Boxing?

[Little6pack]

Is it me or does boxing seem to have faded away from the lime light?
In new england there are probably only a handful of boxing gyms left. How about your area?

Did IRON Mike ruin the sport? or did pay per view?

I remember in the 70's watching wide world of sport repeats
of the Ali/Frasier fights.
Then in the 80's watching Duran, Hagler, Sugar R, and others.

 

[Hognose]

I would have to disagree with you. Boxing is still a major event. All the top fighters are either on HBO or Showtime. They pretty much runn the major events.
One of the reasons it is not as much in the limelight is because there is not a Heavyweight "Superstar" right now. Three different Heavyweight champs, no unified title, and all of them have atleast one loss on their record.
Boxing is still in full force, there is more money in it than ever before.

As far as boxing gyms, peolpe into fighting and training have ebbed towards full contact fighting. Multiple styles.

I am a huge boxing fan. Tonight Artuto Gatti is fighting. He is my favorite fighter. Should be a good fight!!!

Just my opinions.

Matthew

 

[2QUIK6]

I got tired of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th rematch of the same folks, Holyfeld, Tyson, Foreman, Lewis, and a couple of others..just lost interest. Needs some new and respectable blood in the heavyweight division at least.

 

[Hognose]

There are two extremely talented talented heavyweight champs. One, Roy Jones Jr. Pound for Pound the best fighter in the world.
Two, Chris Byrd. Lewis won't fight either of these guys to unify the belts because there is too much risk and not enough reward.

The past couple of years Holyfield has been kept in there just for his name. He has been shot for years. In the heavyweight division there are a couple of notable fighters but no super-stars except for Jones.

Actually I like the lighter guys anyway. Fights are much better over the past couple of years because they are more evenly matched. It was fun watching Tyson knock evryone out in the first round, but for an actual boxing fan the competetive fights are much more fun to watch.

In any case Arturo Gatti just won the Super-Lightwelt Belt!!!!!

Matthew

 

[TurboTer]

Originally posted by littlesixsteve
Is it me or does boxing seem to have faded away from the lime light?
In new england there are probably only a handful of boxing gyms left. How about your area?

Did IRON Mike ruin the sport? or did pay per view?

I remember in the 70's watching wide world of sport repeats
of the Ali/Frasier fights.
Then in the 80's watching Duran, Hagler, Sugar R, and others.

Mike Tyson was the best thing about boxing. Everyone knew when his fights were on, and even non-boxing fans watched him fight. Now that no one truely dominates, boxing is boring. The Tyson of 1988 would make short work of ANYONE out there now. Lennox Lewis would get rocked in three rounds.

 

[TurboTer]

Originally posted by Hognose
There are two extremely talented talented heavyweight champs. One, Roy Jones Jr. Pound for Pound the best fighter in the world.
Two, Chris Byrd. Lewis won't fight either of these guys to unify the belts because there is too much risk and not enough reward.

The past couple of years Holyfield has been kept in there just for his name. He has been shot for years. In the heavyweight division there are a couple of notable fighters but no super-stars except for Jones.

Actually I like the lighter guys anyway. Fights are much better over the past couple of years because they are more evenly matched. It was fun watching Tyson knock evryone out in the first round, but for an actual boxing fan the competetive fights are much more fun to watch.

In any case Arturo Gatti just won the Super-Lightwelt Belt!!!!!

Matthew

Let's not forget the 6'8 Ukranian Vitali Klitschko. He will get his revenge again Lennox Lewis. He looked outstanding in his round two KO December knockout of Kirk Johnson.

 

[Hognose]

To me a 12 round full out "slug -fest" is much more intense to watch than a first round knock-out. Although I do enjoy a good knock-out, I do want to see a fight.

As far as the Klitschko brothers are concerned, they are not bad.But, they are not great Heavyweights. They have a lot of flwas. Styles make fights. Their style is very open to someone who comes in and start chargeing in at them. Example, Corey Sanders knocked one out in the second round. If you stand in front of them they will level you. Chris Byrd beat one of them and lost a split desicion to the other. Neither of them will fight him again.

Matthew

 

[slimm]

Matt, in my opinion, R Jones Jr. is no heavyweight. Too many scandals in boxing, too much "influence" No doubt it is a sport I love dearly, but it has many problems.

