Boxing

Perception is Reality - Part II

By Keith Terceira

01.10 - Dog fighting, Pro-Wrestling, and Bullfighting are the only "sports" disliked by more Americans than Boxing. This according to an Article released by Associated Press writer Steve Wilstein titled "Dogfighting Tops List of Hated Sports".

Considering that Dog fighting, and Bull Fighting are activities that pit animals against man,one could erase them from the list. Pro-Wrestling on the other hand long ago came out of the closet and admitted it was entertainment rather than a sport. That leaves Boxing as the most despised true sport. The article states that Sports Marketing Group in Atlanta conducted the research for a larger poll to be completed later this year. I hate to think what the results would have been if only actual sports were considered. Read Steve Wilstein for all the percentages and figures yourself to see just how bad things have become.

Frankly I am one fan the takes issue with the bad rap that boxing gets. Boxing may be its own worse enemy at times but we have made strides in areas of society that most sports lagged far behind, sometimes generations in arrears. This past weekend once again brought to the fore front some of boxing strengths and weaknesses.

Why is it that every time a serious discussion gets rolling in this sport the conversation gets to race. Who is better Marciano or Ali? Two guys talking about Lewis-Tyson and up pops that old demon. What is with this thought process? Every time an Italian or Irish kid moves up in the public eye it happens. If you can’t produce in the arena , real fans really could care less what you look like.

Boxing is the one sport that Black (excuse me if not politically correct) athletes have constantly succeeded, at least in the heavyweight division since June 22, 1937. If my math is correct that’s ten years before Jackie Robinson supposedly broke the "Color" barrier. Well it seems that the sport that everyone dislikes so much was open to change much sooner than the nice yuppie sports were.

Boxing reflected the sad times in this country as much as any sport, but doors were opened in this industry much sooner. While society took its sweet time we enjoyed great firsts. Why is it that no credit gets thrown our way. Instead some idiot continues to print moronic statements like "Great White Hype". Yes, the evil that is racism is alive but needs a knockout. The history of it exists in the annuals of boxing as much as anywhere, but this sport has been much inclusive.

On December 26th 1908, Jack Johnson defeated Tommy Burns for the heavyweight Championship of the World. Was it much to the ire of a segregated nation? Most definitively it angered the hopelessly ignorant in this country. The fact that Johnson participated in that title match was the defining moment in sports. The fact that the police stopped the fight while he was winning an not prior to the start of the bout signaled the end of the beginning. On January 31, 1919 Jackie Robinson was born. Eleven years after Johnson was crowned.

In a time where people still are not admitted to country clubs due to their genetics boxing has been leading by example. You name the origin and we have had champions. On June 22, 1949 , a full twelve years to the day after Louis won the belt Ezzard Charles took the title. How many years before Chamberlin matched up against Russell? Seems boxing is not quite as barbaric as some would like us to believe. I do not wish to gloss over the problems that exist and have existed. What I do want to point out is that the time has come to put this issue to rest. We are conquering this villain while others are still ignoring it. This sport deserves some respect for its achievements as do all the fighters mentioned, for they made this sport great.

A fighter walking into Tex Gonzales Gym in Parsipanny, N.J. late 1970’s to train for the first time, was greeted with a comment something to the effect of "There goes the neighborhood" . Tex responded "I don’t care if he’s white so long as he pays his dues." Talk about Perception Being Reality

In response to the reader mail concerning "Perception is Reality" I would like to say thank you. Since the seventies I have been involved in boxing, first as an amateur in Taunton, Massachusetts. Does anyone recall the Old Roseland Ballroom? A short period of training in the Army and a couple of years with Tex.

Like many fighters I worked a day job and trained. Family needs dictated my need to abandon the ring. The love and admiration for the sport never died and for close to twenty years I reported on sports in New York City , I truly miss Sunnyside Gardens , Knickerbocker Arena and Saint Nicholas Ave. Yo, Maspeth, Queens.

During my newspaper years opinion was forced to take a backseat , for the sake of my family and my wallet I chose to report the facts and not interject a personal tone. In the beginning, while doing Dining and Entertainment reviews I wrote a particularly unpalatable piece on an area restaurant. Due to their rather large advertising debt with the paper I was required to be more complementary in my account. Well the quote was "Find something nice to say" After a long conversation and diatribe in which I expressed my thoughts on the lack of honesty in journalism I returned to my desk dejected. In five minutes or so, the publisher had the newly written account which started my career in the sport section.

"A Chicken Kiev entrée was wonderfully prepared served over a bed of rice pilaf, garnished with parsley, oregano and an inch and a half section rodent appendage . The Italian tiled restroom provides an excellent ambiance as you ride the waves of nausea."

Times have changed and the voice of reason is at a premium these days. If a reader of my articles does not enjoy my experiences and opinions I do sincerely hope that you exercise your freedom of speech and say so in detail. I can use the material !

Concerning the issue that boxing can not become a mainstream sport I disagree. Boxing has been a main stream sport on at least five occasions that I can recall. The Dempsy, Louis, Marciano, Ali, and Leonard/Hagler/Hearns eras. When I say mainstream I mean times in which the average household in America cared and were actively interested in Boxing. Did these times water down the sport of boxing!

In answer to the thought that the dangers in Boxing make it a sport that keep it from being influential in everyday America. Hogwash! Boxing is no more dangerous than Football. If properly supervised and equipped a case could be made to its safety. The fact that the training can be conducted to fit any temperament or contact concerns is obvious . The "watering down" can be in the combat where individual ability and parental rights should prevail.

Best wishes and a speedy recovery to Frank Bruno, you gave us the best of your heart and soul, we return to you the best of ours accompanied by our prayers.

Perception Is Reality Part I

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