Saturday night showed both what is RIGHT and what is WRONG with boxing

Saturday night actually showed both what is right, and what is wrong with boxing. The undercard, as all of us knew going in, was really worthy of main event status. Two up and coming hungry fighters RAN towards each other. Each came to fight, and each slugged it out. Guess what? This is the fight that everyone in the boxing world is talking about afterwards.

Now, lets compare that to the "main event". A champ that has looked like absolute hell against his last two smaller opponents. Tentative, lacking aggression, and afraid to throw (both Lou Dibella and Manny Stewart put more effort and passion into Sat night). The build up to this fight was minimal, except for Taylor trying to act hard at the press conference. And then he was trying to act hard right after the bell rang. He acted hard right up until the point that Larry Merchant pointedly asked him if he'd fight Kelly Pavlik, at which point he responded "If the money is right". Can you, in your wildest dreams, picture Hagler, Hearns, or STL a) fighting as poorly as Taylor has in his last two fights and b) having the stones to say directly after the lackluster performance that he would only take on the best challenger if "the money is right".

So on Saturday night, we saw what was RIGHT with the state of boxing, and we most definetly saw what was WRONG with the state of boxing (and I didn't even get into the scorecards....anoth er total joke).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mikey100

Saturday night actually showed both what is right, and what is wrong with boxing. The undercard, as all of us knew going in, was really worthy of main event status. Two up and coming hungry fighters RAN towards each other. Each came to fight, and each slugged it out. Guess what? This is the fight that everyone in the boxing world is talking about afterwards.

Now, lets compare that to the "main event". A champ that has looked like absolute hell against his last two smaller opponents. Tentative, lacking aggression, and afraid to throw (both Lou Dibella and Manny Stewart put more effort and passion into Sat night). The build up to this fight was minimal, except for Taylor trying to act hard at the press conference. And then he was trying to act hard right after the bell rang. He acted hard right up until the point that Larry Merchant pointedly asked him if he'd fight Kelly Pavlik, at which point he responded "If the money is right". Can you, in your wildest dreams, picture Hagler, Hearns, or STL a) fighting as poorly as Taylor has in his last two fights and b) having the stones to say directly after the lackluster performance that he would only take on the best challenger if "the money is right".

So on Saturday night, we saw what was RIGHT with the state of boxing, and we most definetly saw what was WRONG with the state of boxing (and I didn't even get into the scorecards....anoth er total joke).

---

Damn strait. Haggler wouldnt duck Pavlik either. +1 karma for you.

Good post man, I agree with pretty much everything you wrote... CC.

Despite the poor performance he is still the lineal champ in the division and he just can't let Pavliks performance dominate his decision to fight him or not. Beside's Pavliks camp has struck gold with this victory, they can either rush this fight or continue to let Pavlik develope and meet Taylor in a superfight in 2008 sometime.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mikey100

Saturday night actually showed both what is right, and what is wrong with boxing. The undercard, as all of us knew going in, was really worthy of main event status. Two up and coming hungry fighters RAN towards each other. Each came to fight, and each slugged it out. Guess what? This is the fight that everyone in the boxing world is talking about afterwards.

Now, lets compare that to the "main event". A champ that has looked like absolute hell against his last two smaller opponents. Tentative, lacking aggression, and afraid to throw (both Lou Dibella and Manny Stewart put more effort and passion into Sat night). The build up to this fight was minimal, except for Taylor trying to act hard at the press conference. And then he was trying to act hard right after the bell rang. He acted hard right up until the point that Larry Merchant pointedly asked him if he'd fight Kelly Pavlik, at which point he responded "If the money is right". Can you, in your wildest dreams, picture Hagler, Hearns, or STL a) fighting as poorly as Taylor has in his last two fights and b) having the stones to say directly after the lackluster performance that he would only take on the best challenger if "the money is right".

So on Saturday night, we saw what was RIGHT with the state of boxing, and we most definetly saw what was WRONG with the state of boxing (and I didn't even get into the scorecards....anoth er total joke).

---

True dat. Well put.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by diamonddavestafford

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mikey100

Saturday night actually showed both what is right, and what is wrong with boxing. The undercard, as all of us knew going in, was really worthy of main event status. Two up and coming hungry fighters RAN towards each other. Each came to fight, and each slugged it out. Guess what? This is the fight that everyone in the boxing world is talking about afterwards.

Now, lets compare that to the "main event". A champ that has looked like absolute hell against his last two smaller opponents. Tentative, lacking aggression, and afraid to throw (both Lou Dibella and Manny Stewart put more effort and passion into Sat night). The build up to this fight was minimal, except for Taylor trying to act hard at the press conference. And then he was trying to act hard right after the bell rang. He acted hard right up until the point that Larry Merchant pointedly asked him if he'd fight Kelly Pavlik, at which point he responded "If the money is right". Can you, in your wildest dreams, picture Hagler, Hearns, or STL a) fighting as poorly as Taylor has in his last two fights and b) having the stones to say directly after the lackluster performance that he would only take on the best challenger if "the money is right".

So on Saturday night, we saw what was RIGHT with the state of boxing, and we most definetly saw what was WRONG with the state of boxing (and I didn't even get into the scorecards....anoth er total joke).

---

True dat. Well put.

---

Hear hear

I was thinking the same thing as you man.

boxing is going down the drain because people are making TO much money. He said he would fight the man that gave him more money over the best in the division. Thats just plain wrong.

Boxing is not about who is the best no more its all about who has the best managers and promoters and thats why boxing is not being watched as much as it used to be watched.

Too much money is definetly an issue. And it's permeated down to the fighters. And that's not to say that a fighter, who risks his ass every time he gets into the ring should not be rewarded with as much money as posisble. It's just that to earn it, one would think they should fight the best available fighter in front of him every time out. Or eventually, you are going to have a bunch of rich fighters that no-one wants to see.

Say what you will about the UFC, but those guys are not overpaid, and they always take on the toughest fighters. And that is one reason why that sport has such momentum. That, and one meaningful belt per division, and better judging/referee-ing.

I taped it and just watched it today. The Taylor/Spinks fight was one of the worst I've seen in recent memory (except for anything involving John Ruiz). You could really feel Manny Steward's frustration with Taylor. If Taylor fights Joe C. the way he fought Spinks and Joe C. fights the way he fought Lacy, Taylor will be in trouble. Hopefully, that fight will be made.