Boxing Thread

Being quite new to this form, I noticed it's been a few years since a boxing thread has been active. Personally, I hope to keep this one a little more active before it heads off into the R.I.P section.

Last night I watched Klitschko vs. Pulev. It was a absolutely amazing KO, the first time that Pulev has been beaten.

Last weekend was watching B-Hop being out-boxed by Kovalev.

Next weekend it's Pacquiao vs. Algieri (an interesting fight on paper). It's been an excellent year!

I'm based in the UK. We have some good domestic fights and potential world class fighters (Tyson Fury, Lee Selby to name two). We also have a very good channel dedicated to boxing, Box Nation. http://www.boxnation.com/boxing-matches/

The question I've been asking is who is Mayweather going to fight next? Khan? Pacquiao? Lots of options, but who next?

Feel free to join in, the discussion gym is open.

Also, I'm not sure how many people will get to see this fight, but it's absolutly stacked to the roof with good bouts http://www.boxnation.com/boxing-matches/dereck-chisora-v-tyson-fury/

My predictions are Fury, Saunders and Skeete for wins.

I used to watch boxing all the time here in the US.  I remember seeing Mike Tyson on ESPN's Tuesday Night Fights when he was still a relative unknown.  I've sort of lost interest in boxing now though.  I still check the headlines (like I saw Bernard Hopkins finally lost again - the guy is what, 49?).  

I think here in the States the popularity of boxing has been usurped by MMA.  I'm sort of split; I like MMA when there are no ground holds and guys (and gals) are just punching and kicking the crap out of each other.  I've seen too many boxing matches where there weren't enough exchanges which is why I pretty much gave up on the heavyweight division a long time ago.  

Speaking of MMA, I saw this Yahoo headline today.  Yuck!

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/leslie-smith-gets-her-left-ear-torn-half-off-by-punch-in-bout-with-jessica-eye-015056611.html;_ylt=AwrBT7eXO2lUSnYAjjVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzY2tlYWhrBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDQzOV8x

I absolutely agree with you on the development of MMA.  The idea of the sport is excellent, so may different disciplines in one event.  It's hard not to like it.  I enjoy both, but, boxing is where my heart is.  That's one nasty injury!  

Yeah, watching Hopkins getting beat was a interesting experience.  He has done some excellent press after.  I hope he gets a world title at the age of 50, nice to see some history being made.  I hostly think he had his arse handed back to him though by Kovalev.  Still, he's an interesting fighter to watch like; Tony Thompson, Tyson Fury, Zab Juda and the ever fantastic Tyson on a re-run watch (so aggressive!)

I enjoy the heavyweight division, a few really outspoken characters e.g. Shannon Briggs #LetsGoChamp  I've really warmed to him.  I hope he gets a shot at Klitschko.

I've noticed another thing. It looks as if the Australians have a live fight night on a Wednesday. Seems like an interesting deal, but, I quite like my weekend shows. I watched Lucas Browne fight a very tough opponent last week, Chauncy Welliver. Brown was saying in his corner that his hand where hurting. That's got to be some heavy punches Welliver was taking. Brown is know for being a banger!

I've always liked "The Executioner".  I loved that gimmick when he would come to the ring in a Grim Reaper outfit complete with a scythe.  And his fights were almost never boring.

I also like his out of the ring "skills".  Everything I've read or heard says Hopkins lives frugally, no fancy cars or jewelry or million square foot mansions.  He's invested his money and apparently done so wisely.  Which means he continues fighting only because he loves and enjoys it; he evidently doesn't need the paydays anymore.

Ah, see, I only got back into boxing in a big way about 2 years ago.  I'm playing massive amounts of catch since I haven't watched it properly since the late 80s.  James Tony is one I want to really watch back to back.  Soo much to watch, soo little time!

Hopkins, well, he's a test to what you do when you put your mind to it.

I think this weekend we might see a possible outcome for the Mayweather/Pacquiao debate.

Just out of interest, did anyone in the American boxing viewing audience hear about the Frotch vs Groves 2 event?  Did it reach as far as the other side of the water?

One to watch is Carl Frampton from Belfast, current IBF World super bantamweight holder. He is managed by former-world champion Barry McGuigan. Might go down very well in America once he gets established.

Also, another local lad, Nathan Cleverly is on the return after his defeat to Kovalev just over a year ago.

oh man, it's just over 24 hours away and I'm pumped to see Pacman fight!

I love boxing, and much prefer it to MMA, I just don't watch much of it anymore. As a family man who also loves other sports, and who wants to limit his overall sports viewing, I tend to gravitate towards football, baseball and basketball.

Toho - I don't remember him during his pre-HBO days, but I do have fond memories of watching Tyson obliterate folks on HBO as a kid. He rose up the ranks quickly. I remember a lot of Holmes, Spinks', and Pinklon Thomas fights as well.

Dr8breed74 wrote:

Just out of interest, did anyone in the American boxing viewing audience hear about the Frotch vs Groves 2 event?  Did it reach as far as the other side of the water?

One to watch is Carl Frampton from Belfast, current IBF World super bantamweight holder.  He is managed by former-world champion Barry McGuigan.  Might go down very well in America once he gets established.

