12 round limit, saved lives?

TBooze · Nov 23, 2012

scartissue said: ↑

TBooze, I think you're half right. Preparedness is one thing, but someone here mentioned how come there wasn't many or any ring deaths in the 50s or 60s. To that I say there was one champ not four. In order to get that title shot one had to go through his apprenticeship. By the time he got his shot at the brass ring he was ready. Today you have four guys looking for work. They have bled the top ten dry. One can get a title shot after ten fights. That fighter hasn't learned his trade. He's going to get hurt when he goes against the champ. Also, for example, Kiko Beijenes and Jimmy Garcia weren't prepared for their respective shots at Albert Davila and Gabe Ruelas. Kiko hadn't fought in a year and had lost his last fight. Why was he getting a title shot? The same for Garcia. I don't have his record in front of me but he had lost a title fight against Genero Hernandez about six months earlier, so why was he getting another shot? If memory serves me he was completely outclassed by Hernandez and hadn't won a fight in a year. We need less champions so our contenders can grow and grow properly, not plucked from the vine before ripe.
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A very good analytical piece, and pretty much spot on in my opinion.

Saintpat · Nov 23, 2012

Longhhorn71 said: ↑

The original purpose of the change from 15 rounds to 12 rounds was to fit a championship fight into a hour on home TV (CBS, NBC, ABC etc)

12 Rounds
12 x 3 mins plus 11 mins for rest periods = 47 mins
Add the prefight & post fight wrap-up equals an hour.

15 Rounds
15 x 3, plus 14 mins for rest periods = 59 mins
No time for anything else.
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This.

Mock safety concerns were used by Arum and King to get the championship distance to fit into a TV window = more $$$ for promoters (at the time, before networks got out of the boxing business and PPV took over).

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12 round limit, saved lives?

TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member