Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

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

The St. Petersburg Times has reported today that there may be a place for Mike Tyson in Winky Wright’s newly-formed promotional company, Winky Promotions. The Times quotes Wright:

“Mike, he wants to be more of a talent scout. A lot of fighters come to him and ask him for advice on different promoters and fighters. We’re trying to find a role for him in that area.”

Wright also pointed out that Joe Public does not know the real Mike Tyson,

“people may not know it, but he’s highly intelligent.”

It seems like a pairing of wildly different pugilists: Wright – diligent, humble and unmistakably likeable, whereas Tyson’s journey through both the sweet science and through life has been well-documented. But it may just be like Winky says, most of us don’t know the real Mike or what he has to offer.

Upon hearing the news Don King surely must have uttered, Only In America. Myself, I coudn’t help thinking: Only In Boxing!

As reported on the Drudge Report (posted Wed Dec 14 2005 19:23:37 ET) and titled BOXING PROMOTER DON KING: ‘BUSH IS A REVOLUTIONARY’

CNN, THE SITUATION ROOM 4:00 PM EST

WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Don King is known worldwide as a big-time boxing promoter. But has also taken some new fights on recently…

You love George Bush?

DON KING: I love George Walker Bush because I think he’s a revolutionary. He’s a president that comes in with conclusiveness. What they’re doing tomorrow in Iraq is a demonstration of that for the vote for democracy. The fundamental process of democracy is freedom of speech, law and order, being able to have freedom, working with people and working and governing yourselves. George Bush is that.

BLITZER: Do you have any regrets supporting him? Take a look at that picture when you and I were there at the dinner last year. Do you have any regrets supporting him as enthusiastically as you did?

KING: No, I don’t. In fact, I want to support him more now because it seems like everybody is punching him. You know what I mean? But he’s fighting back, and he’s throwing great combinations. And I think he’s the guy that is really a revolutionary president.

I think he’s a president that cares about the people he represents, but doesn’t compromise himself to the extent that he acquiesce and accommodate. He goes out there and says like it is, and tries to make things better. Inclusiveness, education, is fighting for that.

These are the things that many guys that don’t fight for — George Walker Bush is a tremendous advocate to America, a great president for the great American people, and he’s decisive. He doesn’t equivocate.