Just a question for everyone here, why do we watch boxing? It is a brutal sport, but at the same time innately gets reactions from people that no other sport can. It's the ultimate in dedication and commitment. What got you people into boxing? Mike Tyson made me a fan.
It is the most compelling sport around IMO, so much raw emotion on display. There is nothing more adrenaline pumping than a great fight - I love other sports but there is something unique to boxing that makes it different. Ironically I got into it after watching a lot of kick-boxing and MMA stuff; I've always been a huge Ali fan too.
We like violence. Even the people who don't like violence like violence (but they don't like the fact that they like it, so they hide their true feelings). -- droxford
i love light and middle weight fights. without all that bulk you can see their technical prowess, their blinding speed. i just love the fast paced action. the players give everything they've got, you just have to have a respect for the guys, they endear themselves to you. ward, gatti, pacquaio, juan diaz...so many of them.
It's like old time gladiatiors in a way. It is very intriguing, I can't put my finger on why, but it's very compelling. Maybe it's the passion and determination.
The thrill of the one punch knockout and blood. I like blood. Watching the Wide World of Sports on ABC back in the early to mid eighties with my father and seeing Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard and the Howard Cosell intrerviews seriously drew me in.
I think that maybe it is the fact that you never know when a fight will end. Most sports are timed, you know when they begin and end. Boxing, it's unpredictable.
It's the rawest and most basic of sports. No balls, no bats, no padding. No true natural talent needed. Anyone can theoretically box. Not anyone can hit a baseball, shoot a basketball or throw a football 30 yards. Just two men, their shorts, their fists, fighting each other until one goes down. It's just so primitive and violent. It meets our most basest desires.
Because we, as a society, like to watch people inflict head injuries upon each other. If they permanently mess up the gray matter, so much the better. Because we obviously haven't really advanced very far as a civilization...
Great post. Anyone can become a boxer, rich or poor, from any country. It truly represents all strata of society.
I think an espn list somewhere listed boxing as one of the most physically demanding sports. Anyone who has done it can attest to that. Also, the shorts are cool.
I really don't care for boxing. As a kid I liked it, but grew out of it as I got older. It's so barbaric... oh wait... or is that UFC/Pride? Now WWE... that's some entertainment right there.
I loved it until Don King got involved and I paid $60 to see Lennox "lose" to Holyfield. Heavyweights can get really boring, esp when they are just hugging. However, I went to Thai kickboxing match in Bangkok last winter and it was awesome. Blood lust.
I haven't watched it much since Holyfield became washed up. Boxing, during my time, was at its best during Bowe-Holyfield I (the 10th round was the best round Ive seen) and Holyfield-Tyson I
No padding? Are you sure about that? Otherwise, we'd have a heck of a lot more cases of broken knuckles.
And a mouth guard. I believe that the UFC is the only competition with no protective gear at all. Strange how it hasn't taken off like boxing has. But maybe that's because grappling totally sucks.