Also, another local lad, Nathan Cleverly is on the return after his defeat to Kovalev just over a year ago.

Never heard of any of those guys.  Then again, like I said, I haven't been a devoted boxing fan for some time now.  I just stay peripherally interested. 

I actually find myself starting to get back into both boxing and MMA more now that the product WWE puts out is geared toward teenage boys.  I watched the last taped TNA matches on Spike TV last night and I forgot how much fun professional wrestling can be when wrestlers can swear on promos and bleed in the ring.  Yeah I know the outcomes are all pre-determined but it's just so much more interesting to me when it also "appears" to be really violent.  Last night hardcore veteran Tommy Dreamer bled a ton in the ring and that match was more entertaining than anything WWE has put on the air in years.

scottmitchell74 wrote:

I love boxing, and much prefer it to MMA, I just don't watch much of it anymore. As a family man who also loves other sports, and who wants to limit his overall sports viewing, I tend to gravitate towards football, baseball and basketball.

Toho - I don't remember him during his pre-HBO days, but I do have fond memories of watching Tyson obliterate folks on HBO as a kid. He rose up the ranks quickly. I remember a lot of Holmes, Spinks', and Pinklon Thomas fights as well.

I was a big fan of "The Easton Assassin" Larry Holmes.  Easton was real close to where I grew up in PA; our high school used to play them in all sports so when somebody that close to home made the big time, everyone in the area was psyched.

It's nice to see people talking about boxing on a music forum, even if it is just passing comments and references to other contact sports.

I think I really like UK boxers at the moment. We've got a lot of good domestic fights going on. I think I've been to more boxing matches than gigs over the last year or so.

Lots of people are looking at Pacman doing the business tomorrow night, everyone wants to see him and Mayweather in the ring, I've got everything crossed this fight can happen! (contract and announcement by Xmas would be cracking!).

One UK name to watch out for in the heavyweight division is Anthony Joshua, the man is going places. Once Wlad has gone, this fella will be on of 'the ones' at the top of the tree.

I see Pacquiao steamrolled to an easy decision last night. How the hell did that fight go the distance when he knocked his opponent down 6 times?????

Probably the best fight I ever saw was the one that ultimately put me off the sport for life. Nigel Benn Vs Gerald Mcclellan. Absolutely brutal warrior stuff and everyone I was with went mental when Mcclellan was counted out. A few minutes later it became clear that Mcclellan was fighting for his life.

I just found it difficult to enjoy after seeing that.

I sort of had the same reaction when I watched Boom Boom Mancini KO Duk Koo Kim who later died. But I also realized that boxers know the risks when the climb in the ring; it's a high risk / high reward profession.

tohostudios wrote:

I sort of had the same reaction when I watched Boom Boom Mancini KO Duk Koo Kim who later died.   But I also realized that boxers know the risks when the climb in the ring; it's a high risk / high reward profession.  

Yeah, I'm not getting preachy, it just wasn't my thing after that.

I think that is half the appeal with boxing. I know it's dangerous, I know it's possible I'm going to see someone die however, it's a thrill. This is boxing after all, not ball room dancing haha.

It's not like we're dealing with a street fight or anything like that. I always like to think that If it wasn't in the ring with a ref, it would be in some underground club where people could really get hurt.

Pacman on the weekend was brilliant. He did well, struggled a little, but still showed he had lots of flare. Danny Garcia or Mayweather next.

Oh man, just watched Tyson Fury perform on of the most one sided fights I've seen for quite some time.

On a side note to the actual boxing, just seen this movie, I'm quite interested in seeing it. He's a legend, I hope it's as good as When We Were Kings.

On another side note, have you seen "The Fighter"?  It's the story of "Irish" Micky Ward, a fighter I grew up watching.  I think the performances by Mark Wahlberg as Micky and Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund are just outstanding.  And the people playing Ward's female family are just so hateable.  

I think this and Raging Bull are my favorite boxing movies.

Oh man, no, I haven't see this movie at all. Going to have to now.  

Strange fact, I was born in the same hospital as Christian Bale, only a few months apart.  My grandmother was a midwife at the place at the time, and, yes, I was delivered by her (that still freaks me out a little).  

Raging Bull is excellent.  I love watching that movie to get through some high and low points in my life.  It's got such a good photogenic atmosphere.  

looks as if one of our local lads, Lee Selby is going to be challenge Evgeny Gradovich for his IBF featherweight title with a draw against Jayson Velez.

Here's the trailer:

Riddick Bowe and Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini named to the boxing hall of fame.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/riddick-bowe-named-boxing-hall-fame-005551074--box.html

I was a huge boxing fan growing up. I even boxed myself, at the same gym Hagler and other greats trained at. My father was friends with Hagler when he was younger. I've always loved the sport. It's in my blood. In recent years, though, my interest has waned.

Too many weak divisions, shitty decisions, corruption, cowards like Mayweather refusing to be a real fighter, etc. I get it, it's good to be business-conscious, but I wish these people would take on tough fights!

Sadly, most fights I watch these days, I'm unfamiliar with the fighters. Ten years ago I could tell you the records of everyone on the damn turd circuit! I knew it all. =(

I watch more MMA than boxing now.