Boxing Era’s have changed: Embrace it or don’t watch

By Boxing News - 03/22/2013 - Comments

By Robert Elmore: Boxing fans love to compare one era to another. The fans that grew during the 80’s say that the 90’s have nothing on their era. Those who grew up in the 70’s say the 80’s have nothing their era. You get the idea. As much as people try to put the “greatest of all time” moniker on their favorite fighter, it doesn’t work.

There is no greatest of all time. To say that one single man is above the sport is something that is done down grade another fighter. And to say that one era is better than another is done in attempt to disrespect another era. The times and the rules of boxing have certainly changed. I caught on to boxing in the late 80’s and watched heavily in the 90’s. I remember watching the first pay per view event; Evander Holyfield vs. George Foreman (when it was TVKO and the event was around 35 bucks).

Now it’s not uncommon for pay per view events to cost 60 bucks without breaking a sweat. But most people will spend that when they go out Saturday Nights. I will say this. The problem comes in when fans from a certain era won’t accept fighters from another. It’s like those who are still holding on to their 8 tracks and refuse to pick up an ipod.

The fans that are being attracted to the sport now probably have no idea about the battles on of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. They only see the fighters of today and some have embraced it; some will not. The rules have changed. The pay scales have increased for those who have chosen to take advantage of it. There are more belts than ever before. There less unification bouts taking place. Most will say it’s the promoters. Most will say it’s the sanctioning bodies as well. I say it’s a combination of both. Sanctioning fees back in the day for the big three (WBC, WBA, IBF) were not as steep as they are now. Zab Judah beat Cory Spinks in 2005 to become undisputed champ. He relinquished the belt because he couldn’t afford the sanctioning fees. Floyd Mayweather when defeated Shane Mosley for his WBA belt in 2010 didn’t keep the belt because he didn’t want to pay the fees. Who can blame them? The WBC has really upped the ante by not allowing their belt holder to hold another major title while representing them.

The rules of boxing haven’t changed. Get in, make money and get out the game in one piece. I will say this there have been boxers from a business stand points that have paved the way for other fighters. Muhammad Ali showed boxers how to market themselves and command a huge audience.

Being a humble black champion was the thing when Joe Louis boxed. That was caused by Jack Johnson’s antics 20 years prior (yes racism played a huge part in the Johnson boxing days). Ray Robinson showed boxers how to manage their own careers and the best deal available (Bright Lights and Dark Shadows of a Champion).

Sugar Ray Leonard took it a step further. Leonard took his Olympic gold medal winning smile and turned it into an empire. Ray Leonard in his first fight against Luis “The Bull” Vega made $40,044 bucks in his first fight. Luis couldn’t have been that much of a draw for Ray to make that kind of cash. But he also had a TV contract and endorsements before stepping into the ring. Oscar De La Hoya took it a step further making over 600 million in pay per view sales and becoming the highest grossing pay per view star. Floyd Mayweather has taken it a step further.

Boxing will be around for a long time despite the saying “boxing is dying or dead”. It’s very much alive. It’s those from the old school who do the most complaining. I have enjoyed the fights thus far and I’m glad to see fighters making big money. It has come a long way from the days of fighters making purses of 50,000 dollars. There is a channel called ESPN Classic Sports, if boxing fans want to live in the past. And there is HBO and Showtime for those who want to live in the now.



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