Comments Thread For: “Fighting Words” – Freewheeling Fighting Awards 2010, P1

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

by David P. Greisman - It is our memories that help define us, the past events that motivate how we live in the present and what we strive for in the future.

But we, in turn, can define our memories. It is how we look back at the past that will then influence what our approach is, both in the now and later.

This was not the best year for boxing. The two best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport – Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. – failed to get in the ring with each other, the most super of super-fights falling under due to exaggerated egos and stubborn stances.

That, on its own, threatened to cast a pall over 2010. It was the dominant story, the dark cloud looming above, producing frustrating fallout that replaced the possibility of pugilism with a perpetual punch line. [Click Here To Read More]

[Rolaz]

You should have given "The Turkey Award" to both Don King and Mayweather Jr for their Charitable works, giving Turkeys.

And the "I DON'T CARE Award" to Mayweather Jr., for showing No care at all, to Boxing Fans wanting that mega fight "Pacman-Pretty Boy Floyd jr"

[Tiozzo]

the celestial metaphors turned me off a bit, but it was a good recap of the year

David could have given the Knock-out of a downed fighter award to Bika alongside Abraham...

[Lorily]

David - what are your thought on Pacquiao vs Mosely??

[Mr. David]

BatteredKessler:

Yeah, sometimes I can go full-on Teddy Atlas with my metaphors. As for Bika and Abraham, they did go side-by-side in a way. I gave the Jones-Griffin award to Abraham, and then I gave the Abraham-Dirrell award to Bika.

Lorily:

I'd much prefer to see Pacquiao-Mayweather or Pacquiao-Marquez, but I'm not as offended by this fight as everyone else seems to be. I don't think Mosley is a shot fighter in terms of punishment taken, more that he's had difficulty pulling the trigger against really fast or really awkward opponents.

[Lorily]

BatteredKessler:

Yeah, sometimes I can go full-on Teddy Atlas with my metaphors. As for Bika and Abraham, they did go side-by-side in a way. I gave the Jones-Griffin award to Abraham, and then I gave the Abraham-Dirrell award to Bika.

Lorily:

I'd much prefer to see Pacquiao-Mayweather or Pacquiao-Marquez, but I'm not as offended by this fight as everyone else seems to be. I don't think Mosley is a shot fighter in terms of punishment taken, more that he's had difficulty pulling the trigger against really fast or really awkward opponents.

Warning: Long post ahead LOL
I think the reason I'm more offended by the match up is the way that Bob Arum sold (more like forced) it to us. After having told the whole world that Shane is basically finished as an elite fighter (after the Mora fight), now that this is the fight HE wants to be made he's telling us all how dangerous Shane is and that this will be a competitive fight. Here is some of the quotes Arum made when asked if he had read the comments after the Mosely/Mora fight.

I did and I read them saying Mosley was huffing and puffing for air in the fourth or fifth round," Arum said. "To me, that is the real tipoff for an aging fighter. Even Big George Foreman did that in his 40s but he always had that big, big punch like in the (Michael) Moorer fight.

"What I've read is not very supportive to make any Mosley-Pacquiao bout. Look, he's going to be 40 and he's in the lighter weights where speed is so important. He's on a show with guys -- example, 20-year-old Saul Canelo Alvarez -- old enough to be his son.

"I guess Shane needs the money due to his matrimonial sitaution (a divorce under harsh California community property rules),"Arum said. "I've always considered Shane to be a nice guy but this is what happens to fighters when they age.


Bob Arum had his mind made up before he even took that farce of a list of 3 possible opponents to Manny to pick from. He has decided that Shane Mosely will make HIM the most money and has already told the press that he could give a **** (he actually stated it that way) what the real boxing fans want. He says Mosely is the biggest draw (for PPV) to the casual fan, but yet those same casual fans also saw Shanes last two fights. Some could probably excuse the loss to FMJ because hes in a class by himself - but the loss to Mora was not only a boring clinchfest, but he also gassed out very early (IMO) in that fight too. I hear hard core fans say no one looks good against Sergio Mora, and that may be true, but the casual fans aren't going to understand that - they just saw a crappy fight. The only thing that kept that joke of a PPV from completely bombing was the undercard in my opinion, but the people were supposively there or paid for the PPV primarily for SHANE MOSELY. So, personally I think that some of those so called casual fans will not think this will be worth buying, atleast the ones that supposively would be buying the fight to see Mosely (which takes away from the arguement that Mosely will bring in the most #s, comparitively). That means the ones buying it will be buying it because of Manny Pacquiao anyway, in which that case they could have selected any number of other opponents, even Berto (who has been said to not have a big fan base) which would be much more competitive fights IMO. Fights which could actually create bigger fan bases for some of the opponents, just by them giving a good fight and ultimately giving them the exposure they need to be seen.

I also find it humorous that Arum is downplaying JMMs drawing power, especially on Cinco DeMayo. Since Pac and JMM have a history of 2 fights (and an outcome that is questionable to many), then surely the same fans buying PPV for Pacquiao have already seen and know full well who JMM is, and what he can bring to the table. The biggest problem for a Pac/JMM fight is the weight issue, but JMM already agreed to go up to 147 - and whether some fans like it or not, they can work out what they want to come in at amungst theirselves.

It just irritates me to no end that Bob (and many promoters) are now picking their opponents based on name rather than good, competitive and deserving fights - AND that people continue to buy it. As long as people buy these fights just to see one particular fighter, they will continue to bend us over and say "take that!"

Sorry for the brashness, but it seems like better business sense to me (looking towards the future) to put on better fights now (fights that people will remember) in order for the casual fans to want to see more, which will draw more fans in as a whole in the future, rather then feeding one crappy fight at a time and showing the world that boxing is just an "ehh" sport that they can take or leave it.

Putting on better fights will leave people wanting more, fights like Mosely/Mora certainly don't. At this time, rather then making an effort to turn casual fans in to hard core (or passionate) fans - it seems like promoters like Bob Arum are risking turning hard core fans in to casual fans. If I were just a casual fan right now, I doubt very seriously that I would be becoming a serious fight fan at this point in time. I certainly wouldn't be shelling out my hard earned money to pay for some of these PPVs, that's for sure. It was fights like Gatti/Ward, Castillo/Corrales, Pac/JMM etc. that turned me into a "must see boxing" fan. We hardly ever see fights (let a lone trilogys) like that anymore. And, when and if we do, they take forever to make (if at all) because everyone is a Diva in the sport these days.

[Side note: Don't get me wrong, there's been some awesome fights here and there - but I'm basing this on Bob Arum saying that "80% of the PPV buyers are general sports fans and not pure boxing fans" (therefore what the hardcore fans want doesn't matter according to him).]

/End Rant