I understand boxing is the manly art of self defense but...

[Cachibatches]

The sport is just not being served with safety first guys like Hopkins, Mayweahter, Wright and Spinks serving up these snoozefests. Even Hatton, who has some killer power, has been critisized for the "hook and hold," and big Wladdy for carrying on the Ruiz jab'n'grab. Is it time to start weighing more of the scoring towards effective aggresion?

[fists of fury]

Totally agree.
The main event on Saturday was a stinker and yet it gets all the attention while there were much better fights on the undercard. All the mainstream sees is the clutch-a-thon that was Hopkins-Wright, and that's why they think boxing's dying.

[achillesthegreat]

As soon as X won, I thought great stuff but then I thought defensive guys like Floyd and X aren't doing the game any favours.

People want to see skill but also WILL!

[fists of fury]

As soon as X won, I thought great stuff but then I thought defensive guys like Floyd and X aren't doing the game any favours.

People want to see skill but also WILL!

I'm not sure it's even about defensive fighters. Sure, we all like a brawl or a shootout, but most I think, could still appreciate a vintage Whitaker or Pep or someone like that.

I understand B-hop isn't the fighter he used to be. He's relying on smarts, "street" skills, a few under-handed tactics and so on to help win fights. It's a skill sure and he does it well, but it's ugly. It's really, really ugly. Hopkins in my opinion, no longer fights with honour.

I can pretty much appreciate all styles of boxing, from the Tysons to the Mayweathers of this world, but there was a point in the Hopkins v Wright fight (somewhere around the ninth round) where I was *this* close to turning off the TV. I had had enough of this mauling, clinching rubbish.
I felt as though I had been ripped off, and a suspect many in the arena that night felt the same, judging by the boos. I know fight crowds can be a fickle bunch, but I for once, agreed with them. I don't know what you'd call it, but it wasn't boxing.

[fists of fury]

bs, watch Ali, watch the old-timers. Clinching is part of the sport. Again, it´s a sport and not an contest for attractiveness.

But Ali still hit the other guy. I can recall, on the fingers of one hand, the amount of meaningful punches landed in Hop v Winky.

[platnumpapi]

if i was a fan i would want the blood and guts but if i was a fighter im do what i have to do to win.

guys like hopkins make history for there styles in the ring very tough to beat and very hard to hit.i think bhop is what boxing is all about.the brwalers are fun to watch but they dont fight to long now do they hmm i wonder why.

[Stewbear]

If Hopkins and Winky want to dry hump each other for 12 rounds who are we to stop them just dont buy the ppv!
Exciting fighters often get their reward with more $$$

[DaveyScan]

The sport is just not being served with safety first guys like Hopkins, Mayweahter, Wright and Spinks serving up these snoozefests. Even Hatton, who has some killer power, has been critisized for the "hook and hold," and big Wladdy for carrying on the Ruiz jab'n'grab. Is it time to start weighing more of the scoring towards effective aggresion?

You can score a Klitschko fight all you want.. it always ends up with someone getting KTFO anyways.

[Motor City Sam]

A lot of these threads with the theme of "Hopkins holds", "Hopkins cheats", "Hopkins is dirty", etc., seem to be sour grapes from people who are mad he won. To those who say Hopkins holds to much, I'd ask if you like Hatton. To those who say Hopkins cheats, I'd ask if you like Holyfield. For those who say Hopkins is dirty, I'd ask if you like Cotto.

I'll admit I'm a Hopkins fan. He pushes the limits, no doubt, but saying he "Fights without honor" as someone put it, is going overboard IMO.

[Danny Ocean]

The sport is just not being served with safety first guys like Hopkins, Mayweahter, Wright and Spinks serving up these snoozefests. Even Hatton, who has some killer power, has been critisized for the "hook and hold," and big Wladdy for carrying on the Ruiz jab'n'grab. Is it time to start weighing more of the scoring towards effective aggresion?

snoozefests ?

was mayweather vs , de la hoya,gatti,judah,ndou,hernandez,chavez,manfredy,corrales,corley,

or winky vs - tatylor,hopkins,tito,mosley,mosley,vargas,simon,candelo,soliman,quartey


face it just because top fighters cant even be competitive with the elite doesnt make it elite

mayweather vs baldy was boring for the last 6 rounds but ever since then the hate and the pathetic statements people have made about him are now out of control

winky has a lot of exciting fights,just because tito folded like a bitch vs tito wasnt winks fault

stop jumpin on the bandwagon of retards who call exciting pure boxers boring and have a brain for yourself

[Cachibatches]

snoozefests ?

