Noah Weber's Blog
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Congratulations, Timothy Bradley (and possibly the judges). You may have just killed boxing for good.
By winning a very controversial split decision over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night, the undefeated 28 year-old Bradley became the new WBO Welterweight champion of the world. He also severely damaged the legend of one of the only two boxers anybody even cares about, while the other – Floyd Mayweather – is currently incarcerated.
Soooo…. what happens next?
Anyone who follows boxing (and even many of those who don’t) wanted nothing more than to see the Pacquaio-Mayweather fight. Both men have been regarded as the best pound-for-pound pugilists on planet earth, and both men have enough out-of-the-ring personality to make for an intriguing subplot. But political hangups, fight dodging, accusations of steroid abuse, out of the ring distractions and, now, prison time, have all gotten in the way of the potential fight of the century.
The question now is: will anybody still care about Manny after he just lost to someone you’ve probably never heard of?
It doesn’t help that Manny’s recent awakening as a born again Christian has lead him to alienate himself from some fans by taking hardline stances on major social issues, most notably his passionate denunciation of homosexuality. It also doesn’t help that Floyd Mayweather has found his way to jail. With both fighters in the situations they are currently in, the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is losing it’s appeal by the day.
It was supposed to be a matchup of two of the greatest boxers on planet earth. It was supposed to be the fight to save boxing. But now Pacquaio-Mayweather is starting to look more like just a battle of two different types of crazy. And not that awesome, Mike Tyson, “I’m going to eat your children” kind of crazy, either. The fight only works if both men are clearly atop the boxing mountain, and that is no longer the case.
So whether you blame Timothy Bradley or the judges in his last fight, boxing is now in more trouble than ever before. Maybe Manny can come out in their rematch and make a statement by avenging his loss with a knockout, thereby reinvigorating interest in the Pacquiao-Mayweather contest. Maybe Timothy Bradley becomes more explosive and exciting as his career progresses and ends up as the savior of the sport. More likely, however, is that boxing continues to become more and more irrelevant, until truly nobody cares.
Personally, I’d say it’s about time for boxing fans to start following MMA.
Do you think boxing is dead?
# 4
bigdoc85 @ Jun 10
Boxing has been dead since the last Tyson - Holyfield fight. No one cares anymore. Heck -- when I play Fight Night Champion, I only play the retired (or dead) fighters. No interest in any of the current fighters.
# 5
DirtyJerz32 @ Jun 10
4 people made a lot of money on that fight. Bob Arum, fight promoter, Duane Ford, C.J. Ross and Timothy Bradley.
Never let it go to the judges.
Never let it go to the judges.
# 6
MattyEdgeworth @ Jun 10
Only a fool would say that boxing is dead, it only shows how little your know about or how little you actually follow the sport when people say that. People have been saying boxing is dead for 100 years, nevermind Tyson they've been saying it back in John L. Sullivans day. People keep saying boxings dead.... then one day they die, and boxing lives on.
# 7
MattyEdgeworth @ Jun 10
Also, I think this is one of the worst articles I've ever read, this kind of nonsense has no business being on the front page of a major website.
# 8
SDwinder @ Jun 10
Actually, it is very on point. I grew up with the lead in to Ali-Frazier 1 and it was huge, followed by the rematches. The Heavyweight division was probably the best it ever was with Ali, Frazier, Norton, a young George Foreman who created the same kind of terror as a young Tyson. It was truly a great time for boxing, and it lasted for about 5 years from 1970-1975. Ali and Frazier were never the same after the Thriller in Manilla in 1975. That was their 3rd fight and they beat each other up and were never the same. Back then fights could go 15 rounds and eventual brain damage was the outcome.
The Heavyweight division was then dead until Tyson showed up. But there was some great matchups in the lighter divisions in the 1980's
The Heavyweight division was then dead until Tyson showed up. But there was some great matchups in the lighter divisions in the 1980's
# 9
charter04 @ Jun 10
There's always a self righteous know it all fan like MattyEdgeworth in ever sport. Keep your opinions to you self everyone MattyEdgeworth will tell us what to think!
# 10
sparkdawg777 @ Jun 10
Matty, I would consider myself a casual boxing fan. I don't keep up with everything except the big fights and I will watch it on the weekends on HBO or Showtime every now and then but utlimately I just enjoy watching it. However, after watching the fight last night I am DONE with it until they clean it up. It's ridiculous to watch any sporting event and see the clear winner not win. It would be like the Celtics advancing to the Finals even after losing game 7.
You sound like a big boxing fan and I respect that but you have to understand that what happened last night was probably the worst thing that has ever happened to boxing.
BTW, I think the the article was just fine.
You sound like a big boxing fan and I respect that but you have to understand that what happened last night was probably the worst thing that has ever happened to boxing.
