Been on my Mind: Is Boxing Still Considered a Noble Sport by the Casual Fight Fan?

Been on my Mind: Is Boxing Still Considered a Noble Sport by the Casual Fight Fan?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. The sport was built on honor and the reputation that the brave warriors who stepped though the ropes, held in their hands the ability to execute the sweet science with such ferocity, that it would have the people in the audience screaming in adulation.

But is this still how boxing is perceived?

Is boxing still a noble sport?

Since way back when there have been problems with mafia involvement and fight fixing. Push forward through the years and there were issues with title holders holding onto their belts for stupendous amounts of time before being forced to take a mandatory. Add to this the fact that boxers no longer seem to want to fight as often, and when they do they often face opponents that don't exactly have the fans queuing to turn up to watch. There have always been problems in the sport, but with drug cheats becoming more common, and with fighters, elite level fighters taking so long out the ring (Dawson, Ward, Bradley) for various reasons, is this giving boxing an image of dishonesty instead of nobility? Go on any popular boxing forum, website or T.V. network, and you will find scandal.

Let me know what you think.

No it isn't noble anymore, if it ever was. Drgu cheats and dodgy cards is what bothers me the most these days. I hate cheating, and these are just unacceptable versions of cheating that now seem implanted int he sport.

Give me the odd Mafia fix any day of the week. at least the other fights were fine.

Good points Sean, some of the judging in the sport recently suggests that fight fixing is actually making a comeback, and we need that comeback to get spanked like a shot Shane Mosley.

Interesting comparison. Mafia fixes or drug cheats? The mob can count themselves lucky they didn't have IJL as ref then. The fix would have been too obvious.

Thanks Azania.

Azania, sometimes i miss you jabbing at me, baiting me, and asking me to KO you with some verbal debating, is this normal?

I have often wondered why boxing is called the nobel sport.

I didn't wonder so much as to get off my behind and do a bit of research but I'm still curious.

Maybe somebody knows?

Strongback i know, i know a lot of stuff about boxing... we should hang out sometime, i can teach you my knowledge, bruce lee style.

davidemore wrote:Strongback i know, i know a lot of stuff about boxing... we should hang out sometime, i can teach you my knowledge, bruce lee style.

No. this is the beginning of nonsense Davide. No.

Seanus why you hating on my thread, i am posting cultured pieces, don't gun for me moderator, i got nothing, i got boxing knowledge, read my thread, do not gun for me seanus, do not anger the beast of emore, he been sleeping...

friend.

davidemore wrote:Seanus why you hating on my thread, i am posting cultured pieces, don't gun for me moderator, i got nothing, i got boxing knowledge, read my thread, do not gun for me seanus, do not anger the beast of emore, he been sleeping...

friend.

Ha, madman

You've done (relatively) well so far Davide, don't spoil it.

davidemore wrote:Strongback i know, i know a lot of stuff about boxing... we should hang out sometime, i can teach you my knowledge, bruce lee style.

We can talk literature if you like.

Union Cane wrote:You've done (relatively) well so far Davide, don't spoil it.

Seconded

Seanus why you hating on my thread, i am posting cultured pieces, don't gun for me moderator, i got nothing, i got boxing knowledge, read my thread, do not gun for me seanus, do not anger the beast of emore, he been sleeping...

friend.

Strongback i love books, Murakami is doing it for me big style at the minute, although IQ84 is bloated beyond belief.

Union i can be good, stick with me... friend.

Okay I'll keep it sane and savvy, thoughts on my post, boys... ?

I don't actually understand why its noble to begin with.

Mental strength and excellence alex. Two traits that i myself have...

davidemore wrote:Mental strength and excellence alex. Two traits that i myself have...

......................................................................................................

Jabmachine it was a fair response to a good question from alex, are you jabbing at me, jabmachine? i sense mocking? emore does not like mocking, I'm a boxing fan, I'm here to discuss the sport of boxing...

