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Crimson · 10-03-2009, 02:16 PM

Was reading the latest issue of Ring Magazine this morning (November 2009) and one of the articles "Making Reality A Reality" (pg. 122) had me thinking about how I miss when television used to hype the fighters up before the fight. NBC and CBS in particular would do this.

Sometimes the hype went on to long and could become frustrating. I'd be looking forward to John "The Beast" Mugabi vs. somebody and teased with "coming up next is the Mugabi vs. so and so fight!" Only to be treated to another hour of ping pong or hang gliding.

For the most part though the hype and anticipation was good. They would give you a fairly extensive insight into the fighters' lives and how they got to the point they currently are at in their career. In the past month or so I was watching an old Tonly Lopez fight on YouTube that included profiles of the fighters and I really enjoyed it.

Aside from HBO's 24/7 we really don't have that anymore and I think that lack of letting us know more about who the fighters are has contributed to boxings popularity declining. At least in the USA.

Of course we are watching the fights to see the fight itself, but part of what makes the fights interesting are the personalities/background/history/cultures/etc. that the fighters bring into the fight with them and they represent. The fight becomes more than just a fight.

An extreme example of this is Ali-Frazier I. What made Ali-Frazier I one of the greatest fights of all time, was not only the fight itself, but the clash of the fighters personalities and all that they represented or were at least perceived as representing.

Point I'm trying to make, and I think the article I read was pointing out, is television should spend some more time telling us "WHO" the fighters are. ESPN for example, (and I LOVE ESPN boxing!), will often go right into a fight and all we'll ever know about the fighters is what the announcers tell us during the fight and what we see. And they share great information about the fighters during the fight (I find Teddy Atlas to be one of, if not THEE best and most knowledgable announcers in boxing broadcasting), but that is not the same as learning about the fighters before the fight.

Myself, I'd rather see a few minutes of interviews with the main event fighter and some background information on his life than a 4 round contest. And I like watching 4 round fights! Thing is, it's nice to turn on a main event and feel like you know some specifics about the fighter. Otherwise, they all kind of blend together a bit. And I'm referring to the top contenders/title holders whom we often see on tv.

I think boxing would benefit from more detailed profiles of the fighters. It's a lot more interesting to watch a fight when you feel like you know who the fighter is, compared to when you know little to nothing about them. Then it's only a fight. Which is still a great event to watch if your a boxing fan, but not as great as watching a fight between 2 or at least 1 fighter that you know something about.

Funny. Now I miss the days of Ferdie Pacheco and Albert, Gil Clancy, etc. taking time to hype up a fight while I was stuck watching some tether ball championship from parts unknown, not wanting to take a chance that they might show a fight highlight or share a boxer interview, during that otherwise never to be watched sporting event. Cursing in frustration that they didn't just show us the fight.

Those were GLORY DAYS!

10-03-2009, 02:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Crimson All Star Reserve Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 996 Thanks: 682 Thanked 54x in 51 posts	Randomn Thoughts on Boxing Was reading the latest issue of Ring Magazine this morning (November 2009) and one of the articles "Making Reality A Reality" (pg. 122) had me thinking about how I miss when television used to hype the fighters up before the fight. NBC and CBS in particular would do this. Sometimes the hype went on to long and could become frustrating. I'd be looking forward to John "The Beast" Mugabi vs. somebody and teased with "coming up next is the Mugabi vs. so and so fight!" Only to be treated to another hour of ping pong or hang gliding. For the most part though the hype and anticipation was good. They would give you a fairly extensive insight into the fighters' lives and how they got to the point they currently are at in their career. In the past month or so I was watching an old Tonly Lopez fight on YouTube that included profiles of the fighters and I really enjoyed it. Aside from HBO's 24/7 we really don't have that anymore and I think that lack of letting us know more about who the fighters are has contributed to boxings popularity declining. At least in the USA. Of course we are watching the fights to see the fight itself, but part of what makes the fights interesting are the personalities/background/history/cultures/etc. that the fighters bring into the fight with them and they represent. The fight becomes more than just a fight. An extreme example of this is Ali-Frazier I. What made Ali-Frazier I one of the greatest fights of all time, was not only the fight itself, but the clash of the fighters personalities and all that they represented or were at least perceived as representing. Point I'm trying to make, and I think the article I read was pointing out, is television should spend some more time telling us "WHO" the fighters are. ESPN for example, (and I LOVE ESPN boxing!), will often go right into a fight and all we'll ever know about the fighters is what the announcers tell us during the fight and what we see. And they share great information about the fighters during the fight (I find Teddy Atlas to be one of, if not THEE best and most knowledgable announcers in boxing broadcasting), but that is not the same as learning about the fighters before the fight. Myself, I'd rather see a few minutes of interviews with the main event fighter and some background information on his life than a 4 round contest. And I like watching 4 round fights! Thing is, it's nice to turn on a main event and feel like you know some specifics about the fighter. Otherwise, they all kind of blend together a bit. And I'm referring to the top contenders/title holders whom we often see on tv. I think boxing would benefit from more detailed profiles of the fighters. It's a lot more interesting to watch a fight when you feel like you know who the fighter is, compared to when you know little to nothing about them. Then it's only a fight. Which is still a great event to watch if your a boxing fan, but not as great as watching a fight between 2 or at least 1 fighter that you know something about. Funny. Now I miss the days of Ferdie Pacheco and Albert, Gil Clancy, etc. taking time to hype up a fight while I was stuck watching some tether ball championship from parts unknown, not wanting to take a chance that they might show a fight highlight or share a boxer interview, during that otherwise never to be watched sporting event. Cursing in frustration that they didn't just show us the fight. Those were GLORY DAYS!