All Opinions, Fact Or Fictional Welcome

Malcom987 · 06-08-2008, 02:51 PM

Gradually reintroducing my wife to boxing (she fell in love with Hagler and never could deal with his loss to Leonard)

We watch some of the old fights on ESPN classic...and she asked me "Why dont they have the current or former champions come into the ring for an introduction any more?"

My wild guess answer was probabally due to the Alphabet titles and the competition between the big time promoters.

Her reply really took me back. she said: " I would think it is the inability of todays athletes to act civilaly in public."

Anyone know why this great prefight experience ended.

mh2365 · 06-08-2008, 04:47 PM

When I went to the shobox event at Bel Terra last year, Cory Spinks was there and was introduced in the ring prior to the main event.

IceTea · 06-08-2008, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

When I went to the shobox event at Bel Terra last year, Cory Spinks was there and was introduced in the ring prior to the main event.

I was holding the handpads for Steve Cunningham on Friday and Corey Spinks jumped into the ring and took over for a round. He is pretty much there every year.

You don't see current champs introduced into the ring on TV fights, but it happens a lot during bouts...just doesn't make it to TV all the time.

mh2365 · 06-08-2008, 07:03 PM

Does Cunningham have a fight coming up?

IceTea · 06-08-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

Does Cunningham have a fight coming up?

Dunno. He was just there for a dinner. They had him Chazz Witherspoon, Nate Campbell, Christy Martin, and a few others put on workouts. He didn't bring a trainer so I filled in with the pads for a couple rounds. He is pretty fast for someone who weights around 200.

a87star · 06-09-2008, 11:44 AM

Cunningham will defend his IBF CW title against Adamek in Poland. Late summer/early fall seems likely.

Give "USS" credit.........he never runs from a fight and will go anywhere to defend his title.

mh2365 · 06-09-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a87star

Cunningham will defend his IBF CW title against Adamek in Poland. Late summer/early fall seems likely.

Give "USS" credit.........he never runs from a fight and will go anywhere to defend his title.

That will be a better fight than Adamak/Bell was ... I noticed Adamak is fighting on ESPN soon too.

a87star · 06-09-2008, 11:56 AM

Adamek is fighting a tune up on ESPN to keep busy. Adamek/Cunningham should be exciting and definitely a fight worth watching. I could see either guy winning a close decision.

bigMatt · 06-09-2008, 05:40 PM

I don't think there is nearly the appreciation for the history of the sport as there used to be.

Whether due to alphabet titles, ignorant promoters, a general decline in the interest of boxing as a sport, or lack of interest/knowledge of the sport's history among the fans is anyone's guess. My assumption is that it's some combination of the above.

mh2365 · 06-09-2008, 06:10 PM

Don't forget the "me, me, me" attitude of today's athletes ....

bigMatt · 06-09-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

Don't forget the "me, me, me" attitude of today's athletes ....

and that - probably most of all!

mh2365 · 06-09-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigMatt

and that - probably most of all!

And it's in all sports ... Kobe Bryant probably thinks Wilt Chamberlain is the girl he raped a couple of nights ago ....

Antonin · 06-09-2008, 07:12 PM

The sport's great history--filled with colorful characters, drama, tradition, triumph and tragedy--is one of the things that draws me to it. It is an area in which boxing has a definite edge against MMA-type sports.

The powers-that-be in boxing should use that incredibly rich history to market the sport.

When I buy boxing magazines the articles I read first are the profiles of past fighters and past eras. A recent issue of Ring magazine had a feature on the great and not-so-great eras of each weight class. I devoured every word.

Many people today, when they think of boxing's past, only see the pitiful shell of Ali and the crash-and-burn that ended Tyson's career. How many have ever heard of Willie Pep, Fighting Harada or Henry Armstrong? There are so many GREAT names and GREAT stories. So many guys who had great careers but never got title shots.

I sometimes wonder how much boxing history today's young fighters know. Supposedly Tyson became a very passionate student of boxing history when Cus took him in. Good for him.

I'm seeing more boxing on non-pay-per-view these days, but there is still too many Ali-Foreman, Ali-Frazier, etc. Larry Holmes, etc etc. With all due respect to these great champions, there are probably millions of feet of boxing film out there. More of that old footage needs to be seen on TV.

