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Rick Rockwell
In a recent interview, former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes shared his thoughts on what it would take to bring boxing back in America. Apparently, Holmes believes that Boxing needs a great American heavyweight and not a “foreigner” for boxing to be “back”. I thoroughly disagree with Mr. Holmes comments and here’s why.
* “We need a heavyweight, not a foreigner; we need a great American heavyweight fighter to bring boxing back.” Larry Holmes, DogHouseBoxing.com
Larry the world has caught up and possibly surpassed American boxers. Gone are the days when the best fighters were predominantly American. Now, I want to clarify Holmes statement further before I give more reasons for my disagreement. Larry also mentioned how he thought Floyd Mayweather Jr would be able to carry boxing forward but here’s what he thinks now:
* “I want to believe there's a next great generation of boxers that will do that, but we need one bad. I had hoped Mayweather was going to do it, but he can't because a lot of people are turned off by his attitude.” Larry Holmes, DogHouseBoxing.com
So, Larry isn’t just making these comments exclusively toward the heavyweight division. He’s making them toward boxing as a whole. Holmes thinks that the sport of Boxing needs a great American Heavyweight to bring boxing back and that a “foreigner” can’t accomplish this. I completely agree that a lot of people are turned off by Mayweather. However, I strongly disagree with his comments about how boxing doesn’t need a foreigner.
Chris Ryan Sacramento, Ca “Does Larry have any clue who Manny Pacquiao is?” Chris, apparently Mr. Holmes doesn’t think Pacquiao has what it takes to bring boxing back. Manny might be a “foreigner” but he is a phenom throughout the world. His values and faith separate him from other fighters and this doesn’t even include his in-ring talent and boxing accomplishments that are unparalleled. Manny is winning over the American media and Hollywood as I type this article. Manny is bringing boxing back in America even despite what Larry thinks.
Nate Pickett Sacramento, CA “Why does everyone think boxing is dead or gone in America because we don’t have the big heavyweight?” I don’t understand why America is fixated on needing heavyweights, and without one, boxing is somehow dead or gone. About a year ago, I thought MMA would surpass boxing by the end of this year. However, with the popularity of Pacquiao and Mayweather, boxing is destroying MMA; which means, boxing is not dead or gone and it's doing just fine without the great American Heavyweight.
Conclusion
This country doesn’t need the great American heavyweight for boxing to be “back”. This country has plenty of great American fighters in other weight classes. But more importantly, this Sport has plenty of amazing fighters from all around the world. America should open their eyes and realize that it’s all about what these athletes stand for and not about where they are from or what division they fight in.
In a recent interview, former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes shared his thoughts on what it would take to bring boxing back in America. Apparently, Holmes believes that Boxing needs a great American heavyweight and not a “foreigner” for boxing to be “back”. I thoroughly disagree with Mr. Holmes comments and here’s why.
* “We need a heavyweight, not a foreigner; we need a great American heavyweight fighter to bring boxing back.” Larry Holmes, DogHouseBoxing.com
Larry the world has caught up and possibly surpassed American boxers. Gone are the days when the best fighters were predominantly American. Now, I want to clarify Holmes statement further before I give more reasons for my disagreement. Larry also mentioned how he thought Floyd Mayweather Jr would be able to carry boxing forward but here’s what he thinks now:
* “I want to believe there's a next great generation of boxers that will do that, but we need one bad. I had hoped Mayweather was going to do it, but he can't because a lot of people are turned off by his attitude.” Larry Holmes, DogHouseBoxing.com
So, Larry isn’t just making these comments exclusively toward the heavyweight division. He’s making them toward boxing as a whole. Holmes thinks that the sport of Boxing needs a great American Heavyweight to bring boxing back and that a “foreigner” can’t accomplish this. I completely agree that a lot of people are turned off by Mayweather. However, I strongly disagree with his comments about how boxing doesn’t need a foreigner.
Chris Ryan Sacramento, Ca “Does Larry have any clue who Manny Pacquiao is?” Chris, apparently Mr. Holmes doesn’t think Pacquiao has what it takes to bring boxing back. Manny might be a “foreigner” but he is a phenom throughout the world. His values and faith separate him from other fighters and this doesn’t even include his in-ring talent and boxing accomplishments that are unparalleled. Manny is winning over the American media and Hollywood as I type this article. Manny is bringing boxing back in America even despite what Larry thinks.
Nate Pickett Sacramento, CA “Why does everyone think boxing is dead or gone in America because we don’t have the big heavyweight?” I don’t understand why America is fixated on needing heavyweights, and without one, boxing is somehow dead or gone. About a year ago, I thought MMA would surpass boxing by the end of this year. However, with the popularity of Pacquiao and Mayweather, boxing is destroying MMA; which means, boxing is not dead or gone and it's doing just fine without the great American Heavyweight.
Conclusion
This country doesn’t need the great American heavyweight for boxing to be “back”. This country has plenty of great American fighters in other weight classes. But more importantly, this Sport has plenty of amazing fighters from all around the world. America should open their eyes and realize that it’s all about what these athletes stand for and not about where they are from or what division they fight in.
Good comment.
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