Tomato Cans, Bums & Walkovers

21.08.04 – By WRAY EDWARDS: Whenever we go to the movies, I always sit through the full credits at the end. Everybody leaves, and the sweepers and cleaners swarm all over the place picking up for the next showing. Besides out-takes which are amusing, some movies have scenes after the credits which are great. The one at the end of “THE CHASE”, with Charlie Sheen (my favorite), has him dressed as John Wayne Gacey in a hilarious vignette. Sitting through the credits, is my way of paying respect to all those who have worked so hard to make the movie, especially the supporting cast.

The sport of Boxing reminds one a bit of the old serial shorts, which went with the Saturday matinee. Our hero, with whom we often identify, faces a succession of villains, over the weeks and months, to emerge victorious after a number of perilous cliff-hangers. If there’s anything that hangs on a cliff, it’s the career of a professional boxer. They are in the utmost peril at all times when doing their thing. For us to cheer a winner, there has to be a loser. Though winning may be the best thing, it’s Not “the only thing.” Boxing fans my hiss and boo the Snidely Whiplashes, but without them, there would be no Heroes.

World champions and Top Tenners all stand at the peak of a giant pyramid of A, B & C boxers in the professional, amateur, Golden Gloves and clubs. In our sometimes heated debates, boxers are called all sorts of unflattering names which do them an injustice. Each one of them voluntarily faces pain and trauma most of us can only guess at. Don’t you know that when some guys are picked to fight this or that boxer, they know they are supposed to lose; supposed to play the role of defeated challenger, or are just filling in to complete the card? How sad and difficult is that? But they do it – for us and for their dreams. Once in a while, as in the Sanchez/Candelo fight, a guy breaks the script, and turns the tables, to become our new “hero”.

In a perfect world, every match would be composed of two guys as evenly matched as possible, they would fight Gatti/Ward style into the eleventh or twelfth round, and then there would be a tremendous KO. Unfortunately that’s not the way things usually go. Boxing is a somewhat unregulated, messy, often corrupt, occasionally lethal display of human courage and skill. Nobody who risks his life for $500 should read or hear somewhere, that people think he is a “human sacrifice”, a “tomato can” or a “bum”. I assume that most of you already understand that vulgar profanity is always in poor taste, even though we are all major jocks here.

I have talked to several boxers who have been severely disrespected on this and other sites. They sometimes see these remarks, and do not feel good about them. You would be amazed how unrealistic and hopelessly positive they are about their prospects. They are constantly encouraging themselves, working hard, and dreaming of making it to the big-time. In many ways they are nobler than their more famous and successful counterparts who, because of their God-given bodies and talents, don’t have to work nearly as hard, and often blow it as a result of their lack of appreciation for what they have been given.

My mother told me once: “Your friend Curtis works his ass off for C’s, and you just loaf your way to A’s and B’s.” She was right. Curtis is way more successful than I because of the work ethic he developed struggling to pass. Unfortunately, in the world of boxing, hard work is often not rewarded. In many cases politics, economics, jealousy, corruption and greed rule the day. Going to the office for these guys requires them to engage in mortal combat. Many of them don’t come from the best part of town, and like a large number of young kids, they think that boxing or basketball is their ticket out, not realizing how few really make it.

These young men, as they try to rise through the ranks and, grown old, slide down the backside of their careers, represent the supporting cast, without whom the champion stars would have no backdrop to display their talents, and make millions. Many fall by the wayside or, if they stall at a certain level, become the stepping stones in the grand staircase our hero’s climb to stardom. Without them and their hopeless dreams, the sport could not exist. They are the foundation of boxing, and like all foundations, they are often in the dirt, not very pretty, and seldom seen. How often do we hear: “I’ve never heard of this guy.” So what? Give him a chance. Like the supporting cast in a movie, they may be way down the list, but someday may steal the show.

Most of us, in our lives, are also way down the list. We are each doing what we can, with what we’ve got, where we are, and dreaming of a better life. There are, of course, certain events which occur in the sport which are a result of questionable business practices, and lack of professional sports ethics. Obvious “home cooking” decisions, referee malfeasance, promoter embezzlement, unscrupulous trainers and poor social histories, are often extra burdens which are heaped on a boxer’s already demanding challenges. It’s a wonder any of them ever make it.

The last thing boxers need to hear, is some of the bad-mouthing they get from some fans. This caveat is, of course, assuming that the boxer is not robbing liquor stores or raping and pillaging. Naturally criminal or reckless behavior outside the ring or training camp is fair game for our criticisms. What does not seem appropriate, however, is for us to vituperate regarding a boxer’s performance in the ring unless, of course, he shows obvious cowardice or unsportsmanlike conduct. Lack of talent, poor tactics, having a bad night, being mismatched, being protected, getting caught & KTFO, and many other things can affect the outcome, and are not necessarily the boxer’s fault.

At the risk of pontificating, the suggestion that we narrow our reasons for disrespectful remarks about boxers seems appropriate. From the greatest to the least of these guys, they are the show-cast of our beloved sport. Before you insult a boxer, just consider if you would say it to his face, and proceed with caution. One would do well to remember, that those who throw stones, are perceived to be stone-throwers. And that, my friends, does not look good on your ESB resume.