Is Boxing on the Ropes?

Patrick: What’s happened to boxing, fellas? If you were to offer me a million dollars to name 5 active boxers off the top of my head, I would fail. Re searching, I would remember some names, but it’s still very different from the old school. Russ, what’re you thinking?

Russ: Boxing’s not the same as it was back in the '60s, '70s, and '80s. I remember when boxing came on regular TV. I mean, we got to see all the good fighters go at it. Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Jimmy Young, George Fore man, and Mike Tyson.

Patrick: You’re jogging my brain. How about some of the more current with Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Alexis Arguello, Felix Trini dad, Pernell Whitaker, and Ju lio Cesar Chavez?

Donald: Man…y’all are taking me back. Shoot, I got Sonny Liston, Emile Griffith, Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, and Vicente Saldivar. Man, tons of good boxers. There was no such thing as a bad fight it seemed. For the most part, anybody standing in the ring with an opponent had a chance to win. Of course, there is al ways a favorite and, on occasion, promoters would set up a tomato can to get beaten to a pulp by the favorite in order to build his record, to set him up for a fight against a better op ponent…but, usually, a good fight was had.

John: Now, I know we’re all focused on the good fighters we remember from the good ol’ days, but we have to re member gambling and boxing has always been a thing. I have to imagine that every fight— especially in Vegas—has some thing going on in the gambling arena. If so, this makes it tough to know that all of the fights I’ve witnessed have been com pletely legitimate.

Patrick: Good point, John. There’re so many things that could affect a fight—over/un der on rounds could affect the boxers themselves, threats— including factors that could alter a fighter’s ability to, well, fight. Drugs, etc., could be used to disorient or de-energize a boxer. Or, even, things could be used to “up” a fighter’s drive and energy. It’s the reason I don’t bet—even a soda—on fights now. Obviously, those tactics were probably used then, but knowing these things alters the almost-naïve viewing of the fights.

Russ: I’ve thought about that, and I can believe it. That said, I think talent can override anything. Someone like a Ro berto Duran, Thomas “Hit man” Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Evander Holyfield—these guys I feel would triumph over any thing. If threatened, I feel they would ride it out and be okay. If their systems were compro mised, they’d be able to over come and still work it out.

Donald: Of course, there’s al ways that when it comes to sports—any sports—but with the whole betting thing, that’s definitely a factor as well. Per haps we’ve just adjusted our view of our bet.

Russ: You’re right, Don. And sliding away from that, the problem is that there just don’t seem to be many good, com petitive fights. At least not like in the olden days. My favorite fight of all time is Ken Norton versus Larry Holmes, a.k.a. The Easton Assassin. 15 rounds of nonstop action that Holmes eventually won.

Patrick: Mine would be any Sugar Ray Leonard fight! Pick one.

John: All his fights were good. Good call.

Russ: Boxing could come back, fellas. We have a few bodies out here—Tyson Fury, Canelo Ál varez, Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr.—so we could be all right. If nothing else, there’s still a few boxers holding court.