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Post by jhar26 on Nov 12, 2006 5:30:43 GMT -5
A poll for me and Ron.... ;D
Ever since Lennox Lewis retired the Heavyweight division has been in crisis with four different guys being the champ of the four major alphabet belts. One of the problems is that the so-called champs of the four divisions refuce to fight each other, instead choosing to hold on to their version of the title and make some easy money with defences against what are known in the business as "tomato cans." So, if these four guys were to fight each other, who would come out on top? In other words, who is the REAL heavyweight champion of the world?
Gaston
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Post by bluesron on Nov 12, 2006 8:03:35 GMT -5
A poll for me and Ron.... ;D Ever since Lennox Lewis retired the Heavyweight division has been in crisis with four different guys being the champ of the four major alphabet belts. One of the problems is that the so-called champs of the four divisions refuce to fight each other, instead choosing to hold on to their version of the title and make some easy money with defences against what are known in the business as "tomato cans." So, if these four guys were to fight each other, who would come out on top? In other words, who is the REAL heavyweight champion of the world? Gaston ***The heavyweight division has really sucked as of late for sure. I think the fact that there are just too many divisions and probably need just two (best case scenario would be one). You could eliminate many of the so called "contenders" (tomato cans) and maybe have a legitimate top ten ranking. I'd love to go back to the way it was in the 70s/80s when the heavyweight division was loaded with talent and title fights were worth the price of the ticket. i wish there was a televised venue like the old Wide World of Sports that ABC used to run here in the states that would show the major title defenses. Only way now you can see them is either in person or on pay per view. With Wide World, you usually got them after the fact and you knew the outcome, but you could at least watch how they reached the outcome they did. ron (bluesron) |
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Post by jhar26 on Nov 12, 2006 8:42:45 GMT -5
Where I live the situation is even worse. They usually show the title defences of the quite horrible (for a champ) Valuev on German television, but that's it. Until recently they also did the Klitschko fights, but now those are on German commercial television which I can't receive. So, whenever I want to see something I have to buy fights on dvd from online sellers.  The Belgian press (television, newspapers, etc...) totally ignore boxing. They only give it some attention whenever Tyson has done something insane again or when it's been 20, 25 or 30 years ago since Belgian tomato can Jean-Pierre Coopman received a beating from Ali. But yeah, boxing, especially with the heavyweights is in a horrible state IMO. Ali, Frazier, Norton, Foreman, Holmes, Tyson, Bowe, Holyfield, Lewis, all those guys would have beaten the current "champs" very easily I think. Gaston |
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Post by bluesron on Nov 12, 2006 11:19:28 GMT -5
I think alot of it has to do with a shrinking fanbase. here in the states its mostly older guys that follow boxing with the younger guys more interested in the truly violent Ultimate Fighting stuff or god forbid "Wrasslin" (or Sports Entertainment as they now refer to it as).
unless it's as you say something totally outrageous with someone like Tyson or a circus free for all at a press conference, the major sporting outlets give scarce coverage to boxing at all.
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Post by jhar26 on Nov 12, 2006 14:39:49 GMT -5
I think it's all too confusing for the average sports fan. Too many weight divisions and alphabet titles....WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, FBI, CIA, CCR, IRA, PLO....who can make any sense of that stuff? Even I can't, and I'm a fan. Where is the time that everyone knew the names of the heavyweight or middleweight champs of the world?
You are right of course that the fanbase for boxing is shrinking. But if one wanted to ruin the popularity of the sport one couldn't come up with a better plan than the one that's in progrss now. The icing on the cake is PPV. How can they expect people to pay $50 to see someone they probably don't know defend the, say EMI superflyweight title against a tomato can? Sounds ridiculous I know, but the situation is THAT bad.
Gaston
I absolutely hate Ultimate Fighting. Wrestling is even worse. Why anyone would even want to look at those idiots is beyond me.
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Post by erik on Nov 12, 2006 15:06:04 GMT -5
Quote by Amadeus Springstadt:
Television "extravaganzas" like these do pervert the sports greatly, that much. When we see those same sports during the Olympics--that's a different story (IMHO).
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Post by bluesron on Nov 12, 2006 15:18:41 GMT -5
yeah but even coverage of Olympic boxing has shrunken too as everyone wants to see the glam sports like gymnastics and swimming in prime time.
But then again there really hasn't been a solid U.S. boxing team that anyone really cared about in quite awhile.
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Post by Kathy ~ on Nov 12, 2006 18:36:49 GMT -5
A poll for me and Ron.... ;D i wish there was a televised venue like the old Wide World of Sports that ABC used to run here in the states that would show the major title defenses. Only way now you can see them is either in person or on pay per view. With Wide World, you usually got them after the fact and you knew the outcome, but you could at least watch how they reached the outcome they did. ron (bluesron) YES.. I MISS THE "WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS".. DON'T MEAN TO INTRUDE ON BOXING.. BUT HERE IN THE STATES IT'S ESPN OR BUST !! OF COURSE I AM REFERRING TO MY SPORT OF KINGS.. ESPN HAD A LOCK ON THE BREEDER'S CUP... SHUT OUT THE INTERNET TOO ! I MISS THE THRILL OF VICTORY AND THE AGONY OF DEFEAT  GOOD LUCK BOXERS.... NOT MY GIG  |
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