Is Boxing Now Very Much Outdated?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www1.skysports.com/frochgroves/story/29800/9034440/carl-froch-mocked-george-groves-after-he-revealed-his-pre-fight-tactics-

Does watching two adult men taking part in a slanging match, with one calling for 'respect' before they come together in the ring so as to try and knock each other unconscious, do anything to show our young how to behave?

[andy-hughes]

triggerhappy - "There is beauty and grace in boxing, glide like a butterfly Andy."

As you say trig, I don't get it, but i do understand that although you are in a minority in this day and age, it is a healthy-sized majority.

We must agree to differ - but thanks for a stimulating exchange.

[andy-hughes]

Oops - apologies!

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// But now? Not so much...because we've lost so many of the 'characters' from the sport. ///

It is not a matter who takes part from 'characters' to 'celebrities down to two unknown kids, the sport is all down to two human beings paid to try and inflict physical harm on each other and hundreds of people prepared to pay to watch them.

These fans could be be compared to those who's highlight of a motor sport event would be if there happened to be a collision.

[anotheoldgit]

FredPuli43

/// AOG, if you were asking whether boxing should be banned now, as it is what you 'tend to think' of as barbaric, ///

No, 'tend to agree' with another ABer

/// why did you bother to post about the pre-fight slanging match at all? ///

Because t tends to be the preliminaries of an act of violence.

Could be compared to getting two pit bull dogs in a savage mood before turning each one against the other.

[Zeuhl]

/Could be compared to getting two pit bull dogs in a savage mood before turning each one against the other./

Not really

because as has already been explained, the contestants most often aren't 'in a savage mood' with each other

It's a publicity gimmick

I think you'll agree oag, pit dogs aren't much into acting

[naomi24]

Hate boxing. Barbaric. I see nothing pleasurable in watching two people bash daylights out of each other.

[FredPuli43]

AOG, so you are against boxing , in the present day, aren't you? The violence is essential to it, and the knocking unconscious the aim of the contestants. The 'act of violence', of which you speak, is the boxing bout. Are you saying that boxing itself is a bad influence on young people, does it do "anything to show our young how to behave? Or just that the behaviour of these two grown men before this contest is?

[grumpy01]

Since the death of Johnny Owen and the terrible injuries to Michael Watson and others I believe its time for a rethink on the place Boxing has in present day society.Sandy Roe is right in what he says about amateur boxing but professional boxing is a different debate.

[andy-hughes]

Zeuhl - "because as has already been explained, the contestants most often aren't 'in a savage mood' with each other"

I think Frank Bruno might argue that point after his fight with Mike Tyson.

It was clear from the pramble, the interviews, the 'eyeing up', and everything up to, and including the fight, that the two boxers had a fundamental difference of opinion about what was going on.

Frank Bruno wanted a fair boxing match, and may the best man win.

Mike Tyson wanted to kill Bruno with his bare hands.

That's why Tyson won.

[andy-hughes]

trig - "Froch and Groves are stable mates and according to some good friends"

I am more than able to understand the concept of friendship off the field of combat, and utter competative spirit on the field - in sports like football etc., but i find it hard to get my head around the idea that you can get into a ring with a friend and start inflicting as much physical damage on him in the shortest possible time, while avoiding him doing the same to you.

Maybe my idea of 'friendship' is different than that enjoyed in the boxing fraternity.

[jno]

they should ban gloves and return to bare-knuckle fighting.

Sounds primitive but there would be a lot fewer injuries if you knew you were just as likely to break your own fingers as your opponent's jaw.

[andy-hughes]

trig - "Then I suggest you sit down with Rocky 1 and 2 this weekend."

I would, but I have a more interesting weekend planned - I am going to my local car park when it has finished raining to count the dry spaces, and work out how many cars have parked there.

Then when I get in, I am putting all the items in my fridge in alphabetical order, so sadly, Mr Balboa will be without a new convert from over here.

[andy-hughes]

jno - "Sounds primitive but there would be a lot fewer injuries if you knew you were just as likely to break your own fingers as your opponent's jaw."

As fans of Lee Child's Reacher novels will know, Jack has expounded on the foolishness of hitting someon in the face with a fist.

You are applying an area with a load of delicate fragile bones and tissue to some of the thickest hardest bones in the human body - i.e. fist to face.

Far safer, and more effective is the application of elbow to temple, which has the desired effect in far less time than fannying around 'putting them up' as they say.

[andy-hughes]

Trig - I am seriously selective about the films i watch, and I often regard enjoyment of a cinema visit as an added bonus, such is the number of times i am disappointed.

I blame no-one at all for this - i simply think I am out of step with large numbers of cinema goers who enjoy popular films, like the Rocky franchise.

I am not a fan of Sly Stalone, so have not bothered with the Rocky movies, wonderful though i am sure they are - but i can take an educated guess that i would not enjoy them, so I will pass on your kind suggestion.