The Recent Demise of American Boxing

[El Kabong]

#1 These things are cyclical but due to there being no more USSR that deepens the talent pool. There are also more defectors from Cuba. The US has not been challenged to produce true great boxers for a while, it was a given we'd have them and look how our Olympic team has suffered. Never to fear, we'll be back, like I said its cyclical.

#2 The NBA and MLB have WORLD Champions because the best players in the world play in those leagues....anybody doubt that?

[Mars_ax]

#1 These things are cyclical but due to there being no more USSR that deepens the talent pool. There are also more defectors from Cuba. The US has not been challenged to produce true great boxers for a while, it was a given we'd have them and look how our Olympic team has suffered. Never to fear, we'll be back, like I said its cyclical.

#2 The NBA and MLB have WORLD Champions because the best players in the world play in those leagues....anybody doubt that?

No, but that's about like saying the UK has the World's best Cricket players or Australia has the best Australian rules Football players.

The fact is the rest of the world caught up to the U.S. in boxing, America may develop some great new boxing talent in the future, but they will never dominate like they once did.

[Fenster]

#1 These things are cyclical but due to there being no more USSR that deepens the talent pool. There are also more defectors from Cuba. The US has not been challenged to produce true great boxers for a while, it was a given we'd have them and look how our Olympic team has suffered. Never to fear, we'll be back, like I said its cyclical.

#2 The NBA and MLB have WORLD Champions because the best players in the world play in those leagues....anybody doubt that?

Outside of America no-one gives a shit about those sports. You can't compare a predominant American sport with one like football (soccer). Everywhere on the planet it is played and worshipped in astronomical numbers, by all walks of life.

Is being the worlds best baseball team any better than being the worlds best sumo?

[15rounder]

#1 These things are cyclical but due to there being no more USSR that deepens the talent pool. There are also more defectors from Cuba. The US has not been challenged to produce true great boxers for a while, it was a given we'd have them and look how our Olympic team has suffered. Never to fear, we'll be back, like I said its cyclical.

#2 The NBA and MLB have WORLD Champions because the best players in the world play in those leagues....anybody doubt that?

Outside of America no-one gives a shit about those sports. You can't compare a predominant American sport with one like football (soccer). Everywhere on the planet it is played and worshipped in astronomical numbers, by all walks of life.

Is being the worlds best baseball team any better than being the worlds best sumo?

Well since America is the center of the sports world, I'd say they're a big deal. The only reason soccer is so popular is because it's cheap to play. It's poplular in all countries that haven't figured out how to build a basketball goal or a two story building yet. And just because soccer is the most played, doesn't mean its the most entertaining. It's like watching cross country in a box. I mean come on...a sport where 2-1 is a high scoring game? Wake me up when its over. All other nations are scared shitless of feilding a football team because of the chance they might have to play the americans.

[killersheep]

#1 These things are cyclical but due to there being no more USSR that deepens the talent pool. There are also more defectors from Cuba. The US has not been challenged to produce true great boxers for a while, it was a given we'd have them and look how our Olympic team has suffered. Never to fear, we'll be back, like I said its cyclical.

#2 The NBA and MLB have WORLD Champions because the best players in the world play in those leagues....anybody doubt that?

Outside of America no-one gives a shit about those sports. You can't compare a predominant American sport with one like football (soccer). Everywhere on the planet it is played and worshipped in astronomical numbers, by all walks of life.

Is being the worlds best baseball team any better than being the worlds best sumo?

Well since America is the center of the sports world, I'd say they're a big deal. The only reason soccer is so popular is because it's cheap to play. It's poplular in all countries that haven't figured out how to build a basketball goal or a two story building yet. And just because soccer is the most played, doesn't mean its the most entertaining. It's like watching cross country in a box. I mean come on...a sport where 2-1 is a high scoring game? Wake me up when its over. All other nations are scared shitless of feilding a football team because of the chance they might have to play the americans.

Now you're just being silly, soccer draws in far more money world wide than any other sport, it's not even close. And the NFL tried a Euro league, how did that pan out? 1-2 seasons maybe?

[generalbulldog]

#1 These things are cyclical but due to there being no more USSR that deepens the talent pool. There are also more defectors from Cuba. The US has not been challenged to produce true great boxers for a while, it was a given we'd have them and look how our Olympic team has suffered. Never to fear, we'll be back, like I said its cyclical.

