Two sweaty, shirtless men in their 20's and in fantastic shape grunting and groaning doing everything possible to try to physically dominate each other. What's not to like? Wait... was that gay? Seemed a little gay, but I'm not sure...
my earliest recollection of boxing was watching ali fights with my family at fight parties...then afterward having my grandpa teach me how to box. my grandpa and uncles all boxed...so initially i learned from them. one of my uncles took me to a gym and i was hooked. i went into the gym with experience because of them...so when i sparred kids my own age...i shined. that was the initial hook. it felt great. as a fan...the fight that hooked me for life was duran/leonard 1. i watched that at a closed circuit venue at it was amazing. the place was jammed packed. i was there with all my uncles, my pops and both grandpas. it was the thing that bonded our families and it left a great impression on me. we did the same for other fights like pryor/arguello. then we'd watch all the big fights at home when that became available. the things i love about boxing...it's the purest of sports. no other sport puts its combatants on full display for the world to see the way boxing does. it reveals true character. there is no hiding. there is no time out. there is no substition. just two men giving it all they have...one trying to enforce his will on the other. it's beautiful on so many levels.
That's about the time I started getting into it as well...Ali -Frazier I, when Ali fought shortly after getting out of prison. I was pulling heavily for Frazier and was thrilled when he dropped him with the left hook in the 15th. But I have to give Ali credit, he got up and finished the fight. Most guys would not have.
I started watching boxing when I was 5 years old. Mike Tyson was the star. My parents friends would have fight parties. It was like watching real-life warriors! My father use to box amateur. I was an outstanding athlete in other sports and after many years of watching fights, I thought; "I can do that". After college basketball, my days of competing were over and I took on a new challenge. I started way to late to be a real threat but boxing training was the toughest thing I ever did. I was in the best shape of my life. I won some/lost some. I sparred with many pro's, top amateurs, and even some MMA guys who wanted to work on their boxing. I wish I would have started earlier. The energy. The atmosphere. Still to this day I get so jacked up before watching a big fight. Unlike other sports, you don't PLAY boxing!
I played college basketball as well, but never got the boxing bug. Love to watch it and actually do enjoy boxing but I don't want to take too many shots to the head. Just not worth it. Common thread for most of the guys posting is boxing was a part of their lives when they were young, growing up, at family get togethers. I used to get really jazzed before big fights. Still do somewhat but not like when I was younger. It is always interesting to see who is going to impose his will on the other.