Boxing is a Sport, so What's the Deal? Sept. 2005
I am a huge boxing fan. I do not always follow what is going on in the boxing world because I regularly get frustrated with the management and promotion of the sport. Yes, I really do believe that boxing is a sport. Peter does not really agree that boxing is a sport because he believes that a lot of the matches are fixed. While I think some matches are fixed, I believe that most matches are genuine fights.
Because I am a woman and an armchair fan, i.e., I have never been to a fight to have the blood and sweat splattered on me, other boxing fans (all men) have informed me that I am not a bona fide fan. However, I know plenty of statistics, fighters, rules and other information, and I have made money betting on fights.
Lately I have been very frustrated with the boxing world because of weight class issues and referee variances. Recently, a few great fighters have died after leaving the ring. I think these deaths were preventable. Although boxing is a dangerous and brutal sport, there are pretty clear rules that should protect fighters from senselessly losing their lives.
I remember watching the Gatti-Gamache fight in which Joey Gamache was getting pummeled and the referee stopped the fight to have the ring doctor check Gamache. His eyes looked unfocused and he was unsteady on his stool. When they asked Gamache if he was okay he said "I'm in the Gatti fight, I'm in the Gatti fight." They actually let the fight continue for a few more minutes. I was appalled because it was clear he was hurt. After they called the fight he was taken to the hospital and slipped into a coma.
It turned out that Gatti had gained about 18lbs from the weigh-in the day before, which resulted in a weigh-in rule for the day of the bout in all matches. While a weigh-in the morning of the fight is a step in the right direction, I am concerned about steroid use and the dehydration many fighters use to make weight. Many fighters are interested in moving among weight classes throughout their career. One of my favorite fighters, Fernando Vargas, practically destroyed his career using steroids to build-up weight which was an unnecessary step.
It is disgusting to me that trainers and promoters are willing to let fine athletes hurt themselves and their opponents simply to make a buck. I hate missing fight nights but I have temporarily sworn off of pay-per-view fights until things settle down.
In any fight an unprotected straight shot can kill a fighter. Before every match the referee will admonish the fighters to protect themselves at all times. My favorite referee, Joe Cortez, sternly looks into each fighter's eyes when he reminds them to protect themselves. 'I'm fair but I'm firm,' Joe will not proceed until the fighters touch gloves and he does not tolerate late or low hits. Mr. Cortez always looks closely at the fighters' conditions and is willing to stop the fight before a fighter is hurt.
Many referees are not trained well enough (in my opinion) to identify signs of trouble in the fighters. The fighter's corner can call the fight if they sense that their fighter is hurt, but it is a pretty rare thing to see the corner throw in the towel without the fighter requesting help. The referee can stop the fight to have the ring doctor check out the fighter which, I believe, should happen more often. If a fighter is repeatedly losing against the ropes, the referee should consider that maybe the fighter cannot stand up without the ropes. Bleeding on the brain is not an immediately apparent condition and is potentially deadly.
I wish that boxing organizations would require higher levels of training for referees that includes more detailed information on signs of brain injuries. I know that most referees have good intentions and work in the ring for a love of the sport and the fighters, but this recent string of injured and lost fighters gives me pause. I mourn the loss of these warriors. The sport of boxing suffers when fighters are lost for no good reason. Better training for referees, who are arguably the lifeline for these fighters, would help maintain the high standards of the sport.
Boxing is a battle of wills, strength, technique, training and intelligence. I know that some people argue that boxing is nothing but a vile, crude, nasty death match. However, most fighters are finely-honed athletes who use their intelligence as much as their muscles. In all of the sports I enjoy there are a series of individual battles, boxing is simply the epitome of the battles I love to watch. Soccer, tennis, football, even golf is nothing but a series of battles won to achieve an overall defeat of the opponent.
So I shamelessly state that I love boxing, fighters, fight nights and the whole spectacle of a bout. I love the tacky title belts, ridiculous openings, bluster, and ceremony. Boxing feels like the ultimate battle but with rules and training. When it is regulated properly and judged by educated referees, boxing is just a regular sport. Watching a fight is one of my favorite ways to spend an evening, especially when there is someone willing to bet on the fight!