was mayweather vs , de la hoya,gatti,judah,ndou,hernandez,chavez,manfredy,corrales,corley,

or winky vs - tatylor,hopkins,tito,mosley,mosley,vargas,simon,candelo,soliman,quartey


face it just because top fighters cant even be competitive with the elite doesnt make it elite

mayweather vs baldy was boring for the last 6 rounds but ever since then the hate and the pathetic statements people have made about him are now out of control

winky has a lot of exciting fights,just because tito folded like a bitch vs tito wasnt winks fault

stop jumpin on the bandwagon of retards who call exciting pure boxers boring and have a brain for yourself
I am not jumping on any bandwagons, and whereas I appreciate your concern for my intellectual autonomy, it is unfounded. I am merely posing a question.

Your answer is legitimate and I thank you for it. But there is no need to question my motives.

[Danny Ocean]

course there is, its only since november people have called pbf a runner because he used his own physical tools to beat someone else, oh and with a bad hand and his trainer absent aswel

mayweather has had nothin but criticism for the way he beat baldomir when in reality he should have been praised at the same time

he beat a huge welterweight with bad hands no trainer and only a cutman and fitness coach in the corner

we all knew mayweather was never goin to drop hurt or stop baldy yet he gets criticism for lettin it go the distance

[Cachibatches]

course there is, its only since november people have called pbf a runner because he used his own physical tools to beat someone else, oh and with a bad hand and his trainer absent aswel

mayweather has had nothin but criticism for the way he beat baldomir when in reality he should have been praised at the same time

he beat a huge welterweight with bad hands no trainer and only a cutman and fitness coach in the corner

we all knew mayweather was never goin to drop hurt or stop baldy yet he gets criticism for lettin it go the distance
I do not dislike personallty Mayweather or any of the other fighters cited. There is no question MAyweather is an ATG, and as I implied in the question, there really is nothing wrong with being a safety first guy.

I just wonder if part of the reason why boxing continues to loose popularity is that we have more Mayweather's than Tysons.

[Street Lethal]

I don't know where people got the idea that clinching is a legitimate form of self defense. It's not. The boxer making the clinch is supposed to lose points and even be disqualified if he clinches too much.

We are going through one of those suckass times when clinching is tolerated. If officials care about the sport they will stop tolerating holding and start punishing it.

Boxing fans don't pay to see clinching. If you can't defend yourself the proper way then you shouldn't box.

[Danny Ocean]

I do not dislike personallty Mayweather or any of the other fighters cited. There is no question MAyweather is an ATG, and as I implied in the question, there really is nothing wrong with being a safety first guy.

I just wonder if part of the reason why boxing continues to loose popularity is that we have more Mayweather's than Tysons.

i dont think boxing is losing popularity at all the last big fight done 2.15million ppvs, the last big fight in mma didnt even fill out the arena

tyson was good for boxing in 1 way but terrible in another

[Motor City Sam]

I don't know where people got the idea that clinching is a legitimate form of self defense. It's not. The boxer making the clinch is supposed to lose points and even be disqualified if he clinches too much.

We are going through one of those suckass times when clinching is tolerated. If officials care about the sport they will stop tolerating holding and start punishing it.

Boxing fans don't pay to see clinching. If you can't defend yourself the proper way then you shouldn't box.

Street, I don't think it's just these times. There have been fighters who have done a lot of clinching in every era. Right or wrong, it has long been a tactic that fighters use, some more than others.

[achillesthegreat]

I'm not sure it's even about defensive fighters. Sure, we all like a brawl or a shootout, but most I think, could still appreciate a vintage Whitaker or Pep or someone like that.

I understand B-hop isn't the fighter he used to be. He's relying on smarts, "street" skills, a few under-handed tactics and so on to help win fights. It's a skill sure and he does it well, but it's ugly. It's really, really ugly. Hopkins in my opinion, no longer fights with honour.

I can pretty much appreciate all styles of boxing, from the Tysons to the Mayweathers of this world, but there was a point in the Hopkins v Wright fight (somewhere around the ninth round) where I was *this* close to turning off the TV. I had had enough of this mauling, clinching rubbish.
I felt as though I had been ripped off, and a suspect many in the arena that night felt the same, judging by the boos. I know fight crowds can be a fickle bunch, but I for once, agreed with them. I don't know what you'd call it, but it wasn't boxing.
I appreciate all boxers, even the journeymen but the Xs and Floyds aren't great for boxing. I don't blame them for what they do, they wouldn't have as many Ws if they just started rucking. But for boxing as a maintstream form of sport entertainment, it isn't good.