BTW, I think the the article was just fine.
# 11
SDwinder @ Jun 10
It always seemed that boxing revolved around the lead in exposure that the Olympics gave it. If you had a successful Olympics for Americans with Golds being won, that would usually translate to solid interest in the pro game for many years. Americans have not done too well in the recent Olympics and it shows in the pro game now.
What it shows you is the young guys are focusing on the other fight games from a young age and never getting into the boxing game.
What it shows you is the young guys are focusing on the other fight games from a young age and never getting into the boxing game.
# 12
Retropyro @ Jun 10
"Congratulations, Timothy Bradley (and possibly the judges). You may have just killed boxing for good."
Explain please. How does Bradley hold any blame for the judges decision or for Manny not putting him away?
Explain please. How does Bradley hold any blame for the judges decision or for Manny not putting him away?
# 13
jwilphl @ Jun 10
I don't blame Bradley for the result at all. He fought hard to the end and for him it paid off. However, do I agree with the result? Absolutely not. When I heard the first scorecard at 115-113, I immediately thought something was funny. I had Bradley winning the second round and the 10th for sure with a few other rounds being toss-ups. At worst I would give it 8-4 for Pacman. How the result came out as a flip is anyone's guess, but like any other "judged" sport, it is almost entirely subjective.
With some of the stuff that has come out, it definitely feels like a fixed fight, but I doubt it would be the first--just perhaps the most egregious. I know they already had a rematch date picked out for Nov. 10, but I imagine those are fairly common in fight contracts? Just a guess.
I'm certainly not the most knowledgeable boxing aficionado, but I consider UFC's drastic takeover of market-share (as well as perhaps a pooling of the talent) and a decrease in interesting heavyweight contenders the biggest problems for boxing. Growing up, it was seemingly always about the heavyweights, and there were many headlining boxing through the 90s. Nowadays there just aren't any, and I don't even remember the last time a HW bout headlined on PPV. UFC has probably converted a lot of would-be boxers to the more dynamic cage-fighting style which has continued to grow in popularity.
I'd say boxing probably isn't dead. It is hurting, but this whole issue creates a lot of drama for the rematch, and I think once people cool off, that fight in November will see pretty good ratings. If there is match-fixing, to me it is unacceptable and should be investigated, as overall it is just bad for the sport. Still, look at how popular the WWE remains--it took its scripted style and ran with it to create an over-the-top spectacle. I definitely do not think that would be a good look for boxing, however.
With some of the stuff that has come out, it definitely feels like a fixed fight, but I doubt it would be the first--just perhaps the most egregious. I know they already had a rematch date picked out for Nov. 10, but I imagine those are fairly common in fight contracts? Just a guess.
I'm certainly not the most knowledgeable boxing aficionado, but I consider UFC's drastic takeover of market-share (as well as perhaps a pooling of the talent) and a decrease in interesting heavyweight contenders the biggest problems for boxing. Growing up, it was seemingly always about the heavyweights, and there were many headlining boxing through the 90s. Nowadays there just aren't any, and I don't even remember the last time a HW bout headlined on PPV. UFC has probably converted a lot of would-be boxers to the more dynamic cage-fighting style which has continued to grow in popularity.
I'd say boxing probably isn't dead. It is hurting, but this whole issue creates a lot of drama for the rematch, and I think once people cool off, that fight in November will see pretty good ratings. If there is match-fixing, to me it is unacceptable and should be investigated, as overall it is just bad for the sport. Still, look at how popular the WWE remains--it took its scripted style and ran with it to create an over-the-top spectacle. I definitely do not think that would be a good look for boxing, however.
# 14
eye guy @ Jun 10
I stopped reading after this. If you follow boxing, then you know who Bradley is. I don't follow MMA so I don't know many if any of the fighters...
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# 15
tril @ Jun 10
boxing is all about personalities and how they are percieved through the media. Boxing isnt dead, boxing just doesnt have that many boxers with marketable personalities.
In addition, I blame pay-per-view for the dis-interest in boxing. there use to be a time when you could see a good marquee boxing match on broadcast television and on cable. those bouts/fights lead to a familiarization with these boxers. The casual observer could become more familiar with a boxer. This doesnt happen anymore.
The only time you hear of an elite boxer is when they start advertising a pay-per-view fight. at that point the casual observer basically has a "who's this", and why should I care approach.
In addition, I blame pay-per-view for the dis-interest in boxing. there use to be a time when you could see a good marquee boxing match on broadcast television and on cable. those bouts/fights lead to a familiarization with these boxers. The casual observer could become more familiar with a boxer. This doesnt happen anymore.
The only time you hear of an elite boxer is when they start advertising a pay-per-view fight. at that point the casual observer basically has a "who's this", and why should I care approach.
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