The "sweet science" unpacked

[dan-b]

Posters like to talk about the "sweet science" as if it gives them an elevated understanding of boxing. Those of us unconvinced see it for what it is: boring, negative and disproportionately praised.

To be a successful practitioner of the "sweet science", some or all of the following things must be true:

1. Be an English-speaking American/US citizen. This is overwhelmingly the most important factor. No one has more success with this "style" than Americans.
2. Contest all of your fights in the US. Having home advantage is critical to the "sweet science", for reasons below.
3. Have the backing of a major promoter. They will help condition those who matter that you have a winning style destined for greatness.
4. Be given the privilege of high profile interviews to US media. If you get to talk about how great you are often enough, people will believe it regardless of tangible evidence to the contrary.
5. As well as speaking the part you must look the part. Designer clothes/shades, tattoos, ***ellery and a large/noisy entourage is critical to the "sweet science".
6. With the above in place, outright corruption is unnecessary. You can "move" around the ring, flick out single punches, hold up close and judges will score rounds to you because they've been appropriately conditioned.
7. After underwhelming performances, give a tactical apology and then a few weeks later resume talking about how you're the "A side" only looking for "big pay days" which conveniently negates difficult opponents.

[Atypicalbrit]

There's the "sweet science" of Muhammed Ali and then there's the "sweet science" of Floyd Mayweather and knock off bargain basement versions of Floyd.

Ali was slick, elusive, defensively responsible, moved and dodged punches etc. But it was backed up with exciting offence at the right times as well.

Even Floyd would have certain fights where he step in and put some damage on his opponents.

But some of these corny knock off guys around now are just complete shoe shiners.

I know you can technically "win" a fight by shoe shining, running and landing 2 more jabs a round than the lumbering guy you are fighting, but that isn't entertaining.

Look, I'm a busy person, we all are, we all work and have other **** to do, so when we sit down to watch boxing I think most of us want to be entertained.

It's a spectator sport that we pay to watch, and I ain't paying to watch no shoe shiners, I ain't got time for that.