Question for you ESB posters with fight/training experience???

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by jlrivera81, May 6, 2008.


  1. jlrivera81

    jlrivera81 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Jun 11, 2007
    I'm curious about something. today at the gym, i ran into a student who graduated last year from the high school I teach at.

    he has gotten into boxing and is currently 5-0-4.

    Each time I see him, i ask how his fights have been and if he has been keeping up with any current fights.

    Unfortunately, i'm always disappointed that this kid has little to no knowledge of the current boxing scene.

    I asked if he had any favorites and he stumbled over his words to say jermain taylor as if he barely knew who he was. He then stated he pretty much likes Ali and Tyson.

    Mind you, this kid is like 18. I'm 27 years old and hardly remember Tyson fighting Douglas. My knowledge of Ali isnt too high outside of documentaries and fights that I've seen. So i'm sure this kid has much less knowledge than I do about these 2 guys.

    To say i'm disappointed in his lack of current boxing knowledge is an understatement considering how he seems to be serious about persuing boxing.

    MY QUESTION IS...

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    I find it odd b/c if kids want to play football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, or be a track star, they would certainly be able to rip off stats/facts on many of the athletes.

    Yet this kid seems to know nothing about the pioneers or current stars of the sport.

    Help me out fellas. what's up with this picture:huh
     
  2. TroubleLurks

    TroubleLurks **** spell check Full Member

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    Boxing is often an outlet for some kids to just get off the street and stay out of trouble. Iv'e seen several like this that don't know much besides the name Tyson.
     
  3. BigBarry

    BigBarry Grumpy Old Man Full Member

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    hahahahaa!!!

    Welcome to the "I am getting older and they are getting younger" reality!!

    Remember, to most of these kids, Arnold Schwartzenegger is a gov.

    Mention a movie and they scratch their head
     
  4. jlrivera81

    jlrivera81 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Jun 11, 2007
    I feel you fellas. Unfortunately, this seems to only be the case in the sport of boxing.

    you mentioned that kids use boxing as an outlet so therefore dont really follow the sport.

    now, i mentioned to you guys that i teach high school students.

    students all over are extremely interested in MMA. Mind you, this is a fairly new sport. these kids are still able to name half of the MMA fighters out there.

    many kids are using MMA style fighting the same way kids use boxing as an outlet. However, for some reason they know the MMA fighters.

    It just sucks really.
     
  5. dangerousity

    dangerousity Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I like to play football but dont like to watch it...
     
  6. greengloves

    greengloves Well-Known Member Full Member

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    yea,my girlfriend had a friend up from edinburgh who had just got into boxing,he had been training for a few months,so she asked me to entertain him so invited him along to the gym,he was a decent boxer and i then asked him round to watch the big fight that night (rjj v tito) and he had no clue who either of them were.in the UK its especially hard to find global coverage of boxing on the mainstream websites,most will centre around british fighters and pretty much his knowledge of current boxing ended at hatton and calzaghe.

    my coach was a commonwealth boxer who told me he doesnt watch modern fights he simply watches boxing from back in the day aswell.
     
  7. jlrivera81

    jlrivera81 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Jun 11, 2007
    i feel you on that, but this kid is somewhat starting a career. he has a record. so this is more than an extracurricular activity.
     
  8. Arriba

    Arriba Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Really? Consider yourself lucky...most kids I talk to about MMA don't even know it as MMA, they think "UFC" is what it's called.

    And they don't know the name of any MMA fighters...they just "want to get in a cage and beat the **** outta somebody"
     
  9. jlrivera81

    jlrivera81 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Jun 11, 2007
    but i guarantee your coach has extensive knowledge of those old fights.
     
  10. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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  11. greengloves

    greengloves Well-Known Member Full Member

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    exactly my point,modern boxing has become so overmarketed and limited for the old purists while it has become immarketable to the youth with no depth to boxing personalities residing in the ranks.
     
  12. jlrivera81

    jlrivera81 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Jun 11, 2007
    very good point my friend.

    my students know how much of a huge fan I am. i had a student talking about mayweather and how all he cares about is WWE. I had another student mentioning they had seen previews about floyd and dlh the first time around, but they had no idea who each fighter really was, well except for DLH, but just a little.

    so anytime, i get a chance i try to school them on the new guys and let them know there are some great fighters out there with some great fights happening as well. it's crazy that students do not know who Wlad, Lacy, Hatton, Joe C., Cotto, Mosley, or Pavlik.

    Most of my students only know floyd b/c his WWE stint, but no nothing of his boxing career. it's a shame.
     
  13. RDJ

    RDJ Boxing Junkie banned

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    Very common. Most people in my gym don't even follow boxing. In their defense very little is televised over here, K1 is more popular.
     
  14. Dark Sider

    Dark Sider Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Why is it a shame? They train, the vast majority of people on here don't.
     
  15. brooklyn1550

    brooklyn1550 Roberto Duran Full Member

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    You'd be surprised how many boxers don't really follow the sport.