Sometimes I wonder why I watch boxing, especially after this past weekend. This incident (Leavander Johnson's death) was a little too much. Something is wrong with us for us to want to watch men beating each other up. I guess nothing has changed in thousands of years. Romans watched Gladiators and we watch boxers. I guess it's so primitive it's intriguing, but perhaps there is something wrong with us for wanting to watch it.
Death in boxing could've easily been prevented if the boxers had head gear on like in the olympics. I guess its hard to knock out your opponent that way so the boxing association doesn't want them.
I stopped watching boxing when Duk Koo Kim died after fighting Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini a long time ago. They took 1500cc of blood out of his head trying to save him!! Since then, the sport has seemed like idiotic savagery to me. Reminds me of the Roman gladiators. Sick! It's one thing to have an athletic competition between individuals or teams. Boxing is altogether different, IMO.
Was curious... box (n.2.) : "a blow," c.1300, of uncertain origin, possibly related to M.Du. boke, M.H.G. buc and Dan. bask, all meaning "a blow," perhaps imitative. The verb meaning "to fight with the fists" is from 1567. Boxing as a sport is first recorded 1711. boxer: "fighter," 1472, from box (n.2). The name of the breed of dog (1934), is from Ger. (the breed originated in Germany), itself taken from Eng. boxer "fighter," the dog so called for its pugnaciousness. Boxer shorts (1944) so called from their resemblance to the attire worn in the ring. Boxer Rebellion (1900) is based on British mistranslation of Chinese xenophobic society of I-He-T'uan "Righteous Harmony Band," rendered by British as I-He-Ch'uan "Righteous Uniting Fists."
Yea the fight this past weekend has definitely made me question why I watch boxing. It's one thing to have a competitive fight, but when somebody DIES as a result of their profession, a sport, it's very profound.
We watch boxing because, at our core, we are savage animals. There are still things like sexuality and physical domnance that appeal to our primitive instincts. I believe that, gradually, we (as a race) are moving away from that. But we are still thousands of years away (possibly hundreds of thousands) from being completely free of it. Until then, we will still find primitive things like boxing, and boobies appealing. I know I do.
Football is the new gladiator sport. Boxing is just about as primal as you can get - one man against another. It will never go away.
There should be a decent heavyweight fight tomorrow on HBO. Wladimir Klitschko and Samuel Peter, as hard as these two guys punch, someone is definitely getting hurt in this fight.
Agreed, only i think that we are not moving away from it. Humans are animals(not that that is a bad thing).
Boxing is the greatest sport out there. These pugilist specialists appeal to man's core desire: to knock the **** outta someone.
Good question - I always wondered this. Can't we find some way to compete against each other without causing permanent head injuries? Why does our society sanction an attempt to bash each other's brains in?
I only catch the big fights. Mainly, when Mike Tyson fights, I have to see it. Mike Tyson fights are exciting to me.
I am an advocate of an individual sports "autonomy" but I have always found it hard to accept fights and people going through pain and mainmation [sic] all in the name of sports. I guess to each his own eh....
Boxing is a game of skill- it's really not about the actual blood and pain to me. If you know a bit about boxing, you can enjoy it. Anyway, shouldn't this be in D&D?
I don't know if anyone saw it but on HBO Miguel Cotto and Ricardo Torres had one of the best fights I've ever seen. Back and forth action, they were both rocked numerous times, 4 knockdowns and finally a knockout in the 7th round. Great fight! Oh yea Wladimir Klitschko vs. Samuel Peter was decent too, for a heavyweight fight.
I like the primal, raw, brute, athleticism involved. I also like watching a good knockout! If two guys want to pummel each other and I can watch, then go fer it... I'm not getting punched, so I don't care. Boxers know the risks they take when they step in the ring. The same goes for any sport, you can die playing any sport, one slip or one hit to the head or break your neck and its over... Side note, I will not watch female boxing, I don't see any sport there... usually after the first round they just start flailing anyway... not a fan.
Did anyone see the Torres vs. Cotto fight last night on HBO? Pretty damn good fight. Cotto won by KO in the 8th I think with 4 knockdowns while Torres had 1 knockdown and almost another one. Knockout punches to the head are always classic but to me there is something special about those body shots just making the opponent go to the canvass because he doesn't want another.
