aquariusone
07-03-2011, 09:48 PM
Weeks before July 2, 2011, I was getting excited just as I did way back when Ali was to take on Frazier in "Thrilla in Manila". Max Kellerman's interview of the two "would-be combatants" heightened the anticipation, especially with the egotistical pronouncement of "Haye-The Farce" that he would "send Wladimir to the hospital with his brother Vitali by his side"; that he would "decapitate the two brother's heads" to show the world that it has been too long since heavyweight boxing "was killed by the Klitschko's". It would be the "super fight of 2011" and Haye would "return respectability" to the division.
Just like a little boy that saw the last bite of his popsicle dropped to the ground, i felt great disappointment last night. I was expecting Haye to come out like a man true to his words and his prophetic pronouncement. Instead he was like a Roman gladiator inside the giant lion's cage cowering in fear. Reminds me of a story about a Japanese sitting quietly down to tie his shoelaces on his running shoes when his American friend in a safari with him said: "If you think you can outrun the lion, you are a fool!" The Japanese answered, "I only have to outrun you!"
Haye did not tie his shoes, he took one off, in a farcical display of unsportsmanlike conduct, looking for an alibi for his having ran off all night avoiding the lion. The lion roared only a few times, probably thinking that devouring little David would give him constipation and a heartburn.
What SUPER FIGHT? Boxing has lost its luster but who is to blame? The media? Marketing? The big Mouth? The methodical and calculated dominance of the Klitschko's?
Don't forget. Gone are the days of the ALI-FOREMAN; TYSON-HOLYFIELD; Hagler-Leonard; Leonard-Duran; Gatti-Ward.
Even the HOPKINS-TRINIDAD "super fight" was a disappointment. So was the Dela Hoya-Mayweather; Mayweather-Marquez; Mayweather-Mosley; and Mosley-Pacquiao.
Boxing fans were spoiled in the past when boxers "earned their living" inside the ring, not in the comfort of their living rooms or TV interviewers' sofa; when boxers carried their pride above their shoulders.
It has not turned me off completely. There is still the Pacquiao-Marquez to look forward to. No, I am not as keen on Mayweather-Ortiz; or if ever it happens, Mayweather-Pacquiao. "Defensive skills" has been largely misinterpreted by boxers today to mean the ability to dodge, duck, and run. Anyone who has such "defensive skills" would be boring to watch.
Respectability in boxing is coming to an end, when fat cheques in millions of dollars could be earned by crass, cheap, and trash-talk.
Just like a little boy that saw the last bite of his popsicle dropped to the ground, i felt great disappointment last night. I was expecting Haye to come out like a man true to his words and his prophetic pronouncement. Instead he was like a Roman gladiator inside the giant lion's cage cowering in fear. Reminds me of a story about a Japanese sitting quietly down to tie his shoelaces on his running shoes when his American friend in a safari with him said: "If you think you can outrun the lion, you are a fool!" The Japanese answered, "I only have to outrun you!"
Haye did not tie his shoes, he took one off, in a farcical display of unsportsmanlike conduct, looking for an alibi for his having ran off all night avoiding the lion. The lion roared only a few times, probably thinking that devouring little David would give him constipation and a heartburn.
What SUPER FIGHT? Boxing has lost its luster but who is to blame? The media? Marketing? The big Mouth? The methodical and calculated dominance of the Klitschko's?
Don't forget. Gone are the days of the ALI-FOREMAN; TYSON-HOLYFIELD; Hagler-Leonard; Leonard-Duran; Gatti-Ward.
Even the HOPKINS-TRINIDAD "super fight" was a disappointment. So was the Dela Hoya-Mayweather; Mayweather-Marquez; Mayweather-Mosley; and Mosley-Pacquiao.
Boxing fans were spoiled in the past when boxers "earned their living" inside the ring, not in the comfort of their living rooms or TV interviewers' sofa; when boxers carried their pride above their shoulders.
It has not turned me off completely. There is still the Pacquiao-Marquez to look forward to. No, I am not as keen on Mayweather-Ortiz; or if ever it happens, Mayweather-Pacquiao. "Defensive skills" has been largely misinterpreted by boxers today to mean the ability to dodge, duck, and run. Anyone who has such "defensive skills" would be boring to watch.
Respectability in boxing is coming to an end, when fat cheques in millions of dollars could be earned by crass, cheap, and trash-talk.