By Wayne Lloyd: Boxing is undoubtedly the greatest sport on the planet. Think about it…what other sport in the world can provide you with the excitement, the drama or the debate? In most sports such as football or soccer… dependent on where you are from…the greatest football teams of the time will play each other at least twice a season year after year.
There is no doubt that each match will provide you with some drama, excitement and debate… but compared to boxing they are just a token gesture – a sprinkling of the events that can unfold in 12 rounds. In football the losing side always has an excuse and if they don’t then they can buy new players in the hope of changing the outcome in the future. Boxing; however… now that’s a different story altogether. Boxing is beautiful. In boxing just two people decide the outcome and in end there can be no excuses – only the greatest prevail. If they lose they can’t spend money in the hope of improving themselves and no boxer in the world can say that their careers have been determined by the mistake or influence of a referee.
Let’s consider the greatest – Louis, Marciano, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Leonard, Tyson, Lewis, Mayweather and Pacquiao. These men are the undoubted bookmarks of the sports history. They have a legacy in place like the philosophers’ of Ancient Greece and in 500 years time not mentioning these great men in this sport would be like trying to discuss great literature without mentioning Shakespeare. Boxing gives people an opportunity to better oneself. You don’t need money to be successful in this sport or to know anyone in particular as a means of getting ahead so to speak. In this sport you have to be gifted to get your chance and from the moment you first put on a pair of boxing gloves and from the moment you take your first punch you have to have a level will and determination that outweighs your years. Indeed, the finished articles can provide younger generations with something to aspire to and the great Bernard Hopkins is a perfect example of this. Boxing can influence people of all backgrounds for the better and whether you’re a fan of boxing or not I ask you to consider how much harder you train whilst listening to the Rocky soundtrack? Everyone aspires to be World Champion – and boxing captures the imagination like no other sport can.
If it ever happens the Mayweather v Pacquiao fight will be the greatest recent example of how influential boxing can be. I have lost count of the number of people who have said to me ‘this fight has to happen’. The next time you have this conversation you should ask the other person why? Armchair fans can provide you with some conversation but those that don’t follow boxing cannot always provide you with an answer. The truth is that fights like these provide people with an opportunity to be tangible part of history. Like Ali v Frazier, Ali v Foreman, Leonard v Hagler or Tyson v Lewis this fight will offer people a one off opportunity to say ‘I remember where I was…’ and why not. Super fights like this don’t happen season after season – they are beautiful moments that occur once in a generation…they never disappoint…they only inspire.
Boxing is beautiful.
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