Boxers like Jones Jr missing the point of MMA

[generalbulldog]

The SAV SCI blog–MMA and mayhem Blog Archive Jim Lampley on MMA

This is a great interview that Jim Lampley gave his honest opinion on MMA. He makes a few good points like most people only know the UFC product and not necessarily the MMA product and things like their hand picked announcers like Joe Rogan. Yes you can criticize Lampley and Merchant, but at least they asked the hard nose questions like Mosely's involvement with Balco, Merchant straight up saying that Floyd's fighting style is boring like in the Baldomir fight, etc. When's the last time Rogan asked those sort of hard nose questions?

No question about it. They have done a better job of organizing and promoting the product to make an impact on the marketplace over the course of the past 12, 15 years. Does it mean that UFC, or MMA, is as legitimate and important and resonant a cultural experience as boxing? Not in a million years. Not even close. Boxing is a sport with a 120-year history, and extremely deep penetration in various cultures around the globe – most particularly American culture where it has produced some of the most prominent socio-political figures to be found in all of sport, most notably, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. No Joe Louis, no Muhammad Ali, no Barack Obama.

I think this is a great insight on boxing's history and cultural influence. I don't see the UFC having an icon like a Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, or even ones like Chavez or Pacquiao that can inspire millions of their countrymen.

He also goes on to say that there is enough room for both in the market place and that it's here to stay. It's legitimate. But I really don't think it will have an impact in the course of the socio-political climate that boxing had. And I really don't think it will overtake boxing, if the HW division get that one superstar like an Ali or Tyson again, there will be an massive interest in boxing again from the general public. In boxing the HW division is consider it's most glamorous and the lifeline of the sport.

Boxing's decline from the general public also has to do with the HW division being utterly shit, it's not coincidence.