Why I Can't Respect the Sport of Boxing

Like many people my first exposure to boxing was in Rocky movies. Man, was I ever disappointed wen I discovered that the guys didn't actually throw punches the whole round like they did in the movies!

I've always liked and appreciated the history behind sports though. I think I was the only second grader that actually knew what the Ice Bowl was or who the Black Sox were. Upon delving into the history and background of boxing I couldn't help but be impressed.

Back in the day guys used to have a 30-count in order to get back up. That meant that to knock someone out you really had to whip there ever loving behind! Over the years some of the best athletes of the day were boxers from the first world heavyweight champ, Gentleman Jim Corbett to guys like Sonny Liston, Jack Dempsey, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson (pre-jail),--the list could go on and on.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for the men that have built the sport along the way. The work that they did in the ring  and in the public is what made the sport the big draw that it was. I saw was because lets face it--people don't care as much about boxing anymore.

In my own opinion (and it is just my opinion) the problem is in the character of some of the top men in the business specifically the likes of Floyd Mayweather. The man is a living legend, but he'll never be the legend that he thinks he is since he will not take the one fight that everyone in the world actually wants to see--Manny Pacquiao.

I've heard all the excuses, and that is exactly what they are--excuses. As disappointing as that is, folks will still pay a bundle to see him and Manny beat up on lesser opponents. It may not be a good overall fight, but at least we get to see one master at work.

That isn't why I can't respect the sport though. It's because of guys like Mayweather and his former pal 50 Cent.

Not too long ago the duo appeared to have a very public falling out over Twitter. Even then there was some speculation that the whole mess was just a publicity stunt. I'm a little unsure, but it now appears that it was. According to the story on the other end of this link the whole thing was a hoax (or maybe just the boxing match challenge; its a little confusing).

Like many of you, I thought it was something else when I heard that 50 was willing to step in the ring with Floyd. He may not be a trained fighter, but he is still a big ole boy. I would still expect Floyd to drop him like a bad habit, but it could be interesting. With a $5 million purse on the line...

But as you can see on the other end of the link there 50 is saying that Floyd put him up to the whole mess. However, he is still down with fighting. Why? Mo money.

These two are making light of one of the oldest and formerly most distinguished sports in the world. There are few that have the history that boxing does. So many fights over the years are considered epic events. You got the Thrilla in Manilla; Trinidad--Oscar De La Hoya; Marvelous Marvin Hagler--Thomas Hearns; Ali--Foreman; again--the list could go on and on.

And we have these two yahoos faking an end to their bromance for publicity and a possible fight (for the money). The fake onset fight that Lennox Lewis had a few years back started my disinterest in the sport. These guys may have just finished it.

Boxing deserves better than this. Shame on you Floyd. You too 50 (now go make some music).