What significant boxing learnings do you have from the site.

Insight from Burt was priceless

 

I wouldn’t even know where to start.

I took an interest into boxing while I was in college. I was binging Ali videos; interviews, highlights and stories. I didn’t really care about boxing as a sport, I was just interested in Ali. One day I saw a Jack Johnson documentary thumbnail in the recommended videos, and I was like “who is this guy?” I started watching it, and I immediately came to the realization that boxing was more than just Ali. There were other incredible stories of fighters in the sport. It took me down this strange wormhole I’m still in today.

Then I started getting into the footage of these legends. They all looked awesome to me. I would watch Rooster4Life’s highlight videos, and others. I kept going into the comments section asking these editors if they could make a video of fighter X using song Z. And of course they never did. I was weirdly passionate about it to the point that I tried making a video myself because I so desperately wanted to see certain highlights to a certain song. And people seemed to love it. I think that’s the reason people connect with my videos. They truly come from a genuine place.

That was more than 10 years ago, and I just never got sick of boxing till this day.

I think I discovered this site through a Google search while I was scraping and clawing for tidbits on information. Once I saw this forum I thought “holy cow this is a treasure trove!”

I was put off by a lot of the negativity in many of the discussions, and people’s willingness to tarnish other fighters in order to win arguments. And I still am, I just have thicker skin now. I came from a place that all these fighters should be celebrated for achievements big and small, since they put their lives on the line to partake in an artistic but yet dangerous solo sport. I’ve learned to not wear my heart on my sleeve, but deep down I still feel that way.

Whether you get into arguments here, or are put off by the negativity, if you truly love the sport you realize that the benefits of the forum drastically outweigh those things. Which is why I think most of us put up with each other.

 

Great topic.
I've been a fan of boxing since the late 70's when I was just a small kid. My dad got me into it. I watched a lot of boxing, but I wasn't hardcore about it.

I think I became more of a hardcore fan beginning in 1986, so from that time is where my real passion for boxing started.
I've been on a few forums before this one. The now defunct Boxing.com and then Boxing Insider, when they still had a forum.
Since joining here, my knowledge has expanded considerably. No specific eras as such, but more in-depth overall. Even so, there's huge gaps that need filling. Huge gaps.
What I like about this site is that it acts as a pointer, a guide if you will. Posters will mention fighters, fights or events that make me think "Hmmm... let me check that out."
That's how I expand my knowledge.

I miss some posters that no longer post here. Some of these guys had knowledge that was almost breathtaking, and made me realise that I still know very little compared to others.
Still, there are lots of posters here that dish out real useful and helpful info that I learn from.
Great topic, John.

 

Every loss has a story I went 12-2-21 and dropped and almost stopped a guy that kinda looked like Ali

 

Lots of history on guys pre-1960s. A lot of them were names to me but I’ve learned from the forum cognoscenti more details about the bigger names and tons about the lesser-known that I’d have never discovered if not for you guys.

Not to mention the legend that was Boston Tom McMustache — Barbados Boston Tom (the one from Fiji by way of Nova Scotia, who fought out of Key West); not Nonpareil Boston Tom (the one from Prince Edward Island by way of Philadelphia, who fought out of Sacramento).

 

I have come to realise that having boxed and done martial arts 1/2 my life, I know what I am seeing on film, but describing the mechanics, the tempo of a fight and all the other nuances are extremely difficult. Even moreso, when you are debating others who may be dealing in absolutes, may not appreciate what you are seeing and with you too, may not see what they see or appreciate what they appreciate. I have made a concerted effort since I joined not to get caught up in fighter bashing or promoting untruths to 'win' a debate as it does a disservice to brave men who sacrificed so that we may hypothesise.

I have also come to realise that the parameters of hypothetical match ups need to be set and agreed up front otherwise, you can get caught in the trees without seeing the forest. No point in arguing Jeffries versus Wilder without giving each fighter the training conditions, nutritional availability, sports-science knowledge and relative rule set, refereeing performance and trainer ability of whichever era said proposed fight takes place in.

I have more ...

 

Learned a little more about Carlos Monzon as a fighter. Some of his abilities were understated, perhaps deceptive, therefore overlooked. Some of his fans on here educated me quite a bit. Red Cobra and a few others. Didn't appreciate his total mastery of the ring.

 

The Jack Johnson and Dempsey era for me. Certain posters on here, I picked up a Lot of info on the times from them. Sad to say, a few have gone now.

 

I have followed boxing since 1965, but other talented posters on this site continue to educate me on other greats from boxing's past. I never stop learning. I learn something new every day.

 

Basically everything I have learnt, or had corrected, about pre 1900's Boxing comes from a small but incredible quality of posters on this forum, who are pretty fixated around this time period. Learning about 'true' historical guys like Belcher, Broughton, Mace and the like, even the 'ancient era', in depth, made me that much more fascinated in the history and cultural impact of Boxing. And it isn't just Boxing this is important for, but actual in-depth historical research as a whole. There is no way, no way, I'd know even 10% about this subject, if it wasn't thanks to those posters on this forum.

A few links for those interested:

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/english-champions-napoleon-of-the-ring-jem-belcher.620836/

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/the-broughton-rules.647367/

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/ancient-champions-king-varazdat.614320/

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/english-champions-hen-the-game-chicken-pearce.605154/

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...ampionship-fights-of-the-black-period.654534/

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/venetian-boxing-in-1707.645878/

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/russian-boxing.648132/

 

So true, echo every word, and by coincidence 65 was around the year I got hooked. keep well.

 

Thanks my friend, stay well too.

 

I feel the same and basically same starting story. I don’t understand the need to completely disparage and ridicule good fighters from past years (unless really dirty or evil in some way). Some people are insecure about themselves I suppose.
PS need a Archie Moore video

 

Learned a lot about contenders and champions I otherwise never would have paid attention to. Gained a massive amount of respect for the unknown contenders that were as good as many champions just never had their shot on the right day. Now they’re just footnotes on famous champions boxrec ledgers. Men like Tommy Loughran, Ernie Schaff, Rex Layne, Jimmy Bivins, etc. My boxing scope was just Ali opponents and when I paid a lot of attention 90s up. Point is to keep learning everyday and you have that opportunity here if you stay with an open mind