Boxing has become a low risk - high reward calculation for the fighters. Who loses? the fans
We saw it with Mayweather - Pacquiao, they tried to create more and more buzz (more reward) and Mayweather saw after the Pacquiao Marquez fight that the risk went down for him, so of course he challenges him.
and we have new fighters, like Broner, looking up to these guys and trying to follow suit.. same with Bradley ducking Khan, since he wanted to preserve his chance with Pacquiao.
Then we have the Klitschko's. They'll fight any challenger!... yeah.. but how do they fight the challengers? low risk(jab..jab..jab jab jab jab.. jab....) and high reward (hard right hand when opponent and crowd falls asleep by the jabs).
I hope our dutch-maroccan talent Badr Hari (who's transitioning from kickboxing to boxing with the help of Naazim Richardson) can **** some people up in the boxing ring.. boxing needs some excitement.. for us, the frustrated fans!
i like the last post, because it is all about the come-up. the fighters with the "streetcred", "yo watch him fight, he's a beast", when that grows like a wildfire.. from urban legend to movement. that's a real fighter.
wasn't Roberto Duran something like that? just fight for the love of boxing, and you'll end up on top.
Do what you're good at and you'll end up dominating.
and i'm not saying boxers shouldn't be business minded. they just shouldn't be 100% business minded, at some point say: "enough of the risk-reward bs, i'm just gonna **** him up, prove to the people i can do it." not the case.
I thought Mayweather maybe started going that direction, with Ortiz and Mosley, and Pacquiao too from Cotto onwards. but when they have to get together, they make it all about bull**** again.
Badr is just an example, but i do like his demeanor. he just wants to be known as number 1, dominate.. for a fighter, that's a badass mentality.
I don't think boxing is going to get fixed tell it becomes Local again. It needs to be repaired from the ground up. Fans can be apart of it when then get back in touch with boxing not through the TV or Computer but by knowing their local gyms where a weekend fight or serious sparring can be had..When you can get a Hundred or so people watching the opportunists for a venue become available..Drinks and food will increase the spectators beyond the hardcore fans to people just looking for a fun thing to do at night.
this is not talking about all boxers, but the boxers that are the biggest/most famous, the ones that are supposed to pull the sport forward...
generations before us had Ali, Ray Leonard, Duran, Hagler, Hearns, Mike Tyson, sure.. Roy Jones can be accused of cherrypicking somewhat. still exciting though. here the cherrypicking is starting to rule over the excitement.