SANS BIGGEST FIGHT OF ALL, BOXING TRUDGES FORWARD
New York, NY– In wake of the intense level of disappointment we’ve administered by the sport failing to deliver a mega fight between superstars Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquaio, despite such a let down, fans have been undeniably treated to several action packed fights thus far in 2010. In unusual fashion, non household names have been filling stadiums throughout the world, and during trying battles of intestinal fortitude, these pugs have shown facets of the game of old by displayed guts, heart, determination, and skill. Cheers to them as their efforts have been keeping the sport alive.
THE AFOREMENTIONED “WORLD” IS AN ISSUE IN 2010
American fight fans are without a heavyweight division, period. If some do still care (there are a very select few), by way of major cable networks HBO and Showtime’s ban of the bros. Klitishko’s, you are restrained from viewing most, if not all heavyweight world title contests. From this, I’ve found myself hoping online catching a few heavyweight title tilts here and there, but quite frankly, just like HBO and Showtime, I’m over it. Another issue with the world of pugilism is not the product; it’s how it’s being distributed. Across the globe, there has been a ton of under promoted, independent PPV cards that have delivered tremendous action that not just boxing enthusiast would appreciate, but any fan of sport. Unfortunately those cards where seen only by us die-hards. Had HBO, Showtime, Espn, or Fox Sports distributed those cards, boxing would be in better place at earning its due buzz of resurgence. The “suits” at the networks need to realize that names aren’t everything. Even without star power, there have been a ton of compelling bouts on ESPN, and believe me, people have be taken notice. HBO needs to stop forcing and recycling whom they want to sell to you and just put on competitive matches that they know will make for good television.
HBO’s BAD HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE
As I mentioned, HBO needs to chill with offering us viewers over matched vapid former challengers and tomato cans pitted against overly capable champions. This scenario has taken place far too many times over the past two years and while there are exceptions to that observation, the bottom line is that boxing is a sport that is drenched in drama and it’s “blue collared” fans thrive on the underdog succeeding. HBO’s shows are notoriously known for having the favorites hand raised at the end of the night.
BRING DI BELLA’S MIND BACK TO HBO
This is especially relevant to their Boxing After Dark series that was started in 1996 by current promoter Lou Di Bella with Marco Antonio Barrera-Kennedy McKinney in an epic encounter. Known as B.A.D., at the shows inception, it matched rugged warriors in “life or death” battles in effort to propel their young or potentially great careers to the upper stratosphere of the sport. Now, it’s usually billed with a crossroads type of uneventful affair or one-sided beat down to showcase the new kid on the block. B.A.D. needs to take a page from it’s rival program SHO Box, a series that employs the vintage criteria that once made HBO’s B.A.D. series the baddest show on the planet.
SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR LOOKS PROMISING
Despite what has transpired thus far, no worries, keep your chin up fight fans; we have a lot to look forward to in the remaining months. Highlighted by Jean Pascal vs. Chad Dawson, Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Rafael Marquez, Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Amir Khan, Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora, Andre Ward vs. Andre Dirrell, Carl Froch vs. Arthur Abraham, and the return of international boxing icon Manny Pacquaio against controversial Antonio Margarito, enticing match ups are on the horizon that even the networks can’t deny.
John Signorella