Did Flintoff degrade pro boxing?

[TFFP]

Nope. Who gives a shit, anyone that says that needs to get a grip. Guy wanted to have a fight and had a fight. No more no less, no need for any melodramatic shit.

The guy had a fight, it turned out to be rubbish quality unsurprisingly. Thats the end of it.

On another note, I don't think it'll get that much attention the second time around, if he goes again.

[GazOC]

I was tempted to post "who gives a shit" because it is that cut and dried for me.

[TFFP]

To be honest I think the guy deserves credit not bashing. Must have been shitting it getting in the ring knowing he only laced his gloves 6 months ago. He had a lot of pressure on his shoulders as well, would have looked a right tit if he got sparked.

They probably researched the opponent better than we imagine, and maybe it was a bit dodgy, but he still took a decent punch and trained hard.

End of the day any idea about these celebrity matches gaining momentum is unlikely IMO. They aren't gonna live off the novelty factor for more than one fight, and they can't up their level of comp because they'll lose badly, so they have nowhere to go. It's just a one off novelty thats relatively intriguing the first time around. Plus not that many celebs have the balls or inclination.

It's not a threat or damaging in any way.

[GazOC]

Originally Posted by doug.ie

yes...boxing has been degrading itself for years.

and to the above quote....how far can you bring that idea, that pro's got a payday so no harm done ??....at what price ??.....should british title contenders fight on the undercard to celebrity wrestlers having boxing matches?...before darts players having a go ??...how far can you bring it before you finally say that it is making a professional sport look silly ?

Is that that much of a "price" though. Boxings a business, Flintoffs name sold a few tickets, less so next time. Like I said before, if anything Flintoff has shown how hard pro boxing is and he's gone out of his way to spell that out post fight as well.

boxing, and these promoters, in my opinion, can't do a lot else to harm the sport...every stunt and trick has been pulled at this stage.....set up's??...they don't even try to hide things like that any more, it's all made very obvious and put out in front of us.

i know others dont agree with me, and fair play to those that dont, but have your own opinion and i'll figure out mine too....not even the mob in what is generally regarded as the most corrupt stages of boxing history would have tried to get away with some of the shit they pull today

Totally disagree mate on the corruption. Its just more visible these days with the internet and everything being recorded and analysed to death.

On the freak show issue. Ali fought a Jap wrestler, Pete Rademacher turned pro in a world title fight, Foreman fought 5 men in a single night etc etc. boxing has always been willing to promote anything that sells and has always managed to soldier on afterwards.

[doug.ie]

ali fought a wrestler but not in a pro boxing bout.

rademacher had won a gold medal in the olympics, add that when you mention him, just so it doesnt sound like he was a regular pro debutant

foreman fought 5 men but in an exhibition....glorified public sparring sessions......would prizefighter, that we see nowadays, have been allowed in the 70's, if foremans five fights were not allowed to be ??......and what happened with the old rule that a professional boxer can only have one fight per week at most, that used to be the rule, right ?.....they can make up rules and break them and make new ones as they go along...'they' being the controllers of boxing, the promoters.........what do they have to do for you to say "well..that is a bit corrupt alright" ??

[doug.ie]

gaz...look...i hear you...and i'm not meaning to blow this up....but to me i honestly think boxing could not be any more corrupt than it is now...with what i mentioned above...the amout of governing bodies, the numerous belts, even each organisation with its various 'world title' belts (super, regular, interm, silver, diamond, etc)....tell me when the sport was worse than this?

[GazOC]

Tell me which sport has ever been worse than boxing? No point getting precious about it now IMHO.

[jc]

Itll take a lot more than that.

[D_Andrade]

If Dawson was allowed to fight back there would have been no argument

[Earl-hickey]

Yes and no.

It was embarrassing to watch, and the fight itself was a joke

But then again the crowd loved it, and any exposure for boxing is a good thing.

Flintoff was dreadful though, at least Sonny Bill Williams could throw a proper punch in his pro debut

[Earl-hickey]

I would add though, new Zealand cricketer Jessie ryder fought a REPORTER on the Shane Cameron vs monte Barrett undercard, although it was an amateur fight. I'd have, rather seen that really, stick him in a helmet and put him on the undercard of Price or Fury or Brook

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l-qfqZb19s[/ame]

[sidthehat]

I think except for the decision it wasn't that bad for the sport. Like others have said it showed how hard it is to box.

For a sportsman to be about as bad as any white collar fighter I've seen after far more training than the average one of those guys does is incredibly embarrassing. And Shane McGuigan's reputation as a coach took a battering to have his man's footwork so bad, a right hand like a slapper outside Yates' and weak looking physical condition.

[Earl-hickey]

Originally Posted by sidthehat

I think except for the decision it wasn't that bad for the sport. Like others have said it showed how hard it is to box.

For a sportsman to be about as bad as any white collar fighter I've seen after far more training than the average one of those guys does is incredibly embarrassing. And Shane McGuigan's reputation as a coach took a battering to have his man's footwork so bad, a right hand like a slapper outside Yates' and weak looking physical condition.

It pains me to say something like this as it's incredibly cliche.

But with 3 months full time training, I would have looked better than Flintoff in there

[swingin]

Originally Posted by Earl-hickey

It pains me to say something like this as it's incredibly cliche.

But with 3 months full time training, I would have looked better than Flintoff in there

me and you should fight.... on the fury/leapai undercard...you gotta be about 50 though.. like me..

[Betty Swollocks]

I was at a white collar event recently and apart from the women they all looked more accomplished that Zelenoff....sorry, Flintoff.

No way should it have been a pro fiight, it was an insult, especially considering it looked like the American boy knew some basics of punching and defence but after dropping Zelenff he forgot how to throw a proper punch.