So many things to say about boxing. It seems that we are moving to a crossroads in this sweet science. Czeslaw Milosz said "The child who dwells inside us trusts that there are wise men somewhere who know the truth". Over the years boxing has gone through several challenges. Many have wanted to ban the sport do to excessive violence. This has happened since the early 1900's. (Even today due to the tragic death of Braydon Smith) the Australian Medical Association (AMA) renews its call for a ban on the sport.
Corruption has challenged the early survival of the sport. In Chicago during the early part of the last century " Following a rigged boxing match between Terry McGovern and Joe Gans in December of 1900, prizefighting was banned in the city early in 1901, a ban upheld for more than a quarter century". We know the stories of how the Mafia weaved it web in the boxing game during the 50's and 60's. This was good for the fight fan. We got to see the fights we wanted but it was not the best thing for the boxer. It is pressure to have to fight or end up in some river.
The 70's-90's was a very good time for the fight fan. One reason was we had a great crop of fighters combined with Howard Cosell. How could boxing do nothing but grow. Don King and others had a hard time not matching good to great fighters. Ali, Hearns, Duran, Forman, ect... So were are we now when we talk about boxing? Some say the future is dead. The UFC has taken over. I say this, boxing is and will always continue to be a fabric in the lives of Americans. Boxing has a future the real questions is, what should we do with the fans.
Boxing and the fight game will always be around. But what does the fan need? I'm not talking about the Boxing Aficionados they/I will get our fix. See the lovers of this sport will find it. Just like the fans of Football do. When I say Fan I mean the man/woman that thinks Manny and Floyd is all that is out there. What does that person need.
Well it is up to the reader of this blog and those who know more than I do about this sport to figure out. It appears that Al Haymon is bring the sport back to the masses. Is that a good thing? The jury is out on that one. I know Roc Nation is not happy and maybe a few cable companies that could be ruffled. What did Don King do and who did he control?
Times have changed. We have YouTube, blogs with far better writers then me filling the airway, HBO, Showtime and now PBC. It appears that the younger generation has adapted to finding what they want to view. In the past the audience had no choice. What came on the three major TV networks is what you were going to watch. This approach worked during that era due to the greatness of the fighters. Now we have to look harder to find that type of greatness. “Look and you shall find”.
Here is what I think the Fan needs. They need what we give them or they need to become a lover of the sport. It is like this in all fields. If cheap crappy music sells, cheap crappy music will be made. The same with the fight game.
You pick what you want.
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