it's a shame he has parkinsons but even he said 'he doesn't want people to feel sorry for him, he chose the sport, and the sport has been good to him.'

19y ago

Peterp

19y ago

as chups said, boxing is atleast somewhat corrupt. also, a lot of the blame for little exposure has to go towards boxing managers and promoters. really, what is the job of a promoter if he can not promote?

19y ago

The_Troll

I hope De La Hoya doesn't pull the same routine he did against Hopkins.

19y ago

The_Troll

It was one incident in one game, he got suspended. You don't need to talk about it for 4 monthes ESPN assholes. This guy is still on this. Ask him the 8 teams remaining in the Stanley Cup playoffs and he probably wouldn't even know.

19y ago

The_Troll

Yeah it's a bunch of ascnine nonsense. The Rocky III thing was ok but besides that your usual ESPN/ABC nonsense. The reference he makes to hockey is to Chris Simon and his high sticking incident. That's all ESPN TV talked about for Hockey for like a month was Chris Simon of all the things.

19y ago