Anyone else think 2003 was a miserably depressing time for boxing?

I’d happily swap 2023 for 2003.

 

Toney--Jirov though.

Also, I'm not sad about Tarver--Jones 1. That was a really interesting fight.

 

2003 was an interesting year with some good fights as well as some important events in boxing history such as Lewis’ last fight and RJJ’s final year as a top fighter. I don’t see anything depressing or miserable about 2003 at all other than it was the start of a new era of boxing at that time. All fighters come to a close at some point. It was also the start of Pacquiao emerging as a rising star after his destruction of Barrera.

2003 had:

Manny Pacquiao vs Marco Antonio Barrera
Joe Calzaghe vs Bryon Mitchell
Vernon Forrest vs Ricardo Mayorga 1 & 2
Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward 3
Acelino Freitas vs Jorge Barrios
Michael Gomez vs Alex Arthur
James Toney vs Vassily Jirov
In-Jin Chi vs Michael Brodie 1
Vitali Klitschko vs Lennox Lewis
Diego Corrales vs Joel Casamayor 1
Wladimir Klitschko vs Cory Sanders
Rafael Marquez vs Tim Austin
Erik Morales vs Guty Espadas 1 & 2
Leonard Dorin vs Paul Spadafora
Felix Machado vs Luis Perez

 

Every fight's rescheduled a million times now.

 

I've lost interest in today's boxing scene, it's pathetic.

 

Much of it is unfortunately. It's ridiculous. The one that am looking forward to is Fulton vs Inoue, shame about the injury and postponement. Whatever the result they deserve a lot of credit for making the match.

 

I thought 2003 was decent with Jirov vs Toney being the absolute highlight. Loved seeing him return to form. Manny was starting to show his greatness as well.

 

135 and 140 have some interesting fights scheduled but overall I would have to agree with you for the most part as for what is scheduled. I'm excited for Lomo vs Haney and Mildly interested in Tank Davis vs Garcia, the constant BS from Tyson Fury is exhausting.

All and all, I like the talent at the lower weightclasses but 160 and up is somewhat boring because the best aren't fighting the best. Hopefully Benavidez and Plant deliver tonight but it's annoying that it's a PPV.

 

When I think back to the 80 s, 90 s and early 00 s, when I knew most of the names of the day, from heavyweight down to welter, it actually makes me realise how bad boxing s gotten for me.

 

80's and 90's were definitely the golden age for me as well. It was the best time of my life training during the day and then watching all of the fights on the weekends but now I'm old and just don't have time like I use too but with that said there is still a lot of talent out there.

One thing is for sure, what I hated about the sport back in the 80's and 90's is exactly what I still hate today. Promoters and sanctioning bodies have absolutely killed this sport. This sport will never be mainstream again because of the politics of the sport.

 

Definitely, mate. That's what's done the damage.

 

Old Fred will be too tall for Inoue!

 

I liked 2003, I was 12 going on 13 and really starting to understand what was going on in the ring and following more closely than just watching with my dad. There were some great fights as others noted above and I felt HBO and SHO were really still in their heyday for production, commentary and fight quality. There were big names and big fights and it was a crossroads time for a lot of legends of the 90's winding down