The Sweet Sickness of Boxing
The Sweet Science of Boxing. It takes grace and skill and courage. This is not a sport for everyone. It is not a sport for the weak. We revere those who excel in this arena. Names like Ali, Louis, Robinson, Leonard, Marciano, Hagler, Chavez, Pernell “Sweet Pea”, and Holyfield all are legendary. And, generally the excitement is ended with a feeling of pity and sadness. Some say the sport is dying, but it continues and we look for future legends to love like Jones, Jr., and De La Hoya.
Floyd Mayweather has recently retired from the game of boxing… for the second or third time. However, this time it appeared to be a bit more genuine because it was not at an emotional time, like at the end of a difficult and great fight. Money May has been a delight to watch. He was a pint-sized Roy Jones Jr., Brillant with defense, hand speed that was like a human hummingbird, and good techinal skills. He even had power before his hands were damaged from years of pounding and was forced to wear pillow like gloves. It is no doubt, he is the greatest POUND for POUND boxer right now!
But, Floyd stated he wanted to be considered one of the best of all-time. In the ranks of The Sugar Ray’s, the Joe Louis’ and Ali’s. He is far from that. Why. One, he is retiring too early. His god-given ability and work ethic has made him shine, but we want to see how does our hero react to adversity to see their true heart. He is spending from his abundance and not his poverty. Two, he is leaving at a time when there are still serious people who could give him a challenge (e.g., Miguel Cotto). Three, true greats of their era transcend their sports by using their names to make a change in society. I am sure Mayweather gives, but he does not use his name, money, and power to make the type of difference that he could. Lastly, his fights were not always that exciting. Tyson may not go down as the best, but ALL of his fights brought some type of drama that made us remember him and love or hate him. Honestly, some of Mayweather fights were quite ho-hum events.
Mayweather owes boxing fans no more. He has given us a great career. He is a for sure first ballot Hall of Famer. however, to be considered the greatest or one of the greatest, you have to leave it all in the ring. No one wanted to see Louis get beat by Marciano or Sugar Ray Lenoard get pounded by Terry Norris or Ali whooped by Holmes, but it added to the true gladiator spirit that they metaphorically died in the ring. They gave more than what they had to give. This heart and sacrifice is what makes them legends.
I am not mad at the Pretty Boy for this timely exit with an undefeated record, millions of dollars, and a sane mind; in fact, I applaud him for the courage in this decision. He just has to realize this decision will put him in the ranks of Lennox Lewis (another great fighter) who people never give full respect. He has to realize he will not be revered for retiring undeafeated like Rocky M. (we all know why). He has to realize he was on the pinnacle of greatness but did not enter this threshold because of this decision. Legendary boxers are faced with the ultimate Catch 22. If they leave too early we criticize them, but if they leave too late they suffer greatly. We feel bad for Meldrick Taylor’s physical condition, but love him for his Philadelphia heart and legendary fight against Chavez. We feel bad for the Boom Boom Mancini’s that have to live with killing another fighter in the ring. But we cheered, encouraged, and loved seeing him do it. Boxing fans are just as sick as the spectators in the Roman Coliseum who wanted to see blood and death.
Bottom Line: Sadly, all-time great boxers do not retire, they are retired. Boxers are not sane men. They exist on a different mental and physical level. There is something about a true warrior that his heart and ego will not allow him to stop until he stopped and stopped and stopped and stopped. Think I am lying? Why do we love Ali, Holyfield, Gatti and all those others that stayed around 7 fights too many, so much? Think about it, Larry Holmes got more love when he was TKO’d by Tyson than during his 7-year reign as IBF Champion? Why, he was going in as a clear underdog. Mayweather will go down as a great, but not the greatest simply because he is leaving too soon (for boxing standards, though right on-time for sane men).
Pugilist lover
The BLAQUESMITH
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