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.

[Kev]

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.

Well of course MMA doesn't have any legendary icons like Ali or Joe Luis, it's only been around for just over a decade.

This doesn't mean that MMA won't build into something with a rich heritage and tradition however.

Guys like Liddell, Coutoure, the Gracies, Ken Shamrock, Sakaruba etc are already iconic within the MMA community and as the sport continues to grow it will create its own legendary stars.

I also think the idea that boxing has a rich heritage that penetrates deep into so many cultures to be largely bullshit.

Come to the UK, the birthplace of pugilsm and outside of hardcore boxing fans you won't see any traditions at all.

Ours is a land of football and cricket, and to a lesser extent rugby.

But let's be clear, its soccer that unites people and gives people a sense of patriotic fervour.

Occaisonally the nation will get behind a boxer and be united in their support for him but its very rare. I guess Hatton had this, before him it was Frank Bruno and Barry McGuigan, the non boxing public didn't care much for Nigel Benn, Eubank, Calzaghe etc.

But its football (soccer) that everybody will be talking about in the pub, it's football that is the universal language if you want to talk to any male stranger in the uk, from a taxi driver, to the guy next to you in the bar, to a distant relation at an annual family gathering etc.

Boxing has a rich history and heritage to those who follow it, but outside of its fans, its impact is not nearly so great as those within it like to believe.

[AdamGB]

Whilst you make some very good points Bilbo I do feel that I need to point out that until joining the MMA, Brock Lesnar was not a competative combat athlete whilst he was in the WWE.

If we're going to use arguments regarding people being active in the WWE then we might as well say that Floyd Mayweather has a legitimate competative win over a 480lb world class wrestler!

and personally my thoughts on MMA is that it's hot shit... right now, once upon a time boxing was too... before the mismatches and vague titles etc started to creep in. I will not be at all surprised when the same inevitable thing happens to UFC.

[El Kabong]

I think right now boxing lacks a number of things and BOXING is at fault for MMA becoming big.

1. Boxing is rarely on cable tv much less on network tv when it used to have a sweetheart of a deal much like the NFL does these days.

2. Guys have gotten lazy around the sport, fewer prospects are groomed properly in the sport, just look at American heavyweights for fuck's sake...I still think Evander Holyfield or even John Ruiz are still among the best American heavyweights, it hurts me to say that. There are lazy fighters, lazy trainers, and lazy fans...it's pathetic.

3. You have to SEARCH to find a young talent these days when they used to just fall right out of the amateurs onto tv and win over the crowd and build a fanbase and now it's increasingly hard to do.

4. This isn't boxing's fault, but MMA can draw from various pools of talent: wrestling, karate, judo, ju jitsu, tkd, etc etc etc...boxing just has boxing to draw from

Eventually if we keep on this path MMA will surpass boxing, they will steal our sponsors, they will steal our air time, and they will steal our fans. Sure I respect MMA, I still think boxing is the top...I DO think a boxer would beat Brock Lesnar in an MMA bout, but I think that sport has marketed itself in such a manner where it is ready to gain ground whenever boxing slips up.

The things we do have going for us are...
1. The Amateur system, it hasn't been run right recently but it's there and ready to groom talent whenever it comes through again.

2. Boxing will ALWAYS be an Olympic sport ergo we'll always have some class athletes.

[BoxingGorilla]

Jones Jr. would get smashed by Silva in the same way a home gets swallowed up by a mud slide. There is no skill involved its just unyeilding force.


Many mixed martial artists hide poor technique behind 300 pounds of brawn. Honestly, besides being hulking monsters, I'm not impressed by anything they do.

When Jet Li and Jackie Chan face off against Donnie Yen and Gordon Lui I'll buy a front row seat.