So I watched the fight with a bunch of casuals on Saturday.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

I did my best explaining how big a fight this was -- a unification fight (had to explain unification to them), two top five (in the world), arguably top 3 welters in the ring together, both of whom came in undefeated and in their primes.

So yeah I probably set the expectations a bit high for these casuals, but whatever, it really was a big fight. They asked me if I would've paid a full price PPV price tag for it and I said I would have (which is true).

So after the fight, no check that, even during the fight...around the 8 round mark, they were already groaning and talking **** about how lame the fight was.

One guy asked me, "is this how every single boxing fight is?"

I told him "no, not at all", but you could tell that in his mind, THAT (Thurman vs Garcia) was every boxing fight ever in the history of boxing. Another was like, "the last five fights I've seen were just as boring as this one".

I've always tried my best to defend the sport, but f**k it, I'm done, I mean either you like it or you don't.

Would I have liked to see Thurman not hop on his bike for the last few rounds? Obviously. I don't wanna call the dude a b*tch, because the guy would obviously lay me the f**k out in the first tenth of the first second of the first round, but come on, man. There was a chance for Keith to really make a statement and emphatically whoop Danny's ass, but instead he opted for what was basically boxing's version of football's prevent defense. I'm not saying you gotta be stupid and reckless just for the sake of entertainment, but there's a medium somewhere, isn't there? The dude may as well have been on a ten speed bicycle for f**k's sake.

But anyway, I digress. The casuals are bloodthirsty -- they wanna see brutal KO's and high drama in the ring. And if that don't happen then to them, the fight "sucks", and the whole entire sport "sucks". They don't grasp the concept that sometimes it's possible to have two highly skilled champions in the ring that doesn't produce guaranteed fireworks, and that yes, sometimes it's way more of a chess match than it is a bloodbath.

But I guarantee you this...fair or not, Saturday night didn't help the sport. It only reinforced why the vast majority of the public doesn't go out of their way to watch boxing.

Dude, great post.

I am sure explaining the unification was awkward, as it SHOULD BE. I don't really care what the excuses are. The sport needs structure- one belt per division in nine or ten divisions and that's it.

Some people do truly expect every fight to look like a movie boxing match with blood and gore and drama and only high moments. It happens.

However, when people watch a Gatti-Ward, I highly doubt they give that reaction at all. When they watch Foreman-Lyle or Barrera-Morales, I doubt they would give that reaction for those either. A great fight is hard to turn away from. It's why boxing still exists.

Thurman and Garcia both failed to deliver because they both held back when they should have stepped on the gas. The old adage, "Leave it all in the ring" clearly didn't ever sink into these guys' heads, but nowadays, most fighters seem to be like that. These guys, especially at the world level, need to start showing some balls and go for it. Millions are watching. Go for the glory! What are you? A ****ing accountant? A grocery store clerk? No! You're a professional fighter for God's sake. You should love to fight and love to score knock outs and love to go for the glory in front of screaming fans chanting your name in a huge arena.

It's really getting to be a sad state.

[BrometheusBob.]

How hardcore fans saw it: A tactical, at times cautious chess match between two A level, in their prime undefeated champions

How casuals saw it: A bore fest between two no name nobodies that they'll never ever give two ****s about who wasted an hour they could've spent watching Sportscenter highlights of the NBA and NFL combine

Truth

You ever show someone a video that you were sure was hilarious but it's been a minute or two and neither of you are laughing.

Boxing is a lot like that video.

[Mike D]

I am sure explaining the unification was awkward, as it SHOULD BE. I don't really care what the excuses are. The sport needs structure- one belt per division in nine or ten divisions and that's it.

Yeah I agree.

Thurman and Garcia both failed to deliver because they both held back when they should have stepped on the gas. The old adage, "Leave it all in the ring" clearly didn't ever sink into these guys' heads, but nowadays, most fighters seem to be like that. These guys, especially at the world level, need to start showing some balls and go for it. Millions are watching. Go for the glory! What are you? A ****ing accountant? A grocery store clerk? No! You're a professional fighter for God's sake. You should love to fight and love to score knock outs and love to go for the glory in front of screaming fans chanting your name in a huge arena.

Truth

You ever show someone a video that you were sure was hilarious but it's been a minute or two and neither of you are laughing.

Boxing is a lot like that video.

yes, boxing is very, very much like that video, lol

[Reloaded]

Mayweather does the same thing for 12 rounds that Keith did for 3, yet gets a pass.

Shows what you what see, or should I say don't see.

[STAX ON DECK]

damm homie i didnt read what u [posted cuz that shiioit was to long but i feel ur pain on trying to explane what the hell a unificastion fight is, i damn near tried explaning for like 15 minutes what the hell a unified champion is to my homies who dont watch boxingn,,

[Robbie Barrett]

damm homie i didnt read what u [posted cuz that shiioit was to long but i feel ur pain on trying to explane what the hell a unificastion fight is, i damn near tried explaning for like 15 minutes what the hell a unified champion is to my homies who dont watch boxingn,,

About 90% of the posters on this site don't know the difference between lineal/unified/undisputed though.

[Fists_of_Fury]

Respect man
Spoken from the heart

It's the way boxing is becoming domesticated

Floyd mayweather did not do the sport any good

Now fighters expect ludicrous money for fighting sub par competition

Big fights barely happen "due to fighter a thinking they deserve more than fighter b"
And there are these troll fans that just feed that *****
It's ridiculous

It's a business doe

I mean look at Andre ward, omg what a fking diva

Man whatever
I can't even be.bothered to ramble
Too much to go into

Floyd earned his stripes and has an amazing resume. Any other boxer would get praised for fighting his resume. Floyd gave in to Oscar to get the money fight and all... something clowns like GGG need to learn. Don't blame Floyd for being so great that clowns like GGG think they deserve more $ than they've earned. Don't blame Floyd's brittle hands breaking down and boxing more on why these supposed warriors box when they get touched like "run time" Thurman. Floyd earned his P4P crown and brought in the ppv #'s. Blame the HBO overhyped fighters like Manny Pacquiao fighting Rios and Algieri. Blame GGG fighting cans all the time. Why always blame Floyd?

[Motorcity Cobra]

People blaming Mayweather because Keith fought like Oscar fought against Trinidad

[thedarkness]

The fight did get boring in the later rounds. Lmao at danny shyt garcia for losing to someone who got on their bicycle the last two rounds

[yammy25]

About 90% of the posters on this site don't know the difference between lineal/unified/undisputed though.

lineal - the man that beat the man

unified - holder of two or more ABC belts in the division.

undisputed - All the marbles

Now gimme my ****in lollipop Isaac.