Pros and Cons of the Boxing Year 2005

Pros
The biggest positive to emerge in 2005 has been the shake-up of British Satellite broadcaster, SKY, and the quality control employed to their coverage of boxing. Out went meaningless WBU, IBC, WBF sparring sessions masquerading as significant combat and back came the legitimate British, Commonwealth and European belts coupled with delayed coverage of the world’s finest matchups. It will take a while to reclaim the ground lost to these parasitic sanctioning bodies and the confusion they generated, but the worm has turned.

Discovering that amongst the pampered superstars and the protected prospects the heart of boxing still beats strong; and it beats strongest in those that crave recognition not money. Guys like Namibian welterweight Ali Nuumbembe, a fighter who lives in a caravan behind a country pub in Northern England. A beacon of integrity in his community, meeting Ali restored my ailing faith in the sport and, to a lesser extent, the human race itself.

Ricky Hatton. A British fighter arrived as a pound-for-pound contender and the undisputed champion of his division. Now please capitalize on it Ricky.

Cons
The biggest disappointment of the year has been the inauspicious start made by terrestrial television’s return to professional boxing. Misfortune has shadowed its every move. Injury and illness scuppering Williams vs. Skelton and Calzaghe vs. Lacy; promotional differences snatched Ricky Hatton from a terrestrial audience that would have loved him; and the first big ‘event’ of Sports Network’s exclusive contract with ITV – the Williams vs. Harrison fight – was probably the most embarrassing heavyweight contest in living memory. It can only improve in 2006.

Losing Pat Putnam undoubtedly soured the usual end of year reflections. Boxing lost one of its most important and genuinely gifted people. Keep off the grass.

And on a similarly morbid theme, the loss of Leavander Johnson was tragic, whilst I could understand the commentators who appeared to suggest that “he “died a champion� offered consolation. It felt churlish and shallow to assume that boxing and its baubles were the only meaning in his life. I’m sure the family that misses him everyday would appreciate the respect, but I’m equally sure they meant a great deal more to him than the sport he graced.

David Payne is The Sweet Science’s Great Britain correspondent. To read more of his work