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For boxing fans, 2006 was a year wholly worth viewing.
From January through December, hardcore followers had access to scores of quality matches. In the United States, the Sweet Science was seen on HBO, Showtime, the ESPN family of networks, Fox Sports Net, Versus, Telemundo, Telefutura and regional broadcast outlets. If that wasn’t enough, the dedicated could devote additional funds to numerous pay-per-views.
The Internet played a major role as well, shrinking the world through YouTube, a resource that opened eyes to the idea that great boxing exists around the world. Not only could people express amazement as they watched the year’s best fight – which occurred not in America, but in France – but they could show anger at one of the year’s worst decisions, as the videotape shined light on early reports from Thailand that otherwise may have gone unchallenged.
It was also a year that, for boxing journalists, was wholly worth reviewing.
There were compelling stories both inside of the ring and out, from amazing comebacks between the ropes to awe-inspiring stories of fighters’ upbringings. And as usual, the sanctioning bodies, promoters and even occasionally the fighters themselves made news that shook heads. For every fighter stripped of a title for silly reasons, there was a champ forced to drop his belt at the scales, unable to make weight. This year’s top star could barely have time to celebrate a successful completion of a trilogy before the legal tug-of-war began over which promoter would cash in on him. [details]
From January through December, hardcore followers had access to scores of quality matches. In the United States, the Sweet Science was seen on HBO, Showtime, the ESPN family of networks, Fox Sports Net, Versus, Telemundo, Telefutura and regional broadcast outlets. If that wasn’t enough, the dedicated could devote additional funds to numerous pay-per-views.
The Internet played a major role as well, shrinking the world through YouTube, a resource that opened eyes to the idea that great boxing exists around the world. Not only could people express amazement as they watched the year’s best fight – which occurred not in America, but in France – but they could show anger at one of the year’s worst decisions, as the videotape shined light on early reports from Thailand that otherwise may have gone unchallenged.
It was also a year that, for boxing journalists, was wholly worth reviewing.
There were compelling stories both inside of the ring and out, from amazing comebacks between the ropes to awe-inspiring stories of fighters’ upbringings. And as usual, the sanctioning bodies, promoters and even occasionally the fighters themselves made news that shook heads. For every fighter stripped of a title for silly reasons, there was a champ forced to drop his belt at the scales, unable to make weight. This year’s top star could barely have time to celebrate a successful completion of a trilogy before the legal tug-of-war began over which promoter would cash in on him. [details]