Why American boxing is on the decline...

[acts238shaun]

The age which most take up boxing now is their late teens and early 20's now...if you are lucky. A lot of tall, big guys are trying boxing as heavyweights after they fail at other sports. When they have 20 padded wins under their belt they are touted as the next big thing at 28, until they are exposed by a European with over 100 amateur fights to their 20 to 25, which is the main problem. They are still learning to fight while a pro when the guys with 100 or so amateur fights aren't learning Boxing 101 because it's second nature.

Golden Gloves were once a big deal. My uncle won the Memphis heavyweight regionals at 18 by knocking a 28 year old out of the ring. It was in the Commercial Appeal, his local small town paper in Arkansas and the Democrat in Little Rock, etc. Today it would be in the locals and that would be about it. Amateur boxing needs to be pushed and advertised more to younger kids, especially to those in reform school or juvie. A lot of the lower weight divisions have guys with long amateur careers, but the heavyweights suffer especially, with guys taking up boxing up as a backup plan and a career choice. If the amateurs get more recognition and are sponsored by large and well known companies (Nike, Reebok, Ecko, Fubu, Sean Jean, etc.) who will kick in free gear and if possible (with no strings attached) more reputable promoters like Golden Boy (NOT Don King) and K2, the amatuers will be viable again and with the internet the younger boxers that are more successful will get recognition. On top of that the national and world tournaments will be on ESPN or ESPN2, which it should be all along. If something like this happens Americans would be a viable force in boxing again and my favorite present day fighters wouldn't be Robert Guerrero and Lucian Bute, it would be The Ghost and some other American more than likely.

Poetic, you think this could happen? Complex?

[parker002]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

My cousin's son fought in the 2008 GG national tourney but got beat in his first match. He's 18 or 19. But his dad (my cousin) is also a boxing manager and the kid grew up around it.

What's wrong with American boxing is that there's no youth pipeline.

It's even mentioned in Teddy's commentary on the game - kids that would have normally boxed are pursuing other sports now.

[mr_president]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

My cousin's son fought in the 2008 GG national tourney but got beat in his first match. He's 18 or 19. But his dad (my cousin) is also a boxing manager and the kid grew up around it.

What's wrong with American boxing is that there's no youth pipeline.

It's even mentioned in Teddy's commentary on the game - kids that would have normally boxed are pursuing other sports now.

along with that, boxing has become invisible. i remember growing up you would be able to catch fight when ever you turn on the tv especially on saturday with wide world of sports. i remember being disappointed if there were no fights on WWoS

moving into the 80's fights were very accessible with multiple stations broadcasting fights throughout the week, there was tuesday night fights, thursday night fights, friday night fights, msg fight night etc..... now all we have is PPV, sho box and boxing after dark with the occasional friday night fights on espn thrown in every now and then.

it has alienated it's fan base with its dirty politics, lack of great fights because of said politics, money squabbling and horrible marketing(if any at all).

the biggest division, the heavyweight division ,with all of its great history has become a joke. there have been no significant fights there going back at least 5 years or more. the fighters there have become sloppy, unpolished and undisciplined.

boxing should do a few things(none will ever happen) and one of them is make a return to prize fighting. there should be a 60/ 40 split for every fight with the winner taking home the bulk of the purse.

mills lane had great ideas for boxing, and he was in the right position to accomplish many of his goals for the sport, it's just to bad he was cut down by illness.

[acts238shaun]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

along with that, boxing has become invisible. i remember growing up you would be able to catch fight when ever you turn on the tv especially on saturday with wide world of sports. i remember being disappointed if there were no fights on WWoS

moving into the 80's fights were very accessible with multiple stations broadcasting fights throughout the week, there was tuesday night fights, thursday night fights, friday night fights, msg fight night etc..... now all we have is PPV, sho box and boxing after dark with the occasional friday night fights on espn thrown in every now and then.

it has alienated it's fan base with its dirty politics, lack of great fights because of said politics, money squabbling and horrible marketing(if any at all).

the biggest division, the heavyweight division ,with all of its great history has become a joke. there have been no significant fights there going back at least 5 years or more. the fighters there have become sloppy, unpolished and undisciplined.

boxing should do a few things(none will ever happen) and one of them is make a return to prize fighting. there should be a 60/ 40 split for every fight with the winner taking home the bulk of the purse.

mills lane had great ideas for boxing, and he was in the right position to accomplish many of his goals for the sport, it's just to bad he was cut down by illness.

QFT

[SHAKYR]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

This is my future heavyweight champ. It's in his blood to fight. I'm working on speed, combination punching, aggression. He has natural power in both his hands and they are like a grown man hands; he just turned 8 years old.


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[mr_president]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

This is my future heavyweight champ. It's in his blood to fight. I'm working on speed, combination punching, aggression. He has natural power in both his hands and they are like a grown man hands; he just turned 8 years old.