#2 The NBA and MLB have WORLD Champions because the best players in the world play in those leagues....anybody doubt that?

Outside of America no-one gives a shit about those sports. You can't compare a predominant American sport with one like football (soccer). Everywhere on the planet it is played and worshipped in astronomical numbers, by all walks of life.

Is being the worlds best baseball team any better than being the worlds best sumo?

Well since America is the center of the sports world, I'd say they're a big deal. The only reason soccer is so popular is because it's cheap to play. It's poplular in all countries that haven't figured out how to build a basketball goal or a two story building yet. And just because soccer is the most played, doesn't mean its the most entertaining. It's like watching cross country in a box. I mean come on...a sport where 2-1 is a high scoring game? Wake me up when its over. All other nations are scared shitless of feilding a football team because of the chance they might have to play the americans.

Now you're just being silly, soccer draws in far more money world wide than any other sport, it's not even close. And the NFL tried a Euro league, how did that pan out? 1-2 seasons maybe?

The NFL is the no. 1 sports league in generating revenue. Not bad for a sport that only Americans watch.

9 Billion USD for the NFL. For a soccer league like the EPL it's only £2.5 billion, the most profitable of all the soccer leagues. You're right it's not even close.

And for people shitting on basketball and baseball. Those are probably the no. 2 and 3 sports in the world in being watched. Europe might not like those sports that doesn't mean Asia and Latin America doesn't.

[amat]

#1 These things are cyclical but due to there being no more USSR that deepens the talent pool. There are also more defectors from Cuba. The US has not been challenged to produce true great boxers for a while, it was a given we'd have them and look how our Olympic team has suffered. Never to fear, we'll be back, like I said its cyclical.

#2 The NBA and MLB have WORLD Champions because the best players in the world play in those leagues....anybody doubt that?

Outside of America no-one gives a shit about those sports. You can't compare a predominant American sport with one like football (soccer). Everywhere on the planet it is played and worshipped in astronomical numbers, by all walks of life.

Is being the worlds best baseball team any better than being the worlds best sumo?

That's actually incredibly ignorant, South America is baseball crazy and I doubt there is a single roster in the MLB that doesn't have at least 5 dudes who's first language is Spanish. Asia has also taken to baseball, so it's basically just Europe and Africa that hasn't.

The Giants last year won the World Series with Pablo Sandoval, Juan Uribe, Edgar Renteria, Guillermo Mota, Santiago Cassilla, Jonathan Sanchez (Puerto Rican but still spanish is first language) and Denny Bautista. That's 7 of 25 men not from America. And other teams have much more.

So yes, it is a "World Series" because not a soul would argue that any other baseball team outside of America would beat the Giants in a 7 game series. No German team would beat the Mavs because the best German is on the Mavs. When the best players come over, because the 50 best baseball players play in America no doubt. Well maybe Cuba has a few of those guys but you know the deal there. Just like the best Sumo are in Japan but that sport doesn't have anything close to the influence of baseball or basketball.

[Fenster]

#1 These things are cyclical but due to there being no more USSR that deepens the talent pool. There are also more defectors from Cuba. The US has not been challenged to produce true great boxers for a while, it was a given we'd have them and look how our Olympic team has suffered. Never to fear, we'll be back, like I said its cyclical.

#2 The NBA and MLB have WORLD Champions because the best players in the world play in those leagues....anybody doubt that?

Outside of America no-one gives a shit about those sports. You can't compare a predominant American sport with one like football (soccer). Everywhere on the planet it is played and worshipped in astronomical numbers, by all walks of life.

Is being the worlds best baseball team any better than being the worlds best sumo?

That's actually incredibly ignorant, South America is baseball crazy and I doubt there is a single roster in the MLB that doesn't have at least 5 dudes who's first language is Spanish. Asia has also taken to baseball, so it's basically just Europe and Africa that hasn't.

The Giants last year won the World Series with Pablo Sandoval, Juan Uribe, Edgar Renteria, Guillermo Mota, Santiago Cassilla, Jonathan Sanchez (Puerto Rican but still spanish is first language) and Denny Bautista. That's 7 of 25 men not from America. And other teams have much more.