 

[Hognose]

Originally posted by slimm
Matt, in my opinion, R Jones Jr. is no heavyweight. Too many scandals in boxing, too much "influence" No doubt it is a sport I love dearly, but it has many problems.

I agree that boxing does have many "issues". But as far as Jones not being a Heavyweight? He holds a major belt that he won from a Heavyweight champ. Granted, as far as his actual weight is concerned, no he is not really there. Yet in todays Heavyweight contenders, there really isn't many people that could beat him. Even the other two champs. Byrd, although it would be a great fight, Jones is just too quick for him. And Lewis won't even talk about fighting Jones. If they did fight it would be a boring fight to watch because it would be Jones scoring points with the jab. And Lewis trying to chase him down. Although if Lewis caught him square it would be all over.


I do love the sport and enjoy talking about it. No one at I work with is into it.

Matthew

 

[cool 84]

While I like boxing, I think UFC is the future. Mixed martial arts along with boxing and wrestling all combined into one sport is pretty exciting to watch. It's come a long way in the past few years and now that everyone knows what works, there are real weight classes, the fights are stopped much sooner, and the rules are standardized, it's catching on fast. I was very surprised last time out with former (and future) light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, we couldn't walk more than half a block without being stopped for pictures or autographs. I personally didn't think he was that well known. We're going to Vegas on the 31st to watch Randy Coutre's fight, I'll probably be with Tito, maybe I'll wear a TB shirt for the camera lol.

Put any heavyweight boxer in with a UFC fighter and it won't go more than 20 seconds. Tyson was finally convinced to sign for UFC, anyone want to make a bet that he doesn't get knocked or choked out in the first round?

Maybe I just like it because I'm getting older (27) and the average age is much older in UFC. Randy is the current champ, and is around 41, I believe.

 

[TurboTer]

Originally posted by cool 84
While I like boxing, I think UFC is the future. Mixed martial arts along with boxing and wrestling all combined into one sport is pretty exciting to watch. It's come a long way in the past few years and now that everyone knows what works, there are real weight classes, the fights are stopped much sooner, and the rules are standardized, it's catching on fast. I was very surprised last time out with former (and future) light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, we couldn't walk more than half a block without being stopped for pictures or autographs. I personally didn't think he was that well known. We're going to Vegas on the 31st to watch Randy Coutre's fight, I'll probably be with Tito, maybe I'll wear a TB shirt for the camera lol.

Put any heavyweight boxer in with a UFC fighter and it won't go more than 20 seconds. Tyson was finally convinced to sign for UFC, anyone want to make a bet that he doesn't get knocked or choked out in the first round?

Maybe I just like it because I'm getting older (27) and the average age is much older in UFC. Randy is the current champ, and is around 41, I believe.

A boxer won't last against the best of the best martial artists like those guys in the UFC, but top five heavyweights are no joke either. I'm sure Mike Tyson can easily take on four or five average men in a street fight without too much of a problem.

BTW, when does Tyson go to the UFC?

 

[TurboTer]

Originally posted by Hognose
As far as the Klitschko brothers are concerned, they are not bad.But, they are not great Heavyweights. They have a lot of flwas. Styles make fights. Their style is very open to someone who comes in and start chargeing in at them. Example, Corey Sanders knocked one out in the second round. If you stand in front of them they will level you. Chris Byrd beat one of them and lost a split desicion to the other. Neither of them will fight him again.

Matthew

You're totally wrong about the Klitschko brothers, at least Vitali. He most certain will fight again. He was beating Lewis in their early last Summer fight, but had to stop because of a massive cut over his eye. Did you even see his round two KO December knockout of Kirk Johnson? He looked outstanding, and wants another title shot at Lewis. The way things are going, he'll get one soon.

 

[cool 84]

Not sure when Tyson is going to fight. I'm not even sure who he's going up against or if they've decided yet. Tito was saying he signed but that's about as far as it's gone. I haven't heard or seen anything about it anywhere but I know Tito had a hand in getting him to sign so it will happen sooner or later.

No doubt the top boxers are not to be taken lightly and in a streetfight anyone with just a little experience would destroy an average person or two. But a boxer against a UFC fighter is almost a handicap. Boxers have a hard time getting used to using anything but punches. A good friend of mine who is making his first appearance in UFC this year trains with boxers for his boxing skills and they beat him everytime in boxing but the few times they've done a fight UFC style it lasts seconds, ending in an armbar or ankle lock usually. I hate training with him because I'm in good shape 6'0", weigh 215lbs to his 5'10" 175lbs, and if I'm lucky I can go a minute before losing. It doesn't bother me but it's embarassing when there are girls watching that don't understand fighting. It does tend to keep me humble I guess.