Cap · 06-10-2008, 10:11 AM

The media and most of today's youts think history is something that happened ten years ago. Hey this is a new millenium after all. All that history stuff is as old as the pyramids.

Cap

a87star · 06-10-2008, 11:25 AM

I agree Cap. Boxing has a rich history that should be appreciated instead of being ignored and regarded as a waste of time.

bigMatt · 06-10-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antonin

The sport's great history--filled with colorful characters, drama, tradition, triumph and tragedy--is one of the things that draws me to it. It is an area in which boxing has a definite edge against MMA-type sports.

The powers-that-be in boxing should use that incredibly rich history to market the sport.

When I buy boxing magazines the articles I read first are the profiles of past fighters and past eras. A recent issue of Ring magazine had a feature on the great and not-so-great eras of each weight class. I devoured every word.

Many people today, when they think of boxing's past, only see the pitiful shell of Ali and the crash-and-burn that ended Tyson's career. How many have ever heard of Willie Pep, Fighting Harada or Henry Armstrong? There are so many GREAT names and GREAT stories. So many guys who had great careers but never got title shots.

I sometimes wonder how much boxing history today's young fighters know. Supposedly Tyson became a very passionate student of boxing history when Cus took him in. Good for him.

I'm seeing more boxing on non-pay-per-view these days, but there is still too many Ali-Foreman, Ali-Frazier, etc. Larry Holmes, etc etc. With all due respect to these great champions, there are probably millions of feet of boxing film out there. More of that old footage needs to be seen on TV.

I'm with you. I've been annoyed with ESPN classic for several years because their "classic" fights rarely go back even ten years anymore. An occasional Ali evening is the rare time you see anything pre-Tyson, and even Tyson fights are older than most of the ones they air. Used to be you could catch an old Ezzard Charles fight, or even an occasional really old one like a Langford or Dempsey.

While I still have a big interest in boxing, I'm more inclined to read or watch vintage stuff than I am to study the current scene.

lethal liberal · 06-19-2008, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malcom987

Gradually reintroducing my wife to boxing (she fell in love with Hagler and never could deal with his loss to Leonard)

We watch some of the old fights on ESPN classic...and she asked me "Why dont they have the current or former champions come into the ring for an introduction any more?"

My wild guess answer was probabally due to the Alphabet titles and the competition between the big time promoters.

Her reply really took me back. she said: " I would think it is the inability of todays athletes to act civilaly in public."

Anyone know why this great prefight experience ended.

Yeah,when Hagler got the shaft that really bothered me as well. Still,some say Ray won but I just dont think that pitty pat flurries in the last 10 seconds of a round is enough to steal a round when you lost the first 2:50. Ray stole so many rounds with that strategy(smart..give him that). Ray was a great fighter without a doubt but man,that decision just took the life out of Marvelous. He had at least 2-3 good years left. Oh well..that is part of the sport. Take care.

Mad Bomber · 06-19-2008, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malcom987

Gradually reintroducing my wife to boxing (she fell in love with Hagler and never could deal with his loss to Leonard)

We watch some of the old fights on ESPN classic...and she asked me "Why dont they have the current or former champions come into the ring for an introduction any more?"

My wild guess answer was probabally due to the Alphabet titles and the competition between the big time promoters.

Her reply really took me back. she said: " I would think it is the inability of todays athletes to act civilaly in public."

Anyone know why this great prefight experience ended.

I agree with the above post. I was so annoyed with the sport after Hagler -
Leonard I almost stopped watching boxing altogether, and as for the per fight intros I know that is seldom done up here anymore, but I wouldn't know about the states or elsewhere.

When I watch old fights I enjoy seeing fighters introduced.

Greg

gdf82 · 06-19-2008, 07:00 PM

Espn ruin everthing they touch. Classic Sports Channel before Espn took it over use to show old fights, old football games, & old baseaball games. Now they show classic bowling of 2000's , pool tournaments, and poker tournaments.

beekman · 06-21-2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigMatt

I'm with you. I've been annoyed with ESPN classic for several years because their "classic" fights rarely go back even ten years anymore. An occasional Ali evening is the rare time you see anything pre-Tyson, and even Tyson fights are older than most of the ones they air. Used to be you could catch an old Ezzard Charles fight, or even an occasional really old one like a Langford or Dempsey.

While I still have a big interest in boxing, I'm more inclined to read or watch vintage stuff than I am to study the current scene.

