Boxing and TV

I am a sports fan. I enjoy most sports – some more than others, but in general, I can see something in most sports. Sport offers drama and excitement that cannot be matched in any other form of entertainment.

Historically I have really enjoyed boxing. I am just about old enough to remember the extraordinary fights of Foreman, Frazier and Ali. My peak for boxing included characters like Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler. Then came the extraordinary and compelling Mike Tyson and the British challengers, like good old Frank Bruno. Domestically, we had Nigel Benn, Chris Eubanks and others.

There was a  huge shift in boxing in the early 90s, when TV coverage largely shifted to pay-per-view. I paid for one bout, which was where Mike Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear. I felt completely robbed and have never paid for another fight. On the whole, the biggest fights take place in the US, often in Vegas. As a result, they usually happen at in the early hours UK time, so going to a pub to watch a match is not practical. With a handful of exceptions, therefore I have barely watched a boxing match on TV in the last 20 years. The few exceptions would include the awful fights arranged by Audley Harrison that were on the BBC.

I listen to boxing on the radio, but it really is a visual sport. Pay per view does not seem like a clever move to me, but I’m not familiar with the numbers and the economics.

As I write this, I am listening to the Anthony (AJ) Joshua fight with Andy Ruiz. It’s interesting, and the BBC commentary from Mike Costello. It’s very well done. but the only sport where radio is better than TV is cricket.

Boxing and Brain Damage

Many sports are becoming increasingly concerned about concussion, which ultimately is a form of brain damage. Both cricket and rugby now have strict concussion protocols, which mean that a player suspected of having suffered concussion can take no further part in the match, and may be laid off for a period of weeks. These are impressive developments.

Football knows that heading the ball is a problem with regard to dementia and brain damage, but is baffled as to how to proceed without wrecking the game.

Boxing, however, is in a much worse place. Fundamentally, the aim of boxing is to inflict brain damage on your opponent. Think about that. It’s not nice. Do we really want to hark back to gladiatorial fights to the death? That’s not much of an exaggeration. Every year a small number of boxers die due to brain damage inflicted in the ring. Others suffer from dementia in later life.

Boxing Positives

I am well aware that boxing brings a discipline to lots of young kids in gang-ridden cultures and that is a clear positive.

Conclusion, or Lack Thereof

I remain ambivalent on many of these issues, which goes against my usual opinionated approach. My head tells me that boxing should be banned, but I cannot help but be interested in fights like tonight’s, which AJ just won on points. In the end, I cannot believe that boxing will still exist as a mainstream sport in 20 years.