So yes, it is a "World Series" because not a soul would argue that any other baseball team outside of America would beat the Giants in a 7 game series. No German team would beat the Mavs because the best German is on the Mavs. When the best players come over, because the 50 best baseball players play in America no doubt. Well maybe Cuba has a few of those guys but you know the deal there. Just like the best Sumo are in Japan but that sport doesn't have anything close to the influence of baseball or basketball.

Thanks for that amat. So the Giants are the world champs? But tell me...

Where was the last baseball world cup held?

and

What countries did the Giants beat?

[Nameless]

#1 These things are cyclical but due to there being no more USSR that deepens the talent pool. There are also more defectors from Cuba. The US has not been challenged to produce true great boxers for a while, it was a given we'd have them and look how our Olympic team has suffered. Never to fear, we'll be back, like I said its cyclical.

#2 The NBA and MLB have WORLD Champions because the best players in the world play in those leagues....anybody doubt that?

Outside of America no-one gives a shit about those sports. You can't compare a predominant American sport with one like football (soccer). Everywhere on the planet it is played and worshipped in astronomical numbers, by all walks of life.

Is being the worlds best baseball team any better than being the worlds best sumo?

That's actually incredibly ignorant, South America is baseball crazy and I doubt there is a single roster in the MLB that doesn't have at least 5 dudes who's first language is Spanish. Asia has also taken to baseball, so it's basically just Europe and Africa that hasn't.

The Giants last year won the World Series with Pablo Sandoval, Juan Uribe, Edgar Renteria, Guillermo Mota, Santiago Cassilla, Jonathan Sanchez (Puerto Rican but still spanish is first language) and Denny Bautista. That's 7 of 25 men not from America. And other teams have much more.

So yes, it is a "World Series" because not a soul would argue that any other baseball team outside of America would beat the Giants in a 7 game series. No German team would beat the Mavs because the best German is on the Mavs. When the best players come over, because the 50 best baseball players play in America no doubt. Well maybe Cuba has a few of those guys but you know the deal there. Just like the best Sumo are in Japan but that sport doesn't have anything close to the influence of baseball or basketball.

The only 2 spanish speakingcountries where baseball is really crazy popular are Domminican Republics, Cuba and Puerto Rico and none of them are in South America (rather in the Carribeans), which is not exactly he same thing. Spanish speaking player absolutely doesn't mean south america, you have tons of spanish speaking players in US and the others are from the Carribean countries I just mentioned. Baseball is played a bit in S.A but it is terribly, terribly marginal compared to football/soccer over there.

[amat]

#1 These things are cyclical but due to there being no more USSR that deepens the talent pool. There are also more defectors from Cuba. The US has not been challenged to produce true great boxers for a while, it was a given we'd have them and look how our Olympic team has suffered. Never to fear, we'll be back, like I said its cyclical.

#2 The NBA and MLB have WORLD Champions because the best players in the world play in those leagues....anybody doubt that?

Outside of America no-one gives a shit about those sports. You can't compare a predominant American sport with one like football (soccer). Everywhere on the planet it is played and worshipped in astronomical numbers, by all walks of life.

Is being the worlds best baseball team any better than being the worlds best sumo?

That's actually incredibly ignorant, South America is baseball crazy and I doubt there is a single roster in the MLB that doesn't have at least 5 dudes who's first language is Spanish. Asia has also taken to baseball, so it's basically just Europe and Africa that hasn't.

The Giants last year won the World Series with Pablo Sandoval, Juan Uribe, Edgar Renteria, Guillermo Mota, Santiago Cassilla, Jonathan Sanchez (Puerto Rican but still spanish is first language) and Denny Bautista. That's 7 of 25 men not from America. And other teams have much more.

So yes, it is a "World Series" because not a soul would argue that any other baseball team outside of America would beat the Giants in a 7 game series. No German team would beat the Mavs because the best German is on the Mavs. When the best players come over, because the 50 best baseball players play in America no doubt. Well maybe Cuba has a few of those guys but you know the deal there. Just like the best Sumo are in Japan but that sport doesn't have anything close to the influence of baseball or basketball.

