Professional Boxing: Why do we keep on watching?

By Boxing News - 07/27/2012 - Comments

Image: Professional Boxing: Why do we keep on watching?By Gerardo Granados: Once upon a time I saw warriors fight each other, and I like it so much that since I have not stopped watching. Sigh at the memories, when I recall some of those great fights I saw, it makes me sad to see that some of the new boxing stars lack of the hunger of a lion king, and most of them lack of that mean tough attitude. To watch the brutal violence inside the ring make us feel alive and to deny it´s just too hypocrite.

I saw Antonio DeMarco defeat Jorge Linares, the way he fought was simply great, he never quit he kept pressure no matter if he was taking a serious pounding. As the former football coach said: quitters never win and winners never quit.

Why do they keep on touching gloves after the first round? Why do they hug each other and smile after lost the fight? Is it sportsmanship? Football coach Vince Lombardi thought that victory was not the most important thing… it was the only thing that matter.

Last weekend I saw the pro debut of a young heavyweight fighter, the young lion was raw, you could tell he was making his pro debut because it was evident he needs to work on fundamentals, his footwork and defense; although he prepared himself for a high tempo fight for the full four rounds. What I liked about him was his aggressiveness, he had that mean attitude but his rival showed he was not trying hard enough to win.

Underdogs Josesito Lopez and Danny Garcia upset the odds proving to have the heart of a champion, can´t say the same about Victor Ortiz and Amir Khan. Miguel Angel Cotto gave hell to Floyd Mayweather and both fighters showed his determination to win. Nonito Donaire has put on a few pounds and has become the best super bantamweight, he has taken on top competition and looks like he won´t refuse to fight against any dangerous contender.

There are good fights and also disappointing ones at the major events or at the local boxing arenas all around the world each weekend. Past weekend I saw a house hold name welterweight prize fighter lost a fight he should have easily won, he was the bigger and stronger man but he was defeated due he lacked of the hunger that fuels a great champion. His eyes and facial expression were not the one of a warrior.

Win or lose you get inside the ring to battle and to hurt your opponent not to outpoint him. Meldrick Taylor might have been ahead on points but he was taking a beating, he might have just needed to avoid Julio Cesar Chavez for the last round but he was a real warrior.

Now a day a knocked out organization champion claims he will come back stronger looking “for the right fights so he can pick more paper title belts”. The ego of some organization champions is just so big that they mislead their self to believe that they are really great fighters.

A friend of mine is a huge boxing fan but he may be a casual boxing fan, he does not know Manny Pacquiao is Philipino, he thinks a fighter cannot rehydrate up to 20 pounds and only knows the most famous names; but for sure he enjoys watching professional boxing.

Maybe the boxing purist will argue that boxing skills are the reason why we watch professional boxing; perhaps boxing experts believe the same. But what about the fighter’s attitude? You cannot buy charisma on the corner store, either you have it or not; either you can take a punch or not. But, could it be that the main reason why we keep on watching professional boxing is because of the controlled violence inside that ring? There is no major thrill than to watch two fighters beat the stuffing out of each other, we admire bravery and courage and most of all to see a power puncher wobble his opponent or to knock him out cold for the full count.

Boxing aint perfect and it might never be. Yes, there are terrible judge decisions and on times the greedy promoters hurt the sport when they create illusions instead of World Champions. But, unless boxing fans stop enjoying a violent fight then professional boxing will never die. I will keep on watching, will you?



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