Comments Thread For: “Fighting Words” – The Most Ridiculous Week In Boxing

[grayfist]

It has been quite a while since I frequented this site and settled to visits that were few and far between. But your articles made each of those visits worthwhile. Good job, as always, David.

[l3xxer]

mayweather is a ****ing duck & pacquiao is the p4p catchweight king

amen.......

[Mr. David]

A few comments, a few responses...

It has been quite a while since I frequented this site and settled to visits that were few and far between. But your articles made each of those visits worthwhile. Good job, as always, David.

Thank you, old friend. I know you've been reading me since just about when I started doing this, and I've long appreciated it. Why aren't you around this site as much anymore?

I think my interest in the superfight evaporated with the late night conference call. This ****'s getting so old in boxing, I can feel myself starting to drift away from the sweet science. Imagine if PBF or Pac would fight 15 times a year, tyson-style. If only if only.

Except Tyson, like almost all modern-day champions, stepped down in activity once he had his world title. Four fights in 1987. Three fights in 1988. Two fights in 1989.

Thank you for calling out the IBO. I hope Lyle Fitzimmons see's this column.

The problem is that a lot of people seem inclined to criticize the IBO while not criticizing the other sanctioning bodies for the same stuff, largely because of the IBO's attempts to be the fifth (and to differentiate itself from the rest).

That's why I'd held off on picking on the IBO for a bit. I'd been holding them to a higher standard.

-David

facebook.com/fightingwordsboxing
twitter.com/fightingwords2

[Lorily]

Another great read as always David.
Boxing (or maybe the love of boxing) has changed so much in recent years. Gone are the days, so it seems, of fighters working hard on their way up - fighting with heart, passion and desire to make it to the top, and then fighting in the same manner once they make it to the top to fight the best while defending their title. It seems like once they make it to the top, they are over protected and unwilling to take on the best without everything in their favor, and "the right money" of course. When "the right money" in their opinion doesn't materialize, then they make zero of it because the fights don't happen. Boxing has become a Promotional game, and the Promoters are controlling every aspect of it. They are deciding who fights their guy based on whether the opponent is PPV or money worthy, rather than who is a real challenge or who the fans want to see fight. Now it seems as well that the Promotional Companies also speak for their fighters, which does not fair well for most fighters, but also proves who is control. Now fighters are creating their own Promotional Companies, and fighting under them. Personally I believe it becomes even more shady then.
Gone as well, apparently, are the days of fighters legitamately earning their way to the top with hard work, blood and sweat. Beibut Shumenov, after only 9 pro fights, is a LHW champ? O.K., whatever. However even the manner in which he won it is controversial, and IMO Campillo won that fight (and it was rumored that Shumenovs Promotional Co refused to pay the purse from the first fight without the rematch).
David, you nailed it again with Teddy Atlas. Not only does he need to be kept on a close leash, ESPN could do us all a favor and make it an even shorter one. He is getting so far away from what he used to do best (analyze fights) that FNF is starting to become the "Teddy Atlas show". Now along with his "little birdie"s and endless table setting (forks, knives, salad bowls, napkins yada yada yada), getting in the kitchen and all the over bearing anologys with casinos, basketball or whatever sport of the week is - he apparently gets to use FNFs for airtime as a trainer as well. Even when Teddy is doing what he's actually paid to do (analyze during a fight) he, as you said perfectly "has a tendency to dominate the commentary, and repeat himself endlessly." Fast Forward and Mute have become my friend while watching FNFs. I don't know which was more annoying this last Friday, Beibuts barking with every punch... or Teddys barking with every word.

[Mr. Philadel]

Forget week, it has been a gay boxing year so far. Aside from just a couple of good fights.

EXACTLY!!!!...this year been lame as ****!!

[MidnightBliss]

Modern Boxing is pretty much the only sport where opponents can hide from one another. The only way to get the best boxers fighting eachother is to have 1 governing body, but we all know that will never happen in our lifetime.

MMA is coming up with the goods ill have to say.

[grayfist]

A few comments, a few responses...



Thank you, old friend. I know you've been reading me since just about when I started doing this, and I've long appreciated it. Why aren't you around this site as much anymore?


Except Tyson, like almost all modern-day champions, stepped down in activity once he had his world title. Four fights in 1987. Three fights in 1988. Two fights in 1989.



The problem is that a lot of people seem inclined to criticize the IBO while not criticizing the other sanctioning bodies for the same stuff, largely because of the IBO's attempts to be the fifth (and to differentiate itself from the rest).

That's why I'd held off on picking on the IBO for a bit. I'd been holding them to a higher standard.

-David

facebook.com/fightingwordsboxing
twitter.com/fightingwords2

You'll never disappoint, bud. That's what I'm sure of with your future work; you never have.

Retirement is fast approaching, pal, and everything that needs to be done in that connection takes highest priority. Lost much of what I have stashed away in the past decades to the current crisis.

Economic conditions permitting, I may be able to again make more frequent visits some time soon though and thus lap up articles from you and from my other favorites with a higher degree of regularity.

Lookin' forward to seeing you here more often!