2 Billion: Should boxing go back to being 15 rounds?

[kendom]

That article is spot-on. Duk Koo Kim died precisely because he dehydrated himself to make weight leaving him vulnerable.

The solution is simple: If you have to kill yourself to make weight you have no business fighting in that weight class period. If you can't make weight naturally then fight in a weight class where you can.....simple as.

Poet

Exactly its sad to think that an incident that changed boxing for ever had little to do with boxing. In fact over 12 rounds there have been incidents almost as bad and im sure ppl die over 12 round boxing, then we have the case of Michael Watson- these fighters know what they're putting themselves through, besides statistics show that less ppl die per year of boxing than american football, perhaps now they should ban that.

[StarshipTrooper]

Exactly its sad to think that an incident that changed boxing for ever had little to do with boxing. In fact over 12 rounds there have been incidents almost as bad and im sure ppl die over 12 round boxing, then we have the case of Michael Watson- these fighters know what they're putting themselves through, besides statistics show that less ppl die per year of boxing than american football, perhaps now they should ban that.

Football is too popular. They can't target it without there being a serious backlash. Boxing get targeted precisely because it's a niche sport that doesn't have widespread popularity anymore.

They've done studies btw that have shown that football is far more likely to leave those who play it permanently crippled. The truth is any sport that involves violent contact is going to have an inherent risk to it.

Poet

[StarshipTrooper]

Exactly its sad to think that an incident that changed boxing for ever had little to do with boxing. In fact over 12 rounds there have been incidents almost as bad and im sure ppl die over 12 round boxing, then we have the case of Michael Watson- these fighters know what they're putting themselves through, besides statistics show that less ppl die per year of boxing than american football, perhaps now they should ban that.

And yes, there have been a number of ring deaths since boxing went to 12 round championship fights. There hasn't been any improvement on that score.

Poet

[Greatest1942]

And yes, there have been a number of ring deaths since boxing went to 12 round championship fights. There hasn't been any improvement on that score.

Poet

Spot on my friend.

But to my mind what boxing needs most at this mind people fighting at their natural weights...those 240 -260 wrestlers are a bit overrated. I get tired watching the big heavies for 12 rounds...Most of them dont have the stamina to fight for 15 rounds..it will be a torture to watch them for 15 rounds...

Let boxers go back to their natural weight, they will have better stamina, and they we can enjoy the 15 rounders again I believe.

[The Big Dunn]

15 rounds would really let some of the young fans truly understand what a great boxer is.

[kendom]

Spot on my friend.

But to my mind what boxing needs most at this mind people fighting at their natural weights...those 240 -260 wrestlers are a bit overrated. I get tired watching the big heavies for 12 rounds...Most of them dont have the stamina to fight for 15 rounds..it will be a torture to watch them for 15 rounds...

Let boxers go back to their natural weight, they will have better stamina, and they we can enjoy the 15 rounders again I believe.

Exactly i dont know whats the obsession with heavyweights being that huge, how does being that big make you any better of a fighter? this is why these days i dont watch much heavyweight fights they're boring and their body shape is so ou of proportion maybe 15 rounds will put more of an emphasis on conditioning.

[istmeno]

I long for the days of 15 rounders. 13-15 were truly the championship rounds where the creme rose to the top. for thos of us old enough to remember, 15 rds was reserved for world title fights, (wba, wbc, ibf) 12 rounds for regional (nabf, nabo) 10 rds non title.

during that time, the 15 round title fight was between the champion and his top contender. not a handpicked oponnent.

in todays game of finding the fighter that poses the smallest risk to a so called champion, i believe that a return to 15 rounds would be dangerous, as too many mismatches are made, and marketed as actual championship fights.

i would love to see 15 rds again, but they need to clean up the bull **** and actually have the best fight the best.

[shwaap]

Those 3 extra rounds seperated the true champs from the chumps. I grew up watching 15 rounders. When they changed it to 12,it just felt like it became a glorified 10 round fight.

[Terry A]

Wouldn't it be GREAT to have World Championships contested over 15 rounds again!

It was good enough for all them fighters all them years, from the Marquis of the Queen who ate berries until they hacked off the last 3 rounds.

Boxing is a dangerous sport. But guys have been killed between rounds 1-11 as well as from 12-15. Shortening the title fights to 12 round is like making the NASCAR or Indy Car 500 mile races 425 miles for "saftey" reasons.

[Great John L]

As a Boxing Purist, I believe all championships should go 15. It's the final run, the last resort, what seperates champions from wannabes, and the true test of heart and strength. 12 Rounds just doesn't give the same sense of a war, that the fighters really had to push themselves, but this is in no way a disrespect to 12 round fights.