Pacquiao v. Mayweather
- Thread starter Gonzo
- Start date
Boxing is a joke, tonight was an embarrassment. It's almost like they got together beforehand and agreed to not really engage each other. Floyd ran and Manny went after him about 25% of the time. Both were a joke tonight
It looks like some of you would be better served going to the local dive and waiting for two guys to get into it if all you want to see is haymakers thrown at each other. Most of the time, in real boxing, that's not how it end up working out.
Non-boxing fans tuned in to watch a fight. What they got was boxing. And then they leave suggesting boxing is dead.
Not sure if they've noticed how many UFC fighters are starting to go for more technical skill than "fighting" much the same way boxers do. Professional MMA is going the same direction.
- Mar 27, 2006
- 43,020
- 34,535
- 113
This. These were not knockout fighters. These are guys that go the distance and win on decision. Yes, there are some knockouts sprinkled in there, but most of the time, at this point in their careers, they're going the distance. Viewers shouldn't have been expecting anything other than a scorecard decision.
But, at the same time, it does highlight the reason why boxing is not as popular as it once was. Too many times, it's pretty boring to watch. Purists may relish in the fact that they can get enjoyment out of its current state, but alienating the casual fan is not good for the longterm health of the sport.
Interesting. The wife (Filipino) said that Manny suffered a right shoulder injury during training and the pain started to resurface in the third round.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/05/03/15/arum-pushed-fight-despite-pacquiao-injury
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/05/03/15/arum-pushed-fight-despite-pacquiao-injury
This is another reason this fight came too late. Its hard to train without injury as you get older.
The undercard fights should have been better since the main event was dissapointing. I knew it would end up being a Mayweather decision. A relative unknown in Lomachenko and Santa Cruz going up in weight did not make a great card for fans. They should have had the Mathysse/Provodnikov fight from the previous week as the undercard. At least thay way people would have gotten their money's worth.
This is why Mayweather waited as long as he did to finally fight Paq. 12 years he ran the other way until Paq was well beyond his prime hoping that age would keep him from sustaining a full ten rounds. Yet even with an injured shoulder and too many years behind him he still chased that POS Mayweather around the ring and by far the aggressor in that match up.
I think it's similar to how wrestling fans and non-wrestling fans get tangled when arguing about college wrestling being a dying sport.
When I watch wrestling, I know there's a lot of technique and strategy involved, but to be honest, it's boring. Much the same way most MMA or casual observers of sport would have suggested last nights bout was a snooze. (Even as a fan of the sport of boxing, I agree that it wasn't much of a "fight".. but I knew what to expect)
I'd go so far as to say that even if Pacman would have been KO'd it probably would have had the same outcome of people saying boxing was dead. The public wanted Mayweather to get "his". Desperately wanted him to lose or get KO'd by some miracle. The guy wasn't 47-0 by accident.
Neither. There are more punches traded in a NASCAR race than there were last night.
Whether or not people understand isn't the point. Boxing had a chance with an event that transcended the sport to bring back some casual fans. It simply reinforced in most peoples minds why they don't like boxing. I think even most casual fans understood this was the likely outcome and there wouldn't be a knockout. I did not hear a single person predict anything but exactly what happened. But that is the problem. To the vast majority boxing has become predictable and boring, and it is showing in the total lack of interest in the sport. Big bouts use to happen on a relatively frequent basis. Before last night, when was the last big fight that captured the countries attention? More importantly, when is the next one? Boxing will never truly die, but I do think last night was the death knell for boxing being a relevant sport in the US.
It blows my mind how many people claim to be "basketball fans" skipped last night's 100% EPIC Clippers/Spurs game yet suddenly turned attention to an obscure sport they otherwise rarely follow. Especially those who watched dozens of college basketball games this year but no boxing.
The NBA has been idiotic in its post Jordan marketing of playoff basketball...outside of ISU, if I could only watch one sporting event in 2015 so far, it would have been last night's Clippers/Spurs.
I know there are true boxing fans out there, I just don't get the college basketball fan who is passionate about the sport and can't appreciate last night's incredible game, at least as it compares to an obscure sport they likely know nothing about.
The NBA has been idiotic in its post Jordan marketing of playoff basketball...outside of ISU, if I could only watch one sporting event in 2015 so far, it would have been last night's Clippers/Spurs.
I know there are true boxing fans out there, I just don't get the college basketball fan who is passionate about the sport and can't appreciate last night's incredible game, at least as it compares to an obscure sport they likely know nothing about.
I think the problem lies more with society's need for instant gratification (the need for the flashy) and an absolute disdain for anything that isn't cut and dried and requires thinking for more than 5 seconds. I don't think sports should pander just because society has the attention span of a gnat anymore.
And while many are saying "this event shows the death of the sport," just how much money did this fight rake in? How many more people tuned in for this event? If record breaking sales and the entire country talking about the fight for months shows the death of a sport, I have no idea what it needs to do in order to show more success.
Pretty sure the Clippers Spurs was over well before the fight started. 'm not sure because I did watch the basketball game, and later caught the last few rounds of the fight through alternate means, but I think the basketball game was over for close to ann hour before the fght started.
Answer my two questions then? When was the last MAJOR fight, and when will the next one be? Big fights with boxers who were household names were a fairly common occurrence. Now, it is an extreme rarity. And the money and hype for last nights fight is a result of the times. Can you imagine what some of the super fights in the past would have done in todays media hyped environment? Hell, even someone as recent as Tyson would be bringing astronomical numbers if you give him popularity today relative to what he was in his prime.
Last edited:
- Mar 27, 2006
- 43,020
- 34,535
- 113
the two were not mutually exclusive. The fight didn't even start until almost 11PM.
I'll disagree with you, as well, on NBA playoff basketball. Maybe in the few years post Jordan, the NBA struggled to find its identity, but the playoffs of the last several years have been amazing, especially in the West. Some of the best basketball you can watch.
Boxing needs another Mike Tyson. A super aggressive guy that just goes out and tries to destroy his opponent with a KO as fast as possible.
Mayweather is too much of a tactician, and is boring to watch for any casual fans. Boxing will never be good again until they have a product that is exciting again. A guy running away from his opponent most of the night and playing defense is not exciting. Sure, it's a smart way to win, but it's not exciting in the least.
Mayweather is too much of a tactician, and is boring to watch for any casual fans. Boxing will never be good again until they have a product that is exciting again. A guy running away from his opponent most of the night and playing defense is not exciting. Sure, it's a smart way to win, but it's not exciting in the least.
