NationStates Jolt Archive

Seeing as tonight is the time for Hatton vs. Mayweather, possibly the two greatest pound for pound boxers on the planet, I felt it pertinent to bring up questions on boxing. Is it really a sport or just a bloodthirsty arena for the enjoyment of sadists with a problematic past and too much potential for death or disablement? As one friend repeatedly tells me, boxing's possibly the only way to kill a man and easily get away with it. And he's a big fan.

More to the point, is The Hitman going to beat the shit out of that cocky bastard Floyd "Pretty boy" Mayweather? Ladies and gentlemen! Lllllets get readyyy to ruummbllllleeee!!!!

I am ashamed to admit that I am a huge fan of boxing and always have been. I know it contradicts my pacifist standpoint, but then again, that standpoint was hard won after years of being someone who got into regular physical altercations.

But then again, boxing is consensual, and I'm all about consensual pain so :P

Not a fan of boxing on principle, not a fan of Ricky Hatton on both principle and the fact he's unforgiveably chav, and not a fan of Floyd Mayweather on the grounds he personifies the hip-hop culture for which I have such disdain, but all the same, I'm rooting for the plucky Brit!

Not to the extent I'm prepared to pay £10 to watch it in a campus bar, or course....

Eh if people want to beat each other up for money in a regulated sports, then let them.

USA, USA, USA!

While no fan of boxing am I, Mayweather is from my state, so I will be rooting for him.

Not that I care all that much, or will see any more of the fight then what they show on Sportscenter.

While no fan of boxing am I, Mayweather is from my state, so I will be rooting for him.

He is?

*checks Wiki*

I guess I'll be rooting for him as well

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a353/tuebor/Michigan.gif

I love boxing for the commentary/interviews. It is idiocy par none.

Mayweather in 6. :cool:

Also, there's no reason to be ashamed of liking a sport. People get hurt in any sport, and boxers are pretty aware of the risks. In any event, boxing is great because of the skill and the strategy, not because people get hurt.

I think Hatton can win, but it has to be in the first five rounds, otherwise it'll probably end up being stopped with a decision in favor of Mayweather.

I love boxing for the commentary/interviews. It is idiocy par none.

I'd try watching ITV's Champion's League coverage. Anything so bad it makes you miss Ron Atkinson is special.

Is it really a sport or just a bloodthirsty arena for the enjoyment of sadists with a problematic past and too much potential for death or disablement?The second part.

USA, USA, USA!

While no fan of boxing am I, Mayweather is from my state, so I will be rooting for him.

Not that I care all that much, or will see any more of the fight then what they show on Sportscenter.
Suddenly we are enemies. Hatton's from my adopted city and he's a brilliant fighter, especially body shots. Mayweather's gonna be screwed for his usual tactic of dancing around and then laying it on thick, too - Hatton's a real in your face fighter, not one for letting up.

And Chris, he might be a bit chavvy but he's a fucking nice bloke. He drinks where my mate's a barman, never gets pissed off with unnecessary attention and spends a lot of time doing stuff normal chavs wouldn't e.g. charity work, not being a **** etc. My only grievance is that he lets himself go so much between fights. He turns into a proper fat bastard. :p

Seeing as tonight is the time for Hatton vs. Mayweather, possibly the two greatest pound for pound boxers on the planet, I felt it pertinent to bring up questions on boxing. Is it really a sport or just a bloodthirsty arena for the enjoyment of sadists with a problematic past and too much potential for death or disablement? As one friend repeatedly tells me, boxing's possibly the only way to kill a man and easily get away with it. And he's a big fan.

More to the point, is The Hitman going to beat the shit out of that cocky bastard Floyd "Pretty boy" Mayweather? Ladies and gentlemen! Lllllets get readyyy to ruummbllllleeee!!!!

Not much of a fan.

But Hatton's from Manchester so I'm hoping he wins

I'd say Hatton - on points. Both fighters are hard hitters, but both can take hits too. I don't really foresee a KO.


And Duddy also won tonight, so I'm happy. :)

Incidentally, Amir Khan also won tonight. In 72 seconds.

