AND just when you presumed there was nothing to do in Cancun, Mexico except the dreary, daunting task of lying in the beach while ogling scantily clad tourists, top ranking officials of boxing’s alphabet bodies have reportedly decided to meet up in this world-famous resort to discuss issues besetting the sport.
Yes, folks, there was reportedly a Cancun summit (of course it had to be there, where else should a boxing summit be, you dimwit?) initiated by World Boxing Council’s Jose Sulaiman wherein the sport’s top suits reportedly let their hair down (or whatever is left of it) to discuss key issues.
Aside from Sulaiman, Daryl Peoples from the IBF was there and so was Gilberto Mendoza from the WBA.
Was there a “minutes of the meeting” issued? Let me check…
There was none…no wait here it is. It was transcribed by no less than boxing judge C.J Ross.
Wasn’t she the same judge who somehow saw Tim Bradley winning the first fight against Manny Pacquiao? Yes.
The same Ross who had it a draw between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez? Yep, same one.
Uh-oh.
REFORMS. Kidding aside, reforms are much needed ASAP for professional boxing to continue thriving.
Already, promoters are feeling the pinch with declining pay-per-view sales. The recent matchup between Miguel Cotto and Sergio Martinez netted only 350,000 views, way below the projected 500,000 target.
Even the Pacquiao-Bradley rematch fell short of overwhelming expectations. Usually, whenever Manny fights, the numbers hover around a million buys, but he got only around 750,000 for the Bradley fight according to www.15rounds.com.
This situation will continue to be compounded by rivalries between promoters who are unwilling to match up their best fighters against each other due to money issues.
Another reform that they should consider is reducing the number of rounds. Previously it was 15 rounds for championship fights until it was reduced to 12 to safeguard the health of the fighters.
I think reducing it further to 10 rounds would make for more exciting fights.
With the present system, boxers are relegated to conserving their energy in the first few rounds to allow them to last until the latter stages of the fight. Hence, more often than not, you are always treated to the quintessential “feeling out” rounds.
Boxing purists see nothing wrong with this, after all, aside from being a contest of skills, strength and will, boxing is also a test of endurance.
But this should be weighed with the paramount consideration that boxing is a spectator sport, and the dwindling attendance in boxing cards should be a cause of concern.
That’s one of the reasons why Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is more popular with the younger demographic. There is a lesser number of rounds, and the fights are more action packed and can suddenly end in a blur.
If we have shorter fights, boxers will engage early and engage more.
Plus, you are also lessening the risks with the reduced amount of minutes spent in combat.
VERBATIM “I guess any part of the body is up for eating”--Evander Holyfield on his Twitter account after the Suarez biting incident (@holyfield)
LAST ROUND. It’s on little Cherub Cassie Quijano who recently celebrated her 1st birthday. Cheers!
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(Follow me on Twitter @thelastround)