When did boxing lose its mystique for you?

Blame Tyson.

 

Floyd Mayweather is the last of the mohicans.

Mayweather, Marquez, Pacquiao REALLY belong to the 2000's generation, not this generation. So, this generation has Lomachenko and Rigondeaux are ATG in their fighting ability. (Loma will be ATG, that's a different discussion).

Then the next greatest 'talents' are Broner, Canelo and to some, Crawford...hmmm...

 

Still love the fight game but for me the introduction of the IBF then the WBO and all the other "titles". Although there has been some great fights for those titles I think it just diluted the whole boxing picture. Apart from a few, I just don't feel the excitement for "title" fights as I used to.

 

I guess it depends on what 'mystique' means.
I still get 'caught up in the hype' too, and excited about some of the big fights. I mean, a fight is a fight, you never lose the interest is seeing a couple of real good fighters matched and the ballyhoo serves its purpose.

But it's not like when I was a youngster. I'm far more aware every second of how much an illusion it all is, not just the hype but all the legend and hierarchy, all the mythic stuff we perpetuate here. I don't get totally lost in it or believe in stuff that doesn't really exist. I mean, all these 'all-time rankings' and discussions on this forum, it's all very silly and almost meaningless.

 

It sounds like a bit of jadeism has set in for you. (?) Not to worry, as I've grown older I've also begun to realise that much of what I thought was important when I was younger is actually not very important at all. I guess I'm a little jaded too.

A big part of this loss of interest me is the proliferation of all these titles though. I honestly don't pay attention at all to who holds what these days. We have dime a dozen paper tigers running around out there.

 

I remember when the HW Champion was the premier sports figure in the US.
He was bigger than Babe Ruth, Ben Hogan, Ted Williams or anyone else you want to name.

That went away long ago. I doubt if 2% of the population even know who the champ is, or even care.

Multiple titles and general buffoonery killed it. I think it started with Ali.

 

Yeah, maybe I am jaded.
But you express it perfectly when you say "begun to realise that much of what I thought was important when I was younger is actually not very important at all".

That's it. The 'history of boxing' is still an interest, but there's no Valhalla or Mount Olympus of boxing god ATGs. There was no pristine 'golden age', there was no RING magazine 'holy scripture'. The sport was corrupt from day one.

Professional boxing is, of course, an entertainment, for profit. It's 'integrity' only has to remain intact enough for it to attract a paying audience, and that's not saying much. The absurd proliferation of titles shows how far the providers of this entertainment can manipulate the fans. But in the end of the day it wouldn't stop you watching a great fight.

 

This is all true, but things change.
Modern culture is different to how it was around the mid-20th century.

 

When it went from eight weight classes to 3200 'n 5Xs as many belts. Sad, that most people can't name The Heavyweight Champion of the World, when even toddlers could when Joe Louis was champ

 

You can pick any fighter of today and there's a great from the past that can whip him.

 

fixed that for you. :deal

 

:goodThank you, you DID fix it.

 

Never. With youtube and all of the live coverage etc it's become even more ****ing awesome.

 

It was unreal, such an awesome atmosphere. I'm watching Froch against Kessler in a fortnight so I hope it's as good but I doubt anything can live up to that.

Exactly every era it's faults and for better or worse boxing is now a truly global sport, especially with Cuba legalising pro boxing. I love the sport and can't see that changing anytime soon.

 

I think it is a trend in modern popular culture.

Who can name the song at #1 on the charts today?

How many people on the streets of the US can name the 5 best players in baseball?

How many people on the street would agree on who are the best actors.

We have a saturated and fractured culture... for better or wose.