They need to give that boy a proper fight, otherwise it'll go to his head and he'll go all Audley Harrison.

Incidentally, yay Mancunians!

Question for anyone in the know: is this fight even going to be televised in the U.S.? I mean, besides pay-per-view. Probably not, I figure, but it's not unheard of for welterweight fights to go out for free. Maybe someone can tell us. :)

Incidentally, Amir Khan also won tonight. In 72 seconds.

Bolton's close enough :D

Incidentally, yay Mancunians!

:fluffle:

Christ, people, they wear padded gloves when they pound each other into oblivion, what else do you want?! Besides, it's not as though they are forced into the ring on pain of death, and I for one am all about that 'freedom' lark.

Christ, people, they wear padded gloves when they pound each other into oblivion, what else do you want?! Besides, it's not as though they are forced into the ring on pain of death, and I for one am all about that 'freedom' lark.

Funny thing is, the gloves are the most dangerous part of boxing, at least according to a documentary I once saw on the history of boxing. I guess 100+ padded blows are worse in the long run than a dozen or so without the gloves. :p

Funny thing is, the gloves are the most dangerous part of boxing, at least according to a documentary I once saw on the history of boxing. I guess 100+ padded blows are worse in the long run than a dozen or so without the gloves. :p

Yes and no. If people actually keep their fists closed, then obviously it is a lot safer because you just can't batter someone around the head as hard as you could with a pair of sixteen ounce gloves because you'd break your hands pretty quickly. Also the gloves add momentum to the punch.

That said, the gloves keep the hand in a fist, which is a massive safety advantage. If you don't have them, hotly contested matches have the potential to end up with eye gouging &c.

. If you don't have them, hotly contested matches have the potential to end up with eye gouging &c.

Don't forget biting.

Don't forget biting.

Tyson style.

I never saw that fight. I suppose he spat his gum shield out before he did that - which is actually potentially very stupid.

In any event, an open fist really presents a lot of dangers which most of these medical types who claim that gloved boxing is more dangerous fail to acknowledge.

Question for anyone in the know: is this fight even going to be televised in the U.S.? I mean, besides pay-per-view. Probably not, I figure, but it's not unheard of for welterweight fights to go out for free. Maybe someone can tell us. :)
If that means there's a bias towards heavyweight boxing, it's completely fucking stupid. Watching the majority of heavyweights is like watching elephant seals duking it out for territory. Sure, it's interesting for a while, but ultimately it's just two fat fucks knocking the shit out of each other with absolutely no finesse. You watch those guys going at it in the lighter belts and it's actually fun to watch - fast, strategic, intense...

Lenny McClean would debate the apparent 'dangerous' nature of gloves, were he alive today.

Two hours, squee!

Dumbest thing they ever did was put boxing on pay per view. Far fewer people watch it now, and it's less seen as a mainstream sport than it once was.

Personally, I don't much care for it. It's just not enjoyable for me to watch, especially towards the end when their faces are all bruised and scratched up.

Welterweights are where it's at for viewing enjoyment.

If that means there's a bias towards heavyweight boxing, it's completely fucking stupid. Watching the majority of heavyweights is like watching elephant seals duking it out for territory. Sure, it's interesting for a while, but ultimately it's just two fat fucks knocking the shit out of each other with absolutely no finesse. You watch those guys going at it in the lighter belts and it's actually fun to watch - fast, strategic, intense...

Lenny McClean would debate the apparent 'dangerous' nature of gloves, were he alive today.

Two hours, squee!

Yeah, you can see heavyweights and middleweights on Showtime if you have it (I don't), but anything beneath that you'll be lucky to find on Mexican t.v.

Since Mexican t.v. is showing nothing but Sabado Gigante, soaps, and "Pimpeando" ("pimping," I'll assume) right now, I guess that means we won't be seeing the fight here.

As to the big guys, I'm sure they do have less stamina and rely more on muscle, but it still feels a bit silly watching 103-pound flyweights fling their hands at each other sometimes. :p