By Paul Strauss: This is a subject that has been tossed around ad nauseam. No amount of arguing or reasoning will change the thinking of those picking opposite sides. Consequently, rather than picking sides, we should possibly start the discussion with the acknowledgment that we are all of the same side. We are all fans who love the sport and want what is best for it. Reaching that agreement might help bring us closer to center, rather than drive a wedge between us.
Granted the title of this article itself is inflammatory, and makes obvious insinuations that immediately cause tendons to flex and jaws to clench.. It might be unfair to claim that certain boxing fans actually advocate the aforementioned behavior, but it’s equally true that a certain element willingly looks the other way and sometimes goes so far as to defend what should be deemed unacceptable behavior.
The reasoning claimed is that there is abundant evidence of the need for that type behavior right in front of our faces. We are told to look no further than to the success of professional wrestling with all of its bizarre characters and behavior. Fans should also look to the recent success of the current MMA shows, all of which include funny sounding announcers, dancing girls, and macho fighters who constantly remind fans that they are going to kill their opponent.. To be polite, boxing fans acknowledge that these types, who exhibit unusual personalities, have peppered the sport of boxing too. Through the years boxing has been known for its share of characters, some of which were likable, some that were memorable, and some that fans would like to forget. But, are they really needed for success of the sport?
For wrestling, the answer is definitely yes. That’s what the so called sport is about…….i.e. the outrageous. It’s their niche. Everything about it, to use a cliche, is bigger than life. It’s popularity is built on participants whose inflated muscles are rated by PSI, rather than weight classes. Most seem to have fallen right off of the superhero comic book page. Unfortunately, the real life version comes with sound. They do and say outrageous things to each other, and most fans know if done for real, it would undoubtedly result in someone’s death. But, it’s fantasy, and fans love it, and sometimes feel it necessary to argue about the value of their hero’s (or villain’s) athleticism.
This same element of the wrestling type fan is included within the sport of boxing, and it’s those individuals who answer in the affirmative about the need for boxing to have these odd balls, eccentrics and trash talkers, who bring color to the game. They claim these types add to the entertainment value of boxing and sell tickets. Without them, they argue, the sport can’t survive. Seats won’t be filled and PPVs won’t be purchased.
As a result, they’re sometimes willing to accept the profanity filled antics, personal insults, racial comments, and shady dealings of some. These boxing fans ask us to look back a few years, and offer in evidence the tremendous popularity of types like Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali. Tyson allegedly once threatened to eat the children of his opponent, and to sexually assault members of the media. In order to sell tickets, Ali felt it necessary to insult and degrade his opponents by calling them Ignorant Gorillas, Uncle Toms, Sacred Rabbits or Washer Women.
Advocates of this behavior always argue the important point to remember is these characters got fans to come out in droves to watch them, and that that type of behavior continues to be needed. They remind us not to get too excited or agitated with these individuals, because it’s more often than not just part of the show business or entertainment aspect of the game. This, they point out, is proven to be true when often times a post fight apology is offered with the explanation, “I was just trying to sell tickets!”
Boxing needs them, right? Without them and their type of behavior, boxing would wither and die on the proverbial vine; although, this type of fan will begrudgingly accept the argument that there are many great and popular fighters that don’t need the rude, insulting, and profanity laced behavior to garner tremendous popularity. Examples they agree are such fighters as recently retired Oscar De La Hoya, or the P4P Pac Man, or Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto. Add Thomaz Adamek, Juan Manuel Marquez, his brother Israel, his trilogy opponent Israel Vasquez, Paul Williams, Juan Diaz, and on and on. In the process of compiling what soon becomes a lengthy list, they soon have to admit the spoiled, rude braggarts are the exception, and not the rule.
The reality of the situation is boxing has thrived and will continue to thrive for the right reason, because it can present fans with good and great fighters, whose tremendous skills bring unparalleled levels of excitement, which is appreciated by all fans, even the ones who defend the aforementioned.
The truth is Mike Tyson filled arenas long before he got sucked into the clutches of Robin Givens, promoter Don King, and the accompanying depression and medicated life. Before that he filled the stands because he was a great knockout puncher, who brought excitement to the ring.
The fact is Muhammad Ali would have been even more popular without the insults and bragging. He was great, period! He didn’t need to insult Joe Frazier, Floyd Patterson, or George Chuvalo. It was unnecessary then, and the same is true today.
Fans know who is great. They can see it. They don’t need or want the fighter or his trainer or manager to tell them. A great fighter like Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would see his popularity quickly elevate to that of someone like De La Hoya or Pacquiao if he employed common sense and a little diplomacy. For example, instead of reacting with personal insults to legitimate questions, such as those recently posed by ESPN interviewer Brian Kenny, he could have and should have used his head, and simply said something like, “Well, the Marquez fight was available and an easy one to make. After this fight, I will certainly look at the possibility of fighting any of the top fighters around, such as Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Paul Williams, or Miquel Cotto to name a few. In fact, I look forward to it, and I am sure fans do too. Any of those guys would be worthy opponents for me and would make great fights for the fans.”
Now, try to convince yourself that someone with Floyd’s skills and that kind of behavior and demeanor wouldn’t set even greater attendance records? The truth is boxing is not wrestling or MMA. It doesn’t need goofy sounding announcers, dancing girls, comic book characters, low volume punching or submission holds to thrive. It has always needed skilled, tough boxers, who are willing to pit their particular skills against the best out there.
All the rest is a bunch of snake oil being palmed off on fans as a needed ingredient by peddlers, who play down to the lower elements of human nature. The test: Remove the bizarre rude behavior from a past or current great fighter. Then ask if you and your fellow fans wouldn’t still turn out in the same or even greater numbers? Sure there might be a few morons that stay home, but many more true fans would replace them.
Boxing fans don’t want to see or hear the venomous hissing and spitting. They want to watch skilled knockout artists work their trade. They want to marvel at a defensive wizard, who makes his opponent look silly. They admire the counter punching expert, who turns his brawling opponent into someone who regrets his choice of fighting style.
Does the boring or unskilled fighter draw better if he shoots off his mouth? Guess again! The key ingredient is and always has been to fill fight cards with boxers who have crowd pleasing talent. That’s what fans want to watch. Thankfully, no amount of trash talking, bragging or rude behavior will change it.