Boxing Sucks.

[donnydarkoIRL]

My train of thought for boxing is universal.

Nobody has the right to call a professional fighter of any weight, who is dedicated to his trade a bum or denigrate his efforts.

Matt Skelton, he's a fighter who lacks in skill and finesse, does that mean he trys any less than the next fighter? No, it doesn't.

Let's say I'm a window cleaner. I clean windows every day and thats my trade. Do you think I would appreciate a fighter coming up to me and saying "actually it's better to do it this way" or "your a crap window cleaner"

[Memphis]

Depends if you leave a trail of dirty windows in your wake.

We as fans have the right to slag off who we want when we want, sometimes for no good reason.

doesnt mean that we dont appreciate what they do and the risks they take.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Depends if you leave a trail of dirty windows in your wake.

We as fans have the right to slag off who we want when we want, sometimes for no good reason.

doesnt mean that we dont appreciate what they do and the risks they take.

Sorry mate.but I really don't agree with that.

Sure the only reason boxing exists is because of the fans demand to see violence. But in turn the fans would be left wanting if it weren't for the fighters providing the entertainment.

It's a symbiotic relationship and as long as the fighters fight, fans should be respectful in turn.

[Bomp]

It's a tough one, I certainly respect anybody who steps into the ring, but I have to admit that I do use the word 'bum' when describing some fighters sometimes, after all it's far quicker to just call someone a bum than say 'he's not very good, lacks finesse and talent...'.

It's like the argument about not being aloud to say a pupil 'failed' a test in school, IMO criticism should always be welcomed, if you're all nicey nicey towards everyone then you take away from the winner's achievements and take away the motivation for the others.

It's down to the fighters on how they take to being called a 'bum' and in what context, I'm sure most critics use the word to describe the guy's ability as a boxer rather than a stronger term in which the critic feels the so called 'bum' isn't fit to shine his boots.

[El Kabong]

I'm not one to just give my support to someone simply because they try.....that got us to where we are today when everyone no matter how shit at whatever sport they are gets a trophy...this idea of respect without proving yourself means you only have to acheive the lowest rung on the ladder to get respect.

Sure I respect the job of "prize fighter" fighting for a living isn't for everyone and not everyone gets the same amount of respect or even a similar type of respect.

I have sparred with some local fighters and I respect them but I don't hold them as in high a regard as the top teir fighters.


Sometimes you need to hate a fighter....for example Floyd Mayweather Jr....I despise him, but I am also in awe of his skill.




And there will always be armchair quarterbacks....I realize it's harder to do than it is to just think up the strategy

[Mikkel_K]

My train of thought for boxing is universal.

Nobody has the right to call a professional fighter of any weight, who is dedicated to his trade a bum or denigrate his efforts.

Matt Skelton, he's a fighter who lacks in skill and finesse, does that mean he trys any less than the next fighter? No, it doesn't.

Let's say I'm a window cleaner. I clean windows every day and thats my trade. Do you think I would appreciate a fighter coming up to me and saying "actually it's better to do it this way" or "your a crap window cleaner"

If the fighter happened to be the one paying for your job (i.e. because he owned those windows), he'd have good reason for criticising. If the fans happen to pay the wages of fighters - albeit indirectly - then they should be allowed to criticise as well.

Of course there can be different ways of criticising - walking up to someone and telling them, they are crap are usually not the most constructive way, no matter who it's being said to.

[Shamrock]

Donny I get where you're coming from. Any boxer with the courage to step into the ring deserves respect. I also think that it's only when you have boxed and trained that you can truly appreciate what these guys have to go through and sacrifice for their art.

I guess for the casual fan the violence is an atraction but also I hope their are fans out there like me who are drawn to the sport because of the fascination of watching two athletes pit their skills and will against each other in what I still regard as the highest and most pure act of one one compettion.

In general people are guilty not only with boxers but with any of their idols of seeing them not as people but as some kind of God. It's easy to forget that your heroes whether the are boxers or not are just people and have flaws like anyone else. Because of this idolism we often find it harder to come to terms and forgive their human indescretions.

Blind loyalty to a fighter based on various reasons (skin colour, location, fighting style) frustrate me but unfortunatley that too is human nature.

Boxing has lost so much of it's mainstream appeal due to the almighty dollar - to many sanctioning boddies to many weight categroies and to many meaningless fights and lack of exposure on 'free' tv are all to blame.

Still there is no greater thrill in the world for me than two fighters (at any weight) baring their soles to find out simply wjo is the best.

Great thread mate