Thats an interesting take. I’ve probably only been properly entertained by Fury in terms of his boxing in 4/5 fights. But as I love boxing it’s still a joy to watch someone so huge be so agile and skilled. His charisma and story now bridges the mainstream audience but it didn’t before his comeback. I think only the AJ/Parker fight was one I didn’t enjoy. Similar to Amir Khan
Absolutely hate it. Mainly because of the head injuries - I know the boxers know the risks, but I work with people with brain injuries and to actively promote a sport where the main aim is to knock someone senseless, just seems abhorrent. Also cannot stand the way it makes people behave - crowds/ spectators baying for blood. People having “boxing parties” staying up into the night yelling at the TV for one person to smash another - it’s just too Neanderthal for my liking.
I’m with you Jam Drop. But am conflicted Boxing does give the youths a way to get rid of aggression in a controlled way much better than street fights I know of quite a few who really enjoy it. It’s not for me though. I long since gave up watching it with rare exceptions for an occasional Olympics though.
Better ban Rubgy. Both codes. Ozzie Rules. Heading a football. Over arm pace bowling in cricket. Stock car racing. To name but a few things. Boxing is a hell of a lot more than two fat blokes windmilling each other til one falls down. And a hell of a lot safer than some of the aforementioned sports that you deem safe.
Strange take from a football fan who attends games. The behaviour at boxing is often far removed from how away fans behave at football
I haven’t deemed anything safe? Not really a fan of elements of Rugby either. I’ve said in other threads that heading should be taken out of Junior football. Think there’s a difference between Cricket where you can wear a helmet, and Boxing where you enter a ring and the sole purpose is to injure the other person. As for safety of boxing - a guy I worked with was a pro boxer. Not a very good one but his own admission. He only did it for the cash. Fair to say it wrecked him. He was constantly trying to make the weight. He would starve himself and suffer terribly. Then he’d pack in, and pile on the weight, drink etc. Sadly he’s not with us anymore. Didn’t make it to 40years.
I don’t think Joshua meant to be racist when he read that speech out but he has got form when he got caught out by Eddie Chambers talking about the ‘superior black race’. No doubt there’s plenty that don’t like Joshua because he’s black & there’s plenty who don’t like Fury because he’s a gypsy. I don’t particularly like Joshua because he’s not my cup of tea. I think he comes across terribly in interviews & I just can’t relate to him at all. I don’t like the nice guy image they’ve built up for him when he was a violent thug who was very lucky to go to the Olympics & your average person would’ve done time for what he did. He used to go round giving hidings out for customers of drug dealers who didn’t pay. I don’t really like Fury either. Drug cheat, racist, homophobic, his manager & friend is Daniel Kinahan (google him). Pretends he’s not fighting due to mental health issues when it’s really because he’s serving a doping ban. He’s really not a nice guy but he’s somehow managed to convince the average man in the street that he’s a decent guy. Having said all that he’s still the best heavyweight in the world by some distance. I’ll be cheering for Joe Joyce. Limited & probably wouldn’t beat either of them but ten times the bloke either of them are.
So its head injuries you dont like. I doubt he didnt do it for the cash as a boxer who by his own admission not very good wouldnt get a purse in the four figures unless he was a popular fighter and could shift tickets. there's not a lot of money in the sport in the lower echelons. I also think that he suffered from a few mental health issues if he binged and ballooned between fights. I honestly think you should, when the restrictions ease off look to spend some time in a gym. Taking part. I honestly think it'll be a bit of an eye opener for you.
Interesting that you can bet on Fury v Joshua, even though the fight hasn't been made yet. Best prices on Oddschecker are: Fury 4/7 Joshua 7/4 Draw 25/1. That seems about right to me given that Fury enjoys a height and weight advantage and as far as I can see possesses superior skill. Boxing should of course be banned and I'm sure that at some future point it will be. But no doubt that it provides a spectacle if two people are prepared to risk damaging each other/themselves. The most likely outcome may be that safety and protection measures slowly sanitise it, which will reduce it's appeal. The problem for the authorities will be if it goes underground, but the TV companies won't be able to endorse something if it becomes illegal.
Are there any rich, well educated top boxers? Tbh I tend to only watch when it's the Olympics particularly now it's all pay oer view ( remember watching Frank Bruno and Barry Mcguigan though)
I get the reasons why people find boxing hard to watch, but banning it? Definitely not, for me. Beyond the fact that these people are free thinking and have a choice, boxing is such a huge positive influence for so many people. Thousands of kids who would have otherwise turned to a life of crime or worse, are literally saved by boxing. Same can be said for martial arts, mma etc. I'm 1000% behind improving the support structures around fighting sports, but banning it? IMO that does far more harm than good.