The only 2 spanish speakingcountries where baseball is really crazy popular are Domminican Republics, Cuba and Puerto Rico and none of them are in South America (rather in the Carribeans), which is not exactly he same thing. Spanish speaking player absolutely doesn't mean south america, you have tons of spanish speaking players in US and the others are from the Carribean countries I just mentioned. Baseball is played a bit in S.A but it is terribly, terribly marginal compared to football/soccer over there.

I should have said latin America but either way you forgot Venezuela and baseball also extends into Colombia.

Also, Japan has won the last 2 baseball 'world cups' or World Baseball Classics and their best players play, well yeah in America. Which is why the MLB can make the claim that it has a 'World Series'

[El Kabong]

That's different I mean on one hand people actually represent their country in World Cups on the other hand in Club competition there are sides that are better....the US has the best basketball and baseball clubs FACT....the players come from all over to play there.

I'd consider Barcelona to be World Champions of soccer just like I'd consider the Green Bay Packers to be World Champions of football.....who would beat them

[rjj tszyu]

I actually hope your right Lyle. I hope American boxing reaches great heights again.

I am first and foremost a boxing fan and when Americans are great boxing is great. Barring Floyd though right now I don't think I could call anyone from the U.S. great. Hopefully the Olympics next year will bring a few very good fighters through at least!

[marbleheadmaui]

I think there is no question that both American boxing and boxing around the world are on the decline.

In the US we have fewer fighters, fewer boxing shows, fewer gyms, fewer good teachers etc than we've had in at least 60 and probably more like 90 years. Why has this come to pass? Four big reasons (and a bunch of little ones).
1. Cultural-There is no other way to look at it, the US has become wussified. The entire culture is becoming feminized in terms of how boys are raised. Fighting is really frowned upon.
2. Economic-Fighters often come from places where people worry about their next meal. That stopped happening here a generation ago.
3. Competition-Up until 50 years ago talented athletes had two ways to make big money. Boxing and baseball. So those sports got the cream of the athletic crop. Now? one caqn make a good living playing soccer, football, baseball, golf, tennis, swimming, weightlifitng and on and on.
4. Corruption-The increase in the number of divisions and belts and therefore the ability of fighters to avoid other top fighters and still call themselves a "champion" has not been lost on fans.

Around the world, with the exception of the old Warsaw Pact Nations and Argentina? The sport is in similar decline. Argentina is about where it has been for 50 years, the Warsaw Pact Nations have come from nowhere to somewhere rapidly.

[armyash]

I think there is no question that both American boxing and boxing around the world are on the decline.

In the US we have fewer fighters, fewer boxing shows, fewer gyms, fewer good teachers etc than we've had in at least 60 and probably more like 90 years. Why has this come to pass? Four big reasons (and a bunch of little ones).
1. Cultural-There is no other way to look at it, the US has become wussified. The entire culture is becoming feminized in terms of how boys are raised. Fighting is really frowned upon.
2. Economic-Fighters often come from places where people worry about their next meal. That stopped happening here a generation ago.
3. Competition-Up until 50 years ago talented athletes had two ways to make big money. Boxing and baseball. So those sports got the cream of the athletic crop. Now? one caqn make a good living playing soccer, football, baseball, golf, tennis, swimming, weightlifitng and on and on.
4. Corruption-The increase in the number of divisions and belts and therefore the ability of fighters to avoid other top fighters and still call themselves a "champion" has not been lost on fans.

Around the world, with the exception of the old Warsaw Pact Nations and Argentina? The sport is in similar decline. Argentina is about where it has been for 50 years, the Warsaw Pact Nations have come from nowhere to somewhere rapidly.

Same in the Uk. Of course it's not everywhere over here and tough areas will always exist. But in general blokes are definitely a lot more feminine, worrying how they look, getting their hair right, posing in bars. Too many people are worried about how they look in other peoples eyes more than they are worried about having a good time. Also health and safety rules everywhere it's ridiculous. Fighting is frowned upon not even just by the authorities but in society everywhere everyone is becoming soft.

[Rantcatrat]

Killer, I agree to an extent, but to be a professional baseball, football, hockey, or basketball player, at this point in time, you really have to be 6'0ish 180ish and above. There just aren't many smaller athletes in those sports. However, boxing gives great athletes aren't quite as tall a forum, yet, there aren't very many amazing boxers out there from the US at the lower weights either. I get it that there are easier ways to make money and maybe that's your point, but are there really other sports for shorter athletes?