WHAT SPLENDOR: WHY NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO BE A BOXING FAN
C'est un avis qui n'engage que l'auteur de l'article mais ce qui est sur c'est qu'il y met tout son coeur, sa passion et que la conclusion est...plaisante :) The year 2007 was supposed to be remembered as the year that boxing
died. The year that the most corrupt, narcissistic, and greedy sport on
the planet, faded into the distance and eroded into nothing but fond
memories. But 2007 has come and passed, and boxing is still here. Its
once glamorous appeal is reappearing, its respect among other sports
fans is heightening, and its ability to entice future champions is
gaining momentum. Boxing, despite all its downfalls and shortcomings,
is slowly finding its way back. Instead, 200y will be remembered as the
year boxing miraculously came back from the dead. Source_ Eastsideboxing_Jeff Fenster
"[Michael] Wilbon, are you excited for Mayweather versus De La
Hoya 2?" asked Tony Kornheiser on the popular ESPN show called 'Pardon
the Interruption.' "I'm shaking in my boots," Wilbon, the host of the
show, sarcastically responded, "Boxing is dead..." Wilbon's words shook
me.
I wished I could have taken Kornheisers' spot making the questions, and
ask Wilbon if he could name one fight that has happened in the last
year, outside of Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya. The fact that Wilbon
wouldn't be able to name just one fight, is a fact that is just as much
painful as it is frustrating. Unfortunately for us boxing fans, he
isn't the only one. Boxing deserves these peoples undivided attention.
We had a war between Joe Calzaghe of Whales and Mikkel Kessler of
Denmark, heroes of their homelands, that packed more than 50,000 people
into a soccer stadium. We had Miguel Cotto pack Madison Square Garden
to its rafters twice in two incredible fights. We had the original and
the rematch in what is destined to be an all time great trilogy between
Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez. We had the resurgence of great
champions like Bernard Hopkins, and the insurgence of new ones like
Kelly Pavlik. All of this wasn't spread over four or five years, but
was instead packed into a single unforgettable year. The fact that most
sports fans will never see any of that action is, again, a painful and
frustrating fact for us boxing fans. Fortunetly for us, however, boxing
and its "powers that be" are currently working on it. 2008's lineup
promises all the action we got in 2007, and maybe then some.
First of all, our champions are fighting more frequently, which is
commendable. Miguel Cotto has stepped up big this year, taking on a
tough plan for 2008 after two monster paydays against De La Hoya and
Mayweather fell through. He will take on tough and talented Alfonzo
Gomez in a fight that promises lots of action. Don't get me
incorrectly, Miguel Cotto will win the fight, but it promises to be a
doozy in the process. Gomez is a highly underrated technician that is
an offensive talent and a crowd pleaser. 'Knockout' isn't the name of
his game but he comes to win and trains hard, thats all you can ask
from an opponent. Margarito is taking the same path, fighting Cintron
in a rematch on the same date as Cottos' fight, April 12th.
Another promising encounter between two warriors. Just like in the
olden days, the winner gets the champion in Cotto only a few months
later, both promising another fight or two before years end. Kelly
Pavlik, boxings newest and potentially brightest star, will fight
Taylor in February, Duddy in June, and Abraham in December. Juan Diaz
and Michael Katsidis, two lightweight potentials, are promising 3
fights apiece this year, one of which will hopefully be against each
other. Oscar De La Hoya, boxings biggest money man, will fight Forbes
in May, Mayweather in September, and a TBA farewell opponent in
December. The only way you won't be satisfied this year, is if your
favorite fighter is Floyd Mayweather, who will only fight once this
year and then zero times the next year.
Secondly, events are becoming bigger and better. If Miguel Cotto and
Antonio Margarito are to get past their April 12th opponents, a matchup
between the two will be held in Yankee Stadium. Holding close to 70,000
fans for a boxing match, Yankee Stadium wont be close to full that
night. However, the 40,000 fans that do show up with witness something
very special.
Of the fighters featured in the big Madison Square Garden in the last
10 years, only one has not been a Heavyweight. That man is Miguel
Cotto, and he is all alone in the list of "fighters below heavyweight"
featured at the MSG arena. Everything changed June 7th, where
Middleweights Kelly Pavlik and John Duddy are sure to sell out the
Garden and treat the massive crowd on hand to an exciting, if not one
sided, encounter.
Oscar De La Hoya could possibly treat up to 100,000 fans in Mexico's
Azteca Stadium to a tune-up fight with Steve Forbes, or he could pack
Dodgers Stadium. Either option makes for a huge event, and they are the
top two choices on DLH's list. These types of events are what lures
obtuse sports fans like Wilbon to start paying attention to boxing.
These events are huge for the future of boxing, and believe me when i
tell you that they will do wonders for boxings image.
And Lastly, fans are being treated to more boxing for less money. In
April, Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe will clash in a hugely
significant fight. Luckily for us, this one will be free on HBO as a
gift to the fans, something that doesn't come along often and is never
turned down by the fans. Sure, there are alternative motives, like the
potential disaster the PPV might be due to Calzaghe-Kessler earning the
dubious award of "lowest rated boxing show in HBO history," but it
doesn't matter. What does matter, is that casual fans can tune in to a
real "event" and not have to shell out cash to do so. Following the
trend is Oscar De La Hoya who will fight on free TV for the first time
since giving Gatti more then a few bruises and bumps. In fact, HBO will
only have two PPV shows from now until June, with stars like Juan Diaz,
Michael Katsidis, Paul Williams, and Wladimir Klitschko all to be
featured for free on HBO. This is a positive trend obviously, and one
we can only hope continues.
So the next a supposed "sports expert" makes a comment on boxing, just
ignore it. I'd be shocked if it was a positive comment, and the only
reason it would be negative is because they are uneducated. Magazines
have labeled boxing a dieing sport in order to hide their ignorance for
not covering the sport. If boxing is dieing, can somebody out there
please explain to me why 2007 was the best year boxing has had in
years, and 2008 figures to be even better?