Why So Many Old Heavyweights?

[JD074]

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=10050&more=1

So how do we get out of this mess? Clearly, we need to look at the amateur game in USA. They are not turning out the talent to the professional game any longer. Perhaps they need to focus more on attracting young fighters into boxing or more likely big changes are needed in how the sport is run.

Perhaps they need to focus more on attracting young... white fighters into boxing. I have to believe that one of the reasons MMA is becoming (has become?) more popular in America than boxing is because it's much more accessible to white kids. But I'm sure this writer, and everyone else, is only looking for the next Great Black American Hope. Meanwhile, white fighters like Chuck Liddell will be knocking people out, in the Octagon instead of the ring.

 

[Charles Martel]

I agree. Also, the decline in the popularity of boxing in the US has been partly because of the weak character of the boxers who been in the limelight in the past, Mike Tyson being the best example. I stopped following boxing for several years for that reason, but the emergence of fine European boxers like the Klitschko brothers restored my interest.

There is no shortage of young boxing talent in Europe. Fathers are more willing to help their sons get started in boxing, since the public image and opinion of the sport is much more positive there. Part of the problem in America is the negative image people have of the sport. Not enough athletic boys are choosing boxing - after all, who wants to be like Mike Tyson? Do fathers wants their boys to go into the same sport as Tyson?

And sadly, many promoters, coaches and trainers have the false belief that Blacks are naturally better athletes, so White kids in America who might have the potential to be as successful as Joe Calzaghe, Wladimir Klitschko or Ricky Hatton are never given the chance.

While boxing receives little media attention in the US, it is hugely popular in Russia, Great Britain and Germany. The boxers in those countries are good role models for the kids: mostly men of solid character, having a sense of good sportsmanship and fair play.

Wladimir Klitschko doesn't brag about being "the greatest" and badmouth his opponents, like Ali did. Oleg Maskaev has never bit off an opponent's ear or been in prison, like Tyson has. Joe Calzaghe doesn't insult his opponents and behave foolishly in public like Floyd Mayweather does.

I would like to see the media in the US and Canada pay more attention to the great boxing talent in Europe. But it seems the media in North America is not willing to give white athletes their fair due. Instead, when they do write a few words about top boxers like Wlad, it tends to be unfairly negative.
Edited by: JD1986

 

[JD074]

Great post, JD. Hey, I'm a JD, too!

 

[Gary]

Most of today's "American" Heavyweights are old washed up black fighters who can't get a real job so they have to fight until there 50 or go on welfare. The Eastern European fighters have beat the black man so bad most young blacks will not go into boxing because some Russian will whip his booty and he'll have to go back to the hood and face all the colored brothers [who also are fearful of fighting a Russian!!].

 

[White_Savage]

Several reasons.

There are older HWs because boxing is at least as much a matter of skill as it is athletic attributes. Back when fighters fought with a frequency that is unheard of today, their physical peaks and peaks in experience were likely to coincide. Today, the 30 year old who has had twice as many hard fights is likely to be superior to the 20 year old with a few cans under his belt.

Also, for all sorts of reasons, better diets, better medicine, better performance enhancing drugs, a 35 year old fighter is probably as well put together as your average 25 year old fighter 20 years ago.