 

[TurboTer]

If you can last one minute with a UFC member then you are probably the best fighterr on this board. I trianed in martial arts for eight years, and I know I wouldn't last more than 20 seconds. Then again, I'm only 5'10 and 155. Way too much of a lightweight.

It would be interesting to know how Bruce Lee would have did against these guys. Even in his prime, he was only 140 pounds. Could he have taken out these guys? Obviously he was a vastly superior martial artist than anyone there, but these guys rely heavily on weight and strength.

 

[slimm]

MMA: too much being in the guard position, and not enough boxing. I pray to god it never takes over boxing. Talented yes, but not entertaining to me.

 

[Hognose]

First of all... I know Klitschko will fight again. It is up to Lewis if he actually will fight again. As far as his two round knock out of Johnson. Big deal. Johnson hasn't beat anybody really. Granted Klitschko looked good, but Johnson looked extremely bad.
You take, Holyfield, Tyson, Mercer, Bowe, heck even Tommy Morrison, in their prime these Klitschko brothers wouldn't hold up well at all. They are getting better, but they have many flaws that people are starting to capitalize on. They have both lost to marginal fighters. Corey Sanders is only a part time boxer! They are at the top of the Heavyweight division right now, but that is because the heavyweight division does not have many good prospects.

Second, as far as a Boxer not doing well in UFC? What top profesional Boxers have entered in UFC? None that I can think of. Except, A forty something formewr cruiser weight champ went into one tournament and lost in the finals to Renzo Gracie. He kayoed a few guys pretty easily. It wasn't UFC but something similar.
As far as Tyson is concerned. I will take the bets that none of those guys could handle a semi-padded glove hit from Tyson. He will break anything he hits. Mixed marshall arts guys cannot punch as well as a profesional boxer. Stands to reason that a Boxer cannot ground fight as well as a mixed Marshall artist.
Are we forgetting Tank Abbot who knocked out many people even though he had basically no skill. We are talking about the hardest hitting fighter in history basically! Most of those guys cannot handle hits from a guy that has trained exclusively to hit. Kickboxers do very well in MMA. Watch these MMA guys hit they thow wild haymakers, terrible technique as far as power.

Anyway UFC has gone to commercial anyway. PRIDE Fighting is much better. IMO

Thanks
Matthew

 

[cool 84]

A boxer has better hands than the UFC guys no doubt. I wouldn't argue that and I doubt you would find any UFC guys that would either. All I'm saying is a boxer vs UFC champ in a UFC fight wouldn't be a fight at all. And I'm sure if you put a UFC fighter in a boxing ring they wouldn't last that long either.

If you think they can't box, you probably haven't watched too much in the past few years. In the beginning it looked a lot like a bar room fight. Now, most all of the top guys train with boxers and kickboxers, along with several different martial arts.

Tank is from the early days, he is a nobody now. I wouldn't call him unskilled by any means but definately not up to par with the new generation of fighters.

It will be interesting to see Tyson hit some of these guys with basically no gloves on. I definately won't miss that one. Should be interesting to say the least.

 

[cool 84]

Originally posted by TurboTer
If you can last one minute with a UFC member then you are probably the best fighterr on this board. I trianed in martial arts for eight years, and I know I wouldn't last more than 20 seconds. Then again, I'm only 5'10 and 155. Way too much of a lightweight.

It would be interesting to know how Bruce Lee would have did against these guys. Even in his prime, he was only 140 pounds. Could he have taken out these guys? Obviously he was a vastly superior martial artist than anyone there, but these guys rely heavily on weight and strength.

I'm not a good fighter, the only way I can last a minute is to keep it off the ground which rarely happens. You would think with a solid 30lb weight advantage I would have more of an advantage on the ground but nope, I get pinned, choked, kneed, and basically get my a$$ kicked like it is nothing.

 

[Pitbozz]

Just my opinion....Bruce Lee was the best martial artist in the world. He had amazing speed. But I think if he entered UFC, he would probably be able to KO a few of them, but he eventually would get grabbed and taken out quickly. I don't think he could last on the ground against them for more than a minute. BUT...they would have to catch him first.

 

[bishir]

No one mentioned Butterbean?