Our Aging Sport

[El Kabong]

Well I think with all the titles out there and its harder and harder to unify....I just think it takes longer for the bigger fights to happen.

[marbleheadmaui]

Well I think with all the titles out there and its harder and harder to unify....I just think it takes longer for the bigger fights to happen.

Yeah but that has nothing to do with any of the number inputs does it? I mean do you think there are young guys who belong in the p4p top ten who can't get the right fights?

[El Kabong]

Well I think with all the titles out there and its harder and harder to unify....I just think it takes longer for the bigger fights to happen.

Yeah but that has nothing to do with any of the number inputs does it? I mean do you think there are young guys who belong in the p4p top ten who can't get the right fights?

Well protecting the 0 has become THE issue in boxing....nobody (with the exception of guys that have already lost) is willing to take a risk these days.

[marbleheadmaui]

Well I think with all the titles out there and its harder and harder to unify....I just think it takes longer for the bigger fights to happen.

Yeah but that has nothing to do with any of the number inputs does it? I mean do you think there are young guys who belong in the p4p top ten who can't get the right fights?

Well protecting the 0 has become THE issue in boxing....nobody (with the exception of guys that have already lost) is willing to take a risk these days.

TRUTH!

Makes for really mediocre fighters. I couldn't care less about unbeaten fighters. I care about great ones.

[Snakey]

Well I think with all the titles out there and its harder and harder to unify....I just think it takes longer for the bigger fights to happen.

Yeah but that has nothing to do with any of the number inputs does it? I mean do you think there are young guys who belong in the p4p top ten who can't get the right fights?

Well protecting the 0 has become THE issue in boxing....nobody (with the exception of guys that have already lost) is willing to take a risk these days.

TRUTH!

Makes for really mediocre fighters. I couldn't care less about unbeaten fighters. I care about great ones.

But dont you think we have kind of created this mindset. We are so critical these days when a fighter loses to someone that its gotta have an effect on the mindset of the fighter.

[marbleheadmaui]

Well I think with all the titles out there and its harder and harder to unify....I just think it takes longer for the bigger fights to happen.

Yeah but that has nothing to do with any of the number inputs does it? I mean do you think there are young guys who belong in the p4p top ten who can't get the right fights?

Well protecting the 0 has become THE issue in boxing....nobody (with the exception of guys that have already lost) is willing to take a risk these days.

TRUTH!

Makes for really mediocre fighters. I couldn't care less about unbeaten fighters. I care about great ones.

But dont you think we have kind of created this mindset. We are so critical these days when a fighter loses to someone that its gotta have an effect on the mindset of the fighter.

Do I think undereducated (defined as those who disagree with me in this matter)fans are at the core of boxing's issues? I do. Every time someone calls a strapholder a champion, a guy who loses "damaged goods" or argues an unbeaten record equals greatness an unscrupulous promoter calls up a sanctioning body head and crows "I told you these guys were that stupid! Now I gotta find an out of work 135 pound pipefitter to take on my latest 15-0 Cuban defector!"

I do think the tournaments at 168 and at 118 have stemmed the tide a little in that perhaps people now realize occasional losses to other top guys aren't all that meaningful.

[killersheep]

Well I think with all the titles out there and its harder and harder to unify....I just think it takes longer for the bigger fights to happen.

Yeah but that has nothing to do with any of the number inputs does it? I mean do you think there are young guys who belong in the p4p top ten who can't get the right fights?

Well protecting the 0 has become THE issue in boxing....nobody (with the exception of guys that have already lost) is willing to take a risk these days.

TRUTH!

Makes for really mediocre fighters. I couldn't care less about unbeaten fighters. I care about great ones.

But dont you think we have kind of created this mindset. We are so critical these days when a fighter loses to someone that its gotta have an effect on the mindset of the fighter.

Do I think undereducated (defined as those who disagree with me in this matter)fans are at the core of boxing's issues? I do. Every time someone calls a strapholder a champion, a guy who loses "damaged goods" or argues an unbeaten record equals greatness an unscrupulous promoter calls up a sanctioning body head and crows "I told you these guys were that stupid! Now I gotta find an out of work 135 pound pipefitter to take on my latest 15-0 Cuban defector!"

I do think the tournaments at 168 and at 118 have stemmed the tide a little in that perhaps people now realize occasional losses to other top guys aren't all that meaningful.

I would like to see tournaments at all weight classes, like the 118 one mind you a simple single elimination bracket with each sanctioning body having a representative. Of course the WBA would have to have some kind of tourney on their own. I think bringing the clarity back of having real champs would be a great first step into making the sport back into something the public can understand. Hell even my wife see's through the "but this is a championship fight" case I set forth "They are all title fights" she says, and I can't argue with that.

As too the aging thing, it just seems like it's kind of following the trendline. People that are older are doing more in general and maintaining a peak level longer. Although there is certainly some truth to a lack of dominant talent in the younger guys, a lot of that ties to two things IMO.

1. The amateur system has nothing to do with the pro system, in the old days if a fighter went the am route they could have hundreds of fights that emulated a pro fight, now with the point system a whole different emphasis that doesn't translate into the pros is used. Therefore, we have a system of protection in place that gives young fighters time to relearn their craft.

2. Fighters for the most part are just not as active, as you get into the elite of Cruisers and Heavies a lot of these guys will only fight once a year. IMO if a fighter is capable of it they should be in the ring at least once every 3 months.

[Snakey]

Well i think its coz fighters dont fight as frequently as they used to. They fight 2 or 3 times a yr and it takes time to build experience when your fighting that infrequently. By the time they are experienced enough to fight at the top level they are older.