Boxing needs a pulse
I am finally at my wits end with the sport of boxing. With the cancellation of the May 5 rematch of Saul “Canelo” Alverz and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, there are no mega fights to look forward to for the remainder of the year.
The reason for the cancellation was that Alverez twice tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol. He blamed the positive tests on eating contaminated meat from his native country of Mexico.
This is very disappointing not just for me but for all boxing fans all across the globe. Their September 2017 fight, which ended in a draw, led to the tremendous anticipation for this rematch, but now who knows how long we will have to wait.
It is hard to believe we have arrived at this moment in time. Just 25 years ago, boxing was flying high on all levels. There were superstars in the light, middle and heavyweight divisions. It seemed to be a big name fight every month.
Fighters such as Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Roy Jones Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Felix Trinidad and “Sugar” Shane Mosley were all household names during the decade of the 1990s.
That was just a short list of the best of that decade and there are many more boxers who lit up the screen every time they stepped into the squared circle. Even into the new millennium we still had stars fans could attach themselves to.
With the retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr., and the decline of Manny Pacquiao, Triple G and Alverez was all the casual fans had left. It did not help that Andre Ward retired at the height of his career due to the rigors of the sport. The undefeated boxer was arguably the pound for pound best fighter in the world when he hung up his gloves.
I am not sure whether it’s a lack of interest in the sport, fear of head injuries or people leaning more toward MMA (mixed martial arts) that has contributed more to the decline. To be honest I fear it may be a combination of all three and maybe unknown factors that I have not figured on.
It’s not like boxing is without some very dynamic fighters right now. I just wonder why they have not reached the heights that other boxers of the past have.
Outside of Alverez and Golovkin, fighters like Terence Crawford, Mikey Garcia, Errol Spence Jr., and Guillermo Rigondeaux are all considered some of the best in the sport. All but Rigondeaux are undefeated and he only has one defeat on his record.
I hope in the next few years all of these fighters will be able to carry the mantle of superstar in the sport of boxing. I just wonder if it’s too late to bring back those casual fans that have drifted away.
I know the die hard boxing fans will always watch the sport but it’s the casual fans the sport needs now more than ever. One way to get them back is by making the fights more visible to the masses. It seems as though pay per view is the only way we see a big fight. We have to bring back the good old days some how.