I'm certainly no ESPN fanboy or anything (I think they do far more harm than good), but this is simply wrong. They have a (truly) classic fight on every weeknight at midnight. I just looked at the listings and Monday night it is Ali-Blin & Tuesday it is Chuck Davy v Rocky Graziano from '52 -- and tomorrow they're showing Marciano-LaStarza II at 11:30 p.m.
beekman

06-08-2008, 02:51 PM	#1
Malcom987 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 52	All Opinions, Fact Or Fictional Welcome Gradually reintroducing my wife to boxing (she fell in love with Hagler and never could deal with his loss to Leonard) We watch some of the old fights on ESPN classic...and she asked me "Why dont they have the current or former champions come into the ring for an introduction any more?" My wild guess answer was probabally due to the Alphabet titles and the competition between the big time promoters. Her reply really took me back. she said: " I would think it is the inability of todays athletes to act civilaly in public." Anyone know why this great prefight experience ended.

06-09-2008, 11:44 AM	#6
a87star Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 4,850	Cunningham will defend his IBF CW title against Adamek in Poland. Late summer/early fall seems likely. Give "USS" credit.........he never runs from a fight and will go anywhere to defend his title. __________________ Women Boxing Archive Network Womens International Boxing Association

06-09-2008, 11:56 AM	#8
a87star Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 4,850	Adamek is fighting a tune up on ESPN to keep busy. Adamek/Cunningham should be exciting and definitely a fight worth watching. I could see either guy winning a close decision. __________________ Women Boxing Archive Network Womens International Boxing Association

06-10-2008, 10:11 AM	#14
Cap Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Large Province in God's Country Posts: 8,020	The media and most of today's youts think history is something that happened ten years ago. Hey this is a new millenium after all. All that history stuff is as old as the pyramids. Cap __________________ "...There were Giants in Those Days.."

06-10-2008, 11:25 AM	#15
a87star Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 4,850	I agree Cap. Boxing has a rich history that should be appreciated instead of being ignored and regarded as a waste of time. __________________ Women Boxing Archive Network Womens International Boxing Association

06-08-2008, 04:47 PM	#2
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,941 Infractions: 0/2 (101)	When I went to the shobox event at Bel Terra last year, Cory Spinks was there and was introduced in the ring prior to the main event.

06-08-2008, 07:03 PM	#4
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,941 Infractions: 0/2 (101)	Does Cunningham have a fight coming up?

06-09-2008, 05:40 PM	#9
bigMatt Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,378	I don't think there is nearly the appreciation for the history of the sport as there used to be. Whether due to alphabet titles, ignorant promoters, a general decline in the interest of boxing as a sport, or lack of interest/knowledge of the sport's history among the fans is anyone's guess. My assumption is that it's some combination of the above.

06-09-2008, 06:10 PM	#10
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,941 Infractions: 0/2 (101)	Don't forget the "me, me, me" attitude of today's athletes ....

06-09-2008, 07:12 PM	#13
Antonin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,544	The sport's great history--filled with colorful characters, drama, tradition, triumph and tragedy--is one of the things that draws me to it. It is an area in which boxing has a definite edge against MMA-type sports. The powers-that-be in boxing should use that incredibly rich history to market the sport. When I buy boxing magazines the articles I read first are the profiles of past fighters and past eras. A recent issue of Ring magazine had a feature on the great and not-so-great eras of each weight class. I devoured every word. Many people today, when they think of boxing's past, only see the pitiful shell of Ali and the crash-and-burn that ended Tyson's career. How many have ever heard of Willie Pep, Fighting Harada or Henry Armstrong? There are so many GREAT names and GREAT stories. So many guys who had great careers but never got title shots. I sometimes wonder how much boxing history today's young fighters know. Supposedly Tyson became a very passionate student of boxing history when Cus took him in. Good for him. I'm seeing more boxing on non-pay-per-view these days, but there is still too many Ali-Foreman, Ali-Frazier, etc. Larry Holmes, etc etc. With all due respect to these great champions, there are probably millions of feet of boxing film out there. More of that old footage needs to be seen on TV.

06-19-2008, 07:00 PM	#19
gdf82 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: allen, tx Posts: 34	Espn ruin everthing they touch. Classic Sports Channel before Espn took it over use to show old fights, old football games, & old baseaball games. Now they show classic bowling of 2000's , pool tournaments, and poker tournaments.