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Punch Lines by Judi Abate: Changes

posted by Kathleen Holland on August 19, 2007, in Punch Lines By Judi Abate

By Judi Abate

"Boxing is a tough racket" words spoken by boxing great Rocky Graziano. I'm sure this can be said for both the physical aspect of the sport as well as behind the scenes theatrics. This is NOT an article about boxing bashing, this is NOT about who does who wrong. It is an attempt to acknowledge the black eyes of this sport in order to correct them (because yes, they are broken) so that boxing can remain strong.

Changes do happen in daily life. Everyone or everything eventually sees that to change is a positive ability- a type of survival. To go with the flow becomes common place. Boxing needs to change also so it can cement it's place in history. What boxing once was in the past, the pinnacle of tradition, respect, and entertainment is now only a skeleton of it's former self.

Boxing's popularity has always been a sport of high and low dips like a rollercoaster ride. Today boxing is sitting in the shadows of other crowd pleasing sports: MMA (shivers and not because I am cold), Pro-wrestling (can you say soap opera on steroids?) and kickboxing (enough said).

What we fail to recall is Boxing (the sweet science) came before all these newly created sports. So why aren't more people looking out for it, improving it and trying to preserve that which History has given us? Boxing is more than art, more than sport it is part of human nature. it is self-defense on a higher level. If we lose boxing because changes are not made we will become reactionary without rules to ensure our personal safety, a society of free-for-alls.

Some changes definitely need to be made pronto others to be considered more carefully and some concepts to be removed from boxing all together so the sweet science will be a survivor not a casualty. Through research and discussions I have come to recognize areas that could be improved in order to benefit the sport.

Alphabet soup- WBA, WBC,IBF,WBO,IBO, XYZ and OMG! Do we really need all these sanctioning bodies? NO! What they are responsible for more than anything else is the nonsense, injustice and scandals of boxing. The titles they give are redundant. The different rankings- an excuse for dirty money flowing around the sport resulting in mis-matched bouts. The many weight classes are stretching the limit ( some can easily be eliminated). The rules are confusing if not just plain dangerous ( not all states follow the same rules) they lack consistency.
The purest in me believes: 1 governing body-8 weight classes and 1 champ per class. The wishful me suggests: 2 possible governing bodies (like the NFL and AFL)-Less than 1 weight classes and a playoff system for champs.
Boxing commentators- Psst...I'll tell you a little secret...when I watch fights on TV I turn the volume off. I can enjoy the fight much more without listening to the commentators talking more about themselves than the fight or showing favoritism even though they claim to be neutral. Their attempts at keeping fans attention by creatively saying the same thing 20 different ways is just annoying.
Low blows- Un-necessary and un-manly. Make the foul protector stronger so a fighter won't say he can't continue because of a low blow and win a fight that way. (The five minute rule is a good one.)
Promoters- I could probably write a book about this subject of boxing but will say in my opinion they have destroyed the integrity of the sport and their control is oppressive. When the promoters make more money than the boxers-some thing is very wrong.
Undefeated boxers- People seem to be pre-occupied with the undefeated boxer these days. Undefeated records are impression no doubt. However, how much of that perfect record belong to bouts that were hard to win and really beneficial to the boxer's talents? Boxers need to fight decent fights ( even with a possible loss or draw) than to let them inflate their record with nobodies and has-beens just to claim the fame of being 20-0.
Networks- More alphabet names but the same mistake. Their objective is to find ways they can make the most money even if the fans don't get their money's worth. Mediocre fights lead fans away from boxing. Will the Networks ever learn?
Weigh-in's- As they are now 24 hours before a fight-can not always be an accurate account of what a boxer will be when he steps into the ring the next day. Much can happen to gain an edge on your opponent in that time as well as physical dangers. Pre-fight weigh in's the same day should take place to ensure fairness.
Entourages- This is not a parade. This is not a MTV video- this is a boxing match- people! A boxer does not need 30 of his closest friends to walk him into the ring. He knew how to walk when he was 3 years old. We do not need a circus atmosphere at ringside. Pure and simple- trainer, chief second cutman and boxer- end of story.
Ring card girls- Sorry guys but I do not see the purpose for this display. Common sense, if you're watching the fight and paying attention you should know what round it is and you do not need a bikini model holding up a little card ( which can't be seen unless you are ringside anyway) to tell you that fact.
Aftercare for boxers- It is important to always remember: Boxers are the most exposed and the least protected. Most rules of boxing do consider a boxer's safety in the ring and that is commendable. What we need are more mentors to help boxers who become successful in the sport learn to manage their money so they will have a secure future. We also need more programs to help boxers after their careers are over. Boxer pensions and retirement funds should be a staple in boxing. RBF, F.I.S.T, and the Teddy Atlas Foundation are very good starts but we need to do more and the people with the money in boxing ( we know who you are) need to be less selfish and more generous.

By now you may be thinking that I am not a boxing FAN but a crusader to abolish boxing. You would be wrong. The love of boxing allows me to examine what can be changed so that boxing remains strong and to keep it from becoming just another word in the dictionary. I do not believe that " pro-boxing" is mud that can never be cleaned. We can clean up the sport it will just take the combined effort to do so.
The boxing community’s hard working trainers and dedicated boxers have my respect. What I do demand is accountability from the people who run boxing. Reforming boxing will be a positive outcome for all involved. Boxing simply needs to "show more love" to the boxers who dedicate themselves to a career they love.

Footnote-Boxing may be temporarily down for the count but it is never out of the fight. Meet me on the flipside and I'll show you -"What is right about Boxing" and there is much that is right.

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