Selling in boxing- do you think we need that era?

[ykdadamaja]

Hey guys,

I'm not sure if you know about "Pro Wrestling" terminologies, like "jobbers", "heels", "faces" or "kayfabe", etc, etc...?? But, what do you guys feel about "selling" punches in boxing?

A "sell" is when a guy throws a punch, does a manouvre, and the guy who the punch or manouvre is being used on over-reacts to the contact. Sorta like flopping in basketball, without the fouls, etc...

Now, I know, I know, boxing is death serious. But, hear me out here!! Ask yourself: WHY did we "really" like Arturo Gatti? Deigo Corales, and his match vs. Castillo? Why did we REALLY like Rocky movies?

You know why we liked those movies and the characters, and the boxing stars I just mentioned? Because they gave us the DRAMATIC comeback. A dramatic comeback like when Diego Corales was getting pounded by Castillo for most of the fight, and suddenly turned around and scored a spectacular, come from behind KO on Castillo? (which, in hindsight, makes me a little upset at when they stopped his fight against Money Mayweather. Perhaps he was selling it a bit?!?! ... I digress!)


But, why did we REALLY like Gatti? Because Gatti had, not only KO power, but he got battered and bruised and cut in the ring, only to turn it around and then come back in SPECTACULAR fashion and grit out the second half of the fight on route to a KO win for him or a decision victory. He gave us excitement, drama, something to see unferl. Something we can root and cheer for!!

I need not say anything about Rocky vs. Drago in Rocky 4 (for the sods that don't know their Roman Numerals), the most profitable Rocky movie ever produced. but the drama, Rocky getting pummeled, Apollo Creed (his best friend) getting killed in the ring by Drago and all of the HYPE surrounding the comeback kid, Rocky Balboa, vs. the mean, tough, nasty, hard hitting Ivan Drago from the HATED USSR. (a little political and social backdrop made it all the more special)

But, with the Rocky film-fights and the "real fights" I just mentioned, one thing was certain to bring people to the gate and PPV- THE SELLING OF THE DRAMA IN-FIGHT.

Maybe today's fighters SHOULD take a page out of Pro Wrasslin's book- SELL a little bit of the punches and the drama.

Be like Mayweather for a time- BE A HEEL (no doubt, more people probably buy PPV's for Mayweather to be knocked out unconscious, than it is to see him and his mastery of the squared circle.).

Or, be like Gatti to some extent and take a "cut"... or how wrasslin' does it, "blade" yourself. "Blading" being the intentional cutting of ones-self to draw blood and make the fighting look more realistic. This one may be a stretch to an extent, and a bit dangerous as well as not necessary seeing that guys can get cut anyways... but fans like to see a guy fight out on sheer guts and instinct when he is cut and blinded by blood out of one of his eyes!! Sad, but true!

So, what do you guys think? Should legitimate professional boxers, find it within their circles, to "sell" some of those pitty-patter punches? It would help BOTH the guy "selling" and the guy throwing the punch.

Can you imagine if Ike Ibeabuchi had "sold" some of Chris Byrd's feather dusters, and then come back for a spectacular KO like he did in their match? Do you know what that would have done for Byrd's career and pocketbook? Would have definitely got him a few extra dollars to see the "hard hitting Chris Byrd... hehehehhehe... (I can only laugh as I type that!!)

What do you think?