What is Wrong with the Heavyweight Boxing Division Today ? I found this interesting interview of former European World Champion Joe Bugner and Peter Maniatis, and Joe hits the nail right on the Head when it comes to what is wrong the with Division Today. It LACKS NO CHARACTERS, that have actually stepped up and carved out a growing promising career and have anything to catch the publics interest. Look at the division back in Joe Bugners career in the division. He went the full distance with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and took on all of the whos who in Boxing in those days, and there was charisma, excitement, Heavyweights who more or less cross fought most of the other top notch contenders in there dominant era, and made it interesting within the division. It seems like ever since Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield aged there way out of Boxing, nobody outside of the Klitschkos have shown us anything that really simulates ones interest in the division. The big Bangers Foreman, Shavers, Lyle, Cleveland Williams, Liston. The rugged almost invincible durable machines like George Chuvalo, Oscar Bonavena, Jerry Quarry, Joe Bugner or a Chuck Wepner. The guys who showed so many different looks and defenses like a Kenny Norton who mastered Archie Moores Criss Cross arm defense. Your totally pure breed Boxers like the Greatest, and Larry Holmes, and only a guy who coined the phrase only Bowe knows Mr. Riddick Bowe. Joe Bugners right were are they ? It seems like every time you looked around another guy was on his way up who captured your interest and made it exciting to keep our eyes glued to there progress. Is it because the coverage of the division is not there, I dont think so for a minute. I think the problem is that we have so many social media venues on Boxing, so many media stars and groups, that if you just listen to the interviews that I hear over and over from just the Social side alone, The interviewers talk, talk, talk, and never Let the FIGHTERS get in a word edgewise at times. I just listened to a video clip of Sugar Ray Leonard in a telephone interview and my God the whole interview I never heard Ray barely able to answer the questions that were asked of him. Everybody is a now self proclaimed BOXING EXPERT everywhere I TURN. Its become a fashion show, a more self centered Boxing World where the Boxing interviewers and personalities talk all about themselves and not the fighters. What Happened to the DAYS of a good old HOWARD COSELL who asked MUHAMMAD ALI a question and let him become the FOCAL point and build his character in the SPORT. What happened to the Al BERNSTEIN days where Al would cover the Tuesday night fights and LISTEN to the fighters when interviewed ? Hey I wasnt the greatest fan of Larry Merchants sometimes, but hell I miss him. He put his opinion and twist on the fight he covered then actually LISTENED and let the FIGHTERS, build there character into the coverage. I would like to ask you ? do you feel we have to many Boxing coverage experts that focus more on themselves than doing what the GREATS of old did ? Talk less about what you think and report what is in front of you. Did you ever think that we spend more time talking about our knowledge and accolades then helping build the fighters into LEGENDS. Maybe our coverage and promotion of the division in how its being covered is contributing to its lack of interest. Hell the STARS of BOXING have shifted from the BOXERS to those who report about them, share your thoughts.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 01:43:40 +0000
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