New guy wanting to get into boxing

[Lecter]

There has probably been a thread in the past from another new member asking the same thing, but I tried the search option and couldn't find one, so here I am. I also read the rules thread and don't think this thread is breaking any rules, or so I hope.

Anyway, I'm really wanting to get into modern day boxing. I have old DVD's and VHS tapes of my favorite fighters (Ray Robinson, Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston, Tommy Hearns) but just can't find the good stuff on TV nowadays.

So, as a new member trying to get started, I figured this board would be the best place to turn.

I would just like to know which fighters are considered the top dogs right now (preferably in heavyweight, middleweight, and welterweight...my three personal favorites), which free cable television programs are the best for boxing (name, channel, and time), which websites provide the best rankings and analysis, or any other general information you could give me.

Thanks for any help you guys can provide, and I look forward to (eventually) being an active member of this board.

[jcarr71]

Umm... Well for free fight cards there are cards some Thursdays on Versus about once a month, ESPN2's Friday Night Fights most of the year, and then ESPN2's Wednesday Night Fights for part of the year. They aren't going to exactly give you top fights though. HBO and Showtime are pay channels and they have all of the big fights, and they put the real big ones on PPV. Thats just how it works. As for the top fighters, well... I'll leave that for the others. You could discuss that forever.

I'll give you Dan Rafael's rankings as a starting point, but remember these are incredibly subjective so just obtain some fights and make your own opinion.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=2757191

[Lecter]

Umm... Well for free fight cards there are cards some Thursdays on Versus about once a month, ESPN2's Friday Night Fights most of the year, and then ESPN2's Wednesday Night Fights for part of the year. They aren't going to exactly give you top fights though. HBO and Showtime are pay channels and they have all of the big fights, and they put the real big ones on PPV. Thats just how it works. As for the top fighters, well... I'll leave that for the others. You could discuss that forever.

I'll give you Dan Rafael's rankings as a starting point, but remember these are incredibly subjective so just obtain some fights and make your own opinion.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/box...dan&id=2757191

Thanks.

So in order to be really involved, I need to possess HBO and Showtime?