Over the past few days I have been giving Boxing, mainly the heavyweight division, a lot of thought and came to a conclusion; It Meant Something More. You probably want me to explain what I mean, but there is a problem there, I am not sure what I mean. So I will give it my best shot.
Over the past 100 years Boxing has seen some of the greatest, most durable, driven, courageous, athletes to ever lace 'em up put on show after show, and wage war after war inside the ropes. Now it just seems like it does not mean what it once did. In a sporting world a long time ago, and far removed from the one we have now, Heavyweight Champion of the World was a title reserved for the baddest man around. Now? Well not so much, and I think I can start to answer myself.
We are not attached to these princes of pugilism like the generations before us. What do I care about Wladimir Klitschko? I don't. Fantastic athlete, amazing boxer, doesn't mean a whole lot to me on a level I can get attached with. Generations before us had the chance to experience Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, Gene Tunney, Jim Braddock, Max Baer, and all the other great heavyweights. These men represented more that just a guy with a good jab and knockout power, the represented all that was amazing about a once great sport.
They fought for meaning and a purpose. Jack Johnson's fight doesn't need to be fought anymore(thankfully), but he fought against racism. Dazzled crowds with uncanny defense and punching power. He fought with passion back then.
Rocky Marciano fought to win, to make a better life for his family and refused to lose, While in a dogfight with Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952, referees warned Marciano (who's nose is said to be literally hanging from his face) that the fight would be stopped if it went another round. What did the Rock do? KO'd Walcott the following round. He fought with pride back then.
For an example of what I mean, right now, click on the link that takes you to Norton vs Holmes 15th round and watch it.............I am waiting............OK, the last 1:30 of that is one of the most amazing clips in boxing history. Two men absolutely refusing to lose, exhausted, drained, barely standing, but not going down...no way. They fought with heart back then.
Joe Louis...oh Joe Louis, The Brown Bomber, the man who single handily told Hitler to shove it. On June 22nd 1938 Louis faced off against the pride of Nazi Germany Max Schmeling, a man who had once defeated Louis, in a fight that had the weight of the Free World on it's shoulders. Louis had to win the fight, it was America against the Nazi's, this fight was for far more than a title belt, it was for all that is good in the world and always will be, it was good vs. evil, it is by far the most significant fight ever fought. On the grandest stage, Yankee Stadium, the Brown Bomber went out and embarrassed Hitler's Prizefighter and took him out in the opening round with vicious right ofter menacing left. Streets in NYC and around the country flooded with people, Black, White, Hispanic, it didn't matter because WE had won. They fought with courage back then.
These fighters not only fought for themselves but they fought for the fans. They fought for their people. Johnson, Louis, Ali all fought so that Blacks in America could be proud and have a champion in those hard times and someone to look up to, to give them hope. Marciano, Dempsey, Braddock all fought for family and pride, to put food on the table, to make a better future for the next generation, and to make something of themselves. These fighters never forgot who made them famous and rich, the people who adored them so much, the fans.
Now today there are more heavyweight champions then I have fingers and toes and the championships are watered down. The once proud division, the most coveted title in sports, is almost meaningless. It is a shame that the division cannot find someone who can fight with the passion, pride, heart, and courage like they did back then.
I suppose former Heavyweight Champion of the World Riddick Bowe said it best "It's hard to get up and run at 5 a.m. when you're wearing silk pajamas."....... I just wish they would remember who bought those silk pajamas for them, the fans.
Over the past 100 years Boxing has seen some of the greatest, most durable, driven, courageous, athletes to ever lace 'em up put on show after show, and wage war after war inside the ropes. Now it just seems like it does not mean what it once did. In a sporting world a long time ago, and far removed from the one we have now, Heavyweight Champion of the World was a title reserved for the baddest man around. Now? Well not so much, and I think I can start to answer myself.
We are not attached to these princes of pugilism like the generations before us. What do I care about Wladimir Klitschko? I don't. Fantastic athlete, amazing boxer, doesn't mean a whole lot to me on a level I can get attached with. Generations before us had the chance to experience Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, Gene Tunney, Jim Braddock, Max Baer, and all the other great heavyweights. These men represented more that just a guy with a good jab and knockout power, the represented all that was amazing about a once great sport.
They fought for meaning and a purpose. Jack Johnson's fight doesn't need to be fought anymore(thankfully), but he fought against racism. Dazzled crowds with uncanny defense and punching power. He fought with passion back then.
Rocky Marciano fought to win, to make a better life for his family and refused to lose, While in a dogfight with Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952, referees warned Marciano (who's nose is said to be literally hanging from his face) that the fight would be stopped if it went another round. What did the Rock do? KO'd Walcott the following round. He fought with pride back then.
For an example of what I mean, right now, click on the link that takes you to Norton vs Holmes 15th round and watch it.............I am waiting............OK, the last 1:30 of that is one of the most amazing clips in boxing history. Two men absolutely refusing to lose, exhausted, drained, barely standing, but not going down...no way. They fought with heart back then.
Joe Louis...oh Joe Louis, The Brown Bomber, the man who single handily told Hitler to shove it. On June 22nd 1938 Louis faced off against the pride of Nazi Germany Max Schmeling, a man who had once defeated Louis, in a fight that had the weight of the Free World on it's shoulders. Louis had to win the fight, it was America against the Nazi's, this fight was for far more than a title belt, it was for all that is good in the world and always will be, it was good vs. evil, it is by far the most significant fight ever fought. On the grandest stage, Yankee Stadium, the Brown Bomber went out and embarrassed Hitler's Prizefighter and took him out in the opening round with vicious right ofter menacing left. Streets in NYC and around the country flooded with people, Black, White, Hispanic, it didn't matter because WE had won. They fought with courage back then.
These fighters not only fought for themselves but they fought for the fans. They fought for their people. Johnson, Louis, Ali all fought so that Blacks in America could be proud and have a champion in those hard times and someone to look up to, to give them hope. Marciano, Dempsey, Braddock all fought for family and pride, to put food on the table, to make a better future for the next generation, and to make something of themselves. These fighters never forgot who made them famous and rich, the people who adored them so much, the fans.
Now today there are more heavyweight champions then I have fingers and toes and the championships are watered down. The once proud division, the most coveted title in sports, is almost meaningless. It is a shame that the division cannot find someone who can fight with the passion, pride, heart, and courage like they did back then.
I suppose former Heavyweight Champion of the World Riddick Bowe said it best "It's hard to get up and run at 5 a.m. when you're wearing silk pajamas."....... I just wish they would remember who bought those silk pajamas for them, the fans.
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