Inspired by last nights Superbowl, does anyone else really like the pageantry for big fights? To me, there's nothing better than hearing Lampley say "It's time for the main event" and then you see the fighter in their dressing room, getting prepared for war. You watch them knowing that the next time they're in that room, they'll either be ecstatic or devastated. Then you get the entrances with loud, stirring or spectacular music, with the camera cutting to loyal, passionate fans cheering for their man, hoping he goes to war and does them proud. Hearing the national anthems of the fighters, seeing their teams clap as they are introduced, whilst the boxer looks focused, loosening up with some practice hooks and then hearing the crowd roar at Buffer's final announcement of their name...**** To me, it doesn't get any better than that. The adrenaline pumping through my body and the nerves about how my guy will do. I love it. [yt]ZdWHmenyQYk[/yt] [yt]6mtJvVd4694[/yt] [yt]Z5Hd8k_FUsU[/yt] I even really enjoyed Nelly's performance at Pacquiao/Margarito. It just made it feel like such a huge event. [yt]RLT8ydGWKfk[/yt] ...I might be alone with that though
Just watching these videos, the Philippine fans have been a great asset to the sport. Aside from a few who go over the top, they are excellent, loyal fans.
I like everything but the pre-fight Nelly. I could do without the national anthems too but I tolerate them. But nothing is more exciting than the moments before the opening bell of a big fight for me.
I'd like to see a bit more pageantry. The "humble boxer" routine gets a bit stale. Don't laugh, but I would not mind if boxing promoters would take a few lessons from some of the old school pro wrestling promoters. Those guys coud make Ric Flair versus a broomstick look and sound like the most important sporting event in history.
I've been really impressed with the lighting and presentation of the K2 fights lately. They really do a good job. You get the feeling that its a big event, not the feeling of a couple guys fighting a smoker in a warehouse like FNF does at times. Two things I would eliminate: 1. Live music during the ring walk. 2. The entourage standing in the ring. Both of those things slow the fight down too much, especially if the undercard was a stinker. I think only the fighters, the seconds and the promoters should be allowed in the ring with the ref and announcer. It pisses me off waiting for all those mofo's to clear out and get the fight started.
I detest the national anthems, they shouldn't even be played at all, it kills the momentum. Boxing is not a team sport, the competitors are not wearing national colours or representing a country in an international competition, so the national anthems shouldn't be played. If the fighters WANT to have their anthems played, they should make it their walk-in music as they come to the ring, but holding everything up for some ancient, crappy, boring tunes is bull****. And don't even get me started on having some diabolical American pop star(s) trilling out their national anthem when there aren't even any ****ing Americans competing... :fire That's almost as bad as boxers getting accompanied to the ring by halfwit rappers who shout into a microphone for 10 minutes so that no-one can even make out a word, and then tail off in the ring when they realize no-one in the place is listening to or enjoying their garbled nonsense. But, I still enjoy when The Buffer takes over... :happy
Whatever you think about the Klitschkos, their ring entrances are bloody good. Although some do come across as a bit self indulgent. I thought the one where Vitali came out to holograms of past champs looked great but it was slightly hard to swallow considering he was fighting Sam Peter. Also the one with Wlad super-imposed alongside Ali was a bit arrogant. I know it was the Ali/Shmeling anniversary, but really? I actually quite like the live band thing.
Bull****. Boxing is very much a sport with a strong history of ethnic pride between countries/ethnicities/nationalities. It's customary to do the national anthem at sporting events in America anyway and even if its not a team the individual fighter is still fighting for their national pride.
Then why aren't national anthems played at every other individual sport? Why aren't they played in tennis? In the UFC? In snooker? etc etc etc. It's all this clinging to ancient tribal rituals that keeps the old nationalistic biases and prejudices going. If a fighter wants his national anthem played, fair enough, play it as he enters the arena. But boxing is not an international competition, so the evening should not grind to a halt for shitty slow ancient songs, **** that. My p-o-v is pointless though, because the anthems will always be played. But it doesn't mean it's right or that everyone has to like it. :good
I 100% agree, it's ****ing beautiful and it makes other things seem "small time". There's something special about a huge fight, agreed I love that ****.