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The “Sweet Science” is a magnificent sport. The warriors of Boxing are some of the most gifted athletes in the world. While I humbly praise it as the best sport in the world for the heart and triumph it takes to compete, the politics bat away at the mind of the casual observer; Boxing needs to budge.
One of the biggest clashes called for by observers is multiple division world champion “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire against Super Six Bantamweight tournament winner and two-division champion Abner Mares of Mexico. Both men compiled big victories over the last two years, clarifying themselves as the two best Bantamweights internationally.
These two little men are left in a tight predicament as the promotional rivalry between Top Rank Boxing, who promote Donaire, and Golden Boy, who promote Mares, is flaring as strong as ever.
And Bob Arum of Top Rank and Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy will not budge. A co-promoted show between the two of boxing’s largest promoters is a rarity and that is doing the sport more harm than good.
To paraphrase HBO Boxing’s Harold Lederman: Boxing is unlikely to get better. But it is doubtful that it will get worse.
It is what it is. Rival promoters negotiating between themselves is a rarity and that won’t change. Nor will the ethically challenged, or perhaps incompetent, scoring verdicts.
Let’s hope that solid fights persist in 2013 with NBC showing boxing events, Golden Boy Promotions putting on solid shows on Showtime and HBO putting on interesting Boxing After Dark and World Championship Boxing cards.
But, as in previous years, you must take it moment by moment. You get battles like Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez 4, with an entertaining and conclusive end. But you also get the rumored fights such as Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Brandon Rios around this time last year as teasers, which often fall through the cracks.
Already in 2013, less than five days in, we had a thrilling ESPN Friday Night Fights main event between Afghanistan born Canadian Arash Usmanee and skilled Cuban Rances Barthelemy, a bout in which the majority of fans scored for Arash, however, Rances took the nod.
The sport also brews controversy. That will not change unless promoters and commissions take action. So, take it one fight at a time and join Saddoboxing for the show.
Corey Quincy is a boxing writer for Saddoboxing.com, Blboxing.com and more. Follow him on Twitter at Quincyboxingfan. Like his facebook page at Boxing Legends. Send questions/comments to Admin@Blboxing.com
