Is the saying "as goes the

[rightsideup]

heavyweight division so goes boxing" true? As far as interest and popularity?

[Sugar Adam Ali]

No I don't think so... Sure it helps to have Ali, Tyson, Dempsey, etc at the top of the food chain.. But boxing was great in the early to mid 80s when the Fab Four was shining and Holmes was stuck in a mediocre heavy division.. Even now there is great fights going on even though there is a lack of excitement in the heavy division in most parts of the world

[rightsideup]

No I don't think so... Sure it helps to have Ali, Tyson, Dempsey, etc at the top of the food chain.. But boxing was great in the early to mid 80s when the Fab Four was shining and Holmes was stuck in a mediocre heavy division.. Even now there is great fights going on even though there is a lack of excitement in the heavy division in most parts of the world

yes that's the first example that came to mind was leonard duran 1 and hearns and hagler as well. Yes there are some entertaining fighters in the lighter weights but the drama and popularity is not the same now as the early 80's boxing has more passion going into other sports entertainment. Another observation is great fighters like Tunney,Charles and Holmes never get there just due after dethroning or following the reign of the sports most popular champ's until year's later.

[billeau2]

The heavyweight champ is a mythical status. It is an open division that is universal and is sublime even when compared to other fantastic fighters in other divisions. When immigration to this country was a source of pride for an Italian to have Marciano as the heavyweight champ meant a lot...For African Americans one can look at Jack Johnson, Louis and Ali as American heroes that represented.

A good analogy would be Babe Ruth to Lou Gehric. Both great ballplayers, both Yankees true and true....But When an American insulted the queen during a parade in England, the Bobby did not yell out "To hell with Lou gehric"....or for that matter "Phil Rizzuto can stuff it!" No...the Bobby said almost instinctively "to hell with babe Ruth!" Because like the heavyweight champ, the Babe was sublime.