The question is, are you?

davidemore wrote:Mental strength and excellence alex. Two traits that i myself have...

Good to see you back david... Kinda...
But the same could be applied to tennis or any sport.
Is it because of the warrior image?

defo alex, warrior is key to this word, noble, bravery too...

i'm a warrior alex... i think.

They are out there davidemore, be patient, that are waiting to post, trying to come up with a response worthy of such a post, be patient davidemore, they will come to express their emotions and feelings on your thread, they will...

.................................................. where the hell are they?

This has gone too far to retain my interest

but you are hear, you came inside, jabmachine.

come into my world step into my world, thoughts on my post, friend?

I am going on lunch - Davidemore, try not to do anyhitng that requires moderation whilst I am away. Jab. You're in charge haha

I can be good seanus! you'll see, you'll all see, all of ya.... where the hell are ya!? come out and step into me world would ya!?

I need boxing posts of cultured and inspired opinion. I need the real deals of 606 to come here and post boxing related sexiness. Come on! Friends.

You're gonna come and post on my thread, right guys?

davidemore wrote:Seanus why you hating on my thread, i am posting cultured pieces, don't gun for me moderator, i got nothing, i got boxing knowledge, read my thread, do not gun for me seanus, do not anger the beast of emore, he been sleeping...

friend.

Strongback i love books, Murakami is doing it for me big style at the minute, although IQ84 is bloated beyond belief.

Union i can be good, stick with me... friend.

Read Dance Dance Dance a few months ago & really enjoyed it, any others you recommend by him? What is IQ84?

I think for the casual fan its just another sport & they probably only watch the big fights on Sky if it has a Brit fighting. In the last couple of years its looked anything but noble, but then what sport has?

Why are concerned specifically with what the casual fight fan thinks,Davide?
They are more likely to be the kind of person who would go to a public execution.
Writers in the twentieth century who have seen something "noble" in boxing, such as Hemingway,Joyce Carol Oates, Norman Mailer,George Plimpton,Hugh McIlvanney and A.J.Liebling wrote essays and books on the subject of the sweet science of pugilism.
If you want to watch a major scrap these days you will probably have to put up with Sky,and endless hype.The casual boxing fan probably thinks boxing is just another part of showbiz like reality shows etc, not sure that they would have an awareness of excellence particularly.Sorry to sound cynical but for me Sky has taken most of the democracy out of the process of seeing an awesome fight on tv then being able to build up a love of the sport.
Whether dodgy decisions and corruption are more prevalent these days is a matter of debate,perhaps it's just that it's easier to spot in the modern game?

Sadly the answer to your question must be an unequivocale "no". I think the sport has long gone past its noble roots and prizefighting glory days. Just look at what passes for entertainment in boxing now - two phoneys brawling like hooligans in public.

But unfortunately this is the case in many sports and not just boxing. Increasing commercialism in sports has led to a drift away from morlas and values. Football being the other obvious example. Even golf no longer has the same gentleman qualities thanks to the likes of Tiger Woods. Nicklaus, Watson, Player, Palmer etc were all a much finer vintage.

When has it been a noble sport? The suits make the money and the boxers end up broke and many great ones die in poverty.

Its been corrupt since the start and always will be. Anyone who considers it anything other than that is deluded.

Think boxing being considered a noble sport probably has its roots back in the bareknuckle days when it was quite heavily patronised by the rich nobility of the day. Think the pereception was boxing built character in young people and I know many of the lords of the day took instruction from the likes of Cribb and Belcher. Think I am right in saying 18 fighters of the bareknuckle era including Tom Spring were employed as ushers at the coronation of George IV, such was their standing in society at the time.

Was it corrupt then?

Boxing is no longer considered noble and hasn't been for a long time. Minter vs Hagler fiasco, several punch ups outside the ring, ear biting etc. They all bring out the "hooligan" element, similar to football in the 80's. It is just seen as two men battering each other by the casual viewer, missing the point totally.

great points everyone, great insight too. seems that no is the answer though, sadly.