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Noah Weber's Blog
R.I.P. Boxing Stuck
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 10:42 AM.

(PHOTO: Getty Images)

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?
Comments
# 16 SkillzKillz719 @ Jun 10
I honestly was one of those casual fans that would buy that fight if it ever happened.
But I dont think I'll put down $60 for it anymore.
It's not dead, but this hurt, the already hurting sport of boxing.
 
# 17 Noah Weber @ Jun 10
Thank you for the comments, gentlemen. For the record, I am not actually saying Timothy Bradley is at fault for what happened last night, I was just pointing out how tentatively boxing is holding on if one relative unknown winning his fight can jeopardize public interest so dramatically.

Also, I make no apologies for the article. Please keep up the spirited debate!
 
# 18 TreyIM2 @ Jun 10
I was definitely stunned last night by the decision and just like someone said about the first score card of 115-113, I thought there was a fix already in...and Mayweather greezed some pockets to help further his laundry list of excuses of why Pacman is subpar to him and yada...
Then I had a thought while re-discussing what happened after reading an article on ESPN about Arum being a promoter for both fighters, which I wasn't aware of, and his reaction to the fight - ARUM fixed this, in my estimations.

It's a win-win for him and his already deep pockets for a rematch to occur. Create controversial situation, get ppl talking, get the contract set for a rematch, since he controls both boxers, then set the hype machine in motion til a huge payday on fight day.
 
# 19 truintellectplaya @ Jun 10
Good read and I must say that fight reminded me of what is going on with NBA 2K and NBA Live the only head to head sports gaming battle worthy of pay per view main-event status. 2K has kicked there butts for years and won the fight fair and square on everyone's cards but corrupted over the top blind fans.

At the end of the day, this fight proves that competition is not always good. Competition is not good when people will not call it like it is and move on. When you have corruption in competition just to make the competition seem more compelling or competitive than it really is; then competition is not good.

Competition is not always good people
 
# 20 ebugaloo @ Jun 10
First of all, Bradley is not responsible for the bad decision. He trained hard for this fight, and hung in their in the face of a superior opponent that repeatedly hurt him over the course of 12 rounds. Anyone who has ever stepped in the ring in any combat sport should respect that.

Secondly, Pacquiao hardly made a passionate denunciation of homosexuality. He merely said that homosexuals shouldn't be married. I disagree with that as well, but to suggest that it is an extreme view is a stretch, especially considering his religious upbringing and where he comes from.

Third, it is true that boxing is on the decline, but I hardly think that this is the catastrophe that people think it is. Tim Bradley has become a 10x bigger name than he was before, and will make another huge payday in the rematch. Pacquiao dominated a young, determined, and undefeated champion, and made it look easy. His stature in the game has never been based on being undefeated. Where some thought he was slowing down, he has dispelled those notions to a large extent, and become a sympathetic figure in the process. Plus, he will likely make $20+ million in the rematch, one that he is likely to win.
 
# 21 bigdoc85 @ Jun 10
I remember the good old days when you had to find a friend with HBO or when you and your friends chipped in money for the Pay Per View fight. Who really does that anymore? And I remember watching Boom Boom Mancini and Duk Kuk Kim mix it up on network television.
 
# 22 bigsmallwood @ Jun 11
This was an embarrassment for boxing....Mayweather vs. Pacquaio is all most boxing fans wanted....now this mess...smh We need Dana White to oversee boxing too! Give the fans what they want.
 
# 23 MattyEdgeworth @ Jun 11
Charter04 What are you on about, I gave my opinion the same as anyone else. I'm not telling anyone what to think I'm giving my opinion which is just as valid as anyone elses on here, so give over. I just think that 1. This article is a load of nonsense and 2. Its so obvious that this guy is a biased MMA fan.
 
# 24 eye guy @ Jun 11
Quote:
I just think that 1. This article is a load of nonsense and 2. Its so obvious that this guy is a biased MMA fan.
This too...
 
# 25 Bulls321974 @ Jun 11
One of the worst decisions ever! Has not been the first time a non-US fighter eventually got handicapped after fighting against an American. So much about the alleged neutrality of the judges in the US. Simply terrible...
 
# 26 kennyacid @ Jun 11
Boxing been dead, its just running on life support. Way to many weight classes filled wit no talent. The heavyweight division has been completely dead since Lennox Lewis retired. Pac and Money May fight should have been happened but money was scared, now thats all down the drain. Boxing needs some new young talented fights in each class that will bring some new life because as of now the sport is just way too boring. No fights are worth getting excited over.
 
# 27 Noah Weber @ Jun 11
I wouldn't say I am a "biased MMA fan." I would, however, make the argument that currently, MMA is a far more compelling sport than boxing is. You can disagree with me all you'd like, although I do slightly resent the personal attacks. As you said yourself, you are just stating your opinion, as was I when I wrote the article. I am not saying you have no place commenting on my article, so please don't tell me what I should be allowed to write or where it should be posted. Thank you.
 
# 28 MattyEdgeworth @ Jun 12
Why not? It's obvious that you don't have much of an interest in boxing and are clearly an MMA fan, to me that seems pretty odd that you are then writing an article about boxing. Especially about the alledged death of boxing, something which a lot of MMA fans delude themselves into believing.

Fair enough about the personal attacks, I do have very strong opinions but I apologise for that.
 
# 29 Sanchez_Mareno @ Jun 13
This was so rigged
 
# 30 SHAKYR @ Jun 13
Boxing isn't going anywhere because it has had bad and good since the beginning. The Mafia used to be very influential in some fights. The casual fans thing boxing is fake because these crooked promoters but it's not.
I have over 14 years in the sport inside and out. I also train my son. The Pacquiao and Bradley decision will not turn me off the sport of boxing. MMA is for everyone no matter how much they train.
 

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