Let's give BoxNation a chance?

Why would the stoppages make any difference to the sports' problems?

 

Because its embarrassing for the sport. If a new fan watches a fight on the off chance its on and a ref waves off the fight very early, he'll the think the sport of boxing is pathetic.

Its one of boxings many problems.

 

Yes, it's going to turn off fans.

 

Then would you like to see a ban on head punches in the sport if it means (and it presumably would) that there would be much less chance of brain injury?

To be clear about this, I believe we should be concerned about the safety of fighters. But we shouldn't be trying to make the sport as safe as we can if we are killing the sport in the process. Combat sports are inherently dangerous. Fighters know the risks.

What early stoppages are going to do, is rob the fans of many of the greatest fights. It's going to turn off casual viewers. And in the case of Britain where we have a particular problem, we may also get a reputation of corrupt officiating where a foreign fighter is stopped quickly to the advantage of the "home" fighter.

 

Well they are not fans. The boxing fan does not want to see their man killed. Not least financially; it is not in their interests.

 

Of course they don't want to see anyone killed. But they do want to see fighters given a reasonable opportunity to continue to fight.

The risk of death is a part of boxing.

 

But if you are a boxing fan, you want your man to win as easily as possible. It does not bother a boxing fan if the fights exciting, just that right man wins, so your investment proves wise.

 

Yeah, but it's a good idea not to invite it.

Most of the "shocking" stoppages I've seen are just a little hasty rather than unfair.

 

oh yeah speaking of boxnation, do we have to pay each month for subscription or is it automatic?

 

Tbooze, you're being a bit too dramatic here mate.
No-one wants to see a man hurt, or dead as you said, in the ring.

There's middle ground to be had.

 

95% of the stoppages we see have nothing to do with death but more a fighter not being given a chance, ref already has the mindset that the opponent is a journeyman, hometown fighter getting looked after etc

 

With dodgy stoppages, I'm not so bothered when its a journeyman with no chance of winning.

 

This mentality has created the sterotypical journeyman and the survival journeyman is NOT needed in boxing even though all we hear about is how important the journeyman in boxing is.

I've read accounts from about 10 top journeymen in a yearly edition of boxing news. They all say after a few fights they stop training because they realise they won't get the decision and they stop trying and try to survive because they are going to get stopped easily and a stoppage just hurts their earnings.

 

Safety does not have middle ground, it is black and white. Otherwise the sport would become an issue politically; be banned in due course and driven underground.

There are many ways in which the sport can be changed. But suggesting referees let the fights go on a bit longer to entertain spectators is a step back to the 19th century; not a forward step to bring boxing into the 21st...

 

Great post!