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if i didn't know better i'd say that was weequahic park.

[SHAKYR]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

lol...wow! you are absolutely correct. I use to train about 2 miles from there in Hillside. I use to hate them stairs that used to be there. My trainer had us run up and down them stadium stairs...memories.

[mr_president]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

lol...wow! you are absolutely correct. I use to train about 2 miles from there in Hillside. I use to hate them stairs that used to be there. My trainer had us run up and down them stadium stairs...memories.

that's where i trained...those stairs were a beast. you must have trained at the pal in hillside??

[SHAKYR]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

that's where i trained...those stairs were a beast. you must have trained at the pal in hillside??

Yes, I trained at the community center in Hillside.

[SHAKYR]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

The age which most take up boxing now is their late teens and early 20's now...if you are lucky. A lot of tall, big guys are trying boxing as heavyweights after they fail at other sports. When they have 20 padded wins under their belt they are touted as the next big thing at 28, until they are exposed by a European with over 100 amateur fights to their 20 to 25, which is the main problem. They are still learning to fight while a pro when the guys with 100 or so amateur fights aren't learning Boxing 101 because it's second nature.

Golden Gloves were once a big deal. My uncle won the Memphis heavyweight regionals at 18 by knocking a 28 year old out of the ring. It was in the Commercial Appeal, his local small town paper in Arkansas and the Democrat in Little Rock, etc. Today it would be in the locals and that would be about it. Amateur boxing needs to be pushed and advertised more to younger kids, especially to those in reform school or juvie. A lot of the lower weight divisions have guys with long amateur careers, but the heavyweights suffer especially, with guys taking up boxing up as a backup plan and a career choice. If the amateurs get more recognition and are sponsored by large and well known companies (Nike, Reebok, Ecko, Fubu, Sean Jean, etc.) who will kick in free gear and if possible (with no strings attached) more reputable promoters like Golden Boy (NOT Don King) and K2, the amatuers will be viable again and with the internet the younger boxers that are more successful will get recognition. On top of that the national and world tournaments will be on ESPN or ESPN2, which it should be all along. If something like this happens Americans would be a viable force in boxing again and my favorite present day fighters wouldn't be Robert Guerrero and Lucian Bute, it would be The Ghost and some other American more than likely.

Poetic, you think this could happen? Complex?

More companies need to support amateur boxing like they did years ago. It's hurting the youth that no one is support shows and tournaments. The USA will be a force if amatuer boxing was sponsored in general.

[mgoblue]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

More companies need to support amateur boxing like they did years ago. It's hurting the youth that no one is support shows and tournaments. The USA will be a force if amatuer boxing was sponsored in general.

The US would be a force in world soccer if the athletes played that (like other countries) instead of football and basketball. Those are the high profile sports that kids (especially some of the kids in bad situations, ones who used to box) are getting into now.

Add in all the politics and whatnot mentioned in boxing and I don't blame a kid for trying to get into the NBA or NFL instead. Doesn't help that boxing has been fading the past 20 years (it's way down since the 70's and 80's), so fewer kids are exposed and really get into the sport. How many 5-15 year olds really pay that much attention to boxing now, unless they've got a parent really into it? It's not the "cool" sport like it was with Tyson, Foreman, Ali, and all the other greats, kids turn to street basketball more instead. They'd rather go all "And 1" on the court instead of floating like butterflies and stinging like bees.

[acts238shaun]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

If it's on tv, advertised, has Nike and other high profile companies sponsoring it and giving kids free gear they will be in.

[Complex]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

This is my future heavyweight champ. It's in his blood to fight. I'm working on speed, combination punching, aggression. He has natural power in both his hands and they are like a grown man hands; he just turned 8 years old.


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I just love to see father's taking care of their children. Its a beautiful thing. Keep at it Poetic, when he unifies the titles, I can say I met his pops.

[Gibbz]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

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That's great. You've got a lil beast on your hands.

[aholbert32]

Re: Why American boxing is on the decline...

The US would be a force in world soccer if the athletes played that (like other countries) instead of football and basketball. Those are the high profile sports that kids (especially some of the kids in bad situations, ones who used to box) are getting into now.

Add in all the politics and whatnot mentioned in boxing and I don't blame a kid for trying to get into the NBA or NFL instead. Doesn't help that boxing has been fading the past 20 years (it's way down since the 70's and 80's), so fewer kids are exposed and really get into the sport. How many 5-15 year olds really pay that much attention to boxing now, unless they've got a parent really into it? It's not the "cool" sport like it was with Tyson, Foreman, Ali, and all the other greats, kids turn to street basketball more instead. They'd rather go all "And 1" on the court instead of floating like butterflies and stinging like bees.

Exactly. I'd rather shoot a jumper than get punched in the face.