Boxing ... What's the big deal?

It's barbarism--civilized as they claim it is--it's barbarism.

You've got me. I don't understand it either. Or any of those other forms of 'sports' that involve large sweaty guys bashing at one another. I do know some women who like it, but I'll pass.

MM

I used to box. It takes unbelievable skill and conditioning, beyond anything you can imagine. And those oversized kitchen mitts are there mostly to protect the boxer's hands -- a hard shot by a skilled amateur feels like an explosion -- I can't even imagine what it feels like to get hit by a pro.

But I think the attraction of one on one fighting is basically a male thing -- although there are a few female boxers, and fans as well.

Your husband is of course talking about the upcoming Manny Pacquiao / Ricky Hatton fight. It should be incredible -- but I can't believe he's making you watch it. I doubt that you'll enjoy it, and I doubt you'll ever care much for boxing -- it's like Sci Fi or broccoli -- either you like them or you don't, and anyone who thinks you can be talked into it if you don't is fooling themselves.

I spent years boxing/kickboxing and teaching self-defense and fighting of all sorts. I love to box, I love to watch it. And I'm a chick.

Ricky Hatton is one of my favorite fighters at the moment due to his focus on working the body. I love it!! Toss in mixed martial arts, take downs, kicks, holds, bare feet and no gloves and I'm in heaven.

Ask me how many bones I've broken fighting

rugcat said:

either you like them or you don't, and anyone who thinks you can be talked into it if you don't is fooling themselves.

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The same can be said for The Three Stooges.

Your husband is a normal lovable man-dope. You can put a panel of psychiatrists in a room to watch the three stooges and they'll laugh.

Personally, I find it barbaric. Never understood the attraction.

Quick fact that I nicked from QI (if Stephen Fry speaks it, it MUST be true.):

Before boxing gloves were mandatory in boxing matches, there were NO deaths. Due to the fact that punching someone bare knuckled bloody hurts.

They're just well paid gladiators.

boxing to me is like golf. well, better than golf because at least in boxing some guy's face may be knocked off into the 3rd row. where was I? Oh, yeah. Boxing is like gulf because to play either well is incredibly demanding and difficult, but I can't watch either on TV? George Carlin said all you need to know about watching golf on TV

tiny terror said:

Ask me how many bones I've broken fighting

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How many bones have you broken fighting, Tiny?

(And of those, what percentage is your own?)

The best bits about boxing:

Half naked men

With muscles

And baby oil

You might have to put a paper bag over their head, but those three gotta count for something!

I love that people who smoke drink or do drugs and do to their brain what is done to a boxers brain they're told it's a sin to destroy their bodies that way. Since people enjoy watching two people beat each other into an early grave they're called "Gladiators" and "Heros"

I used to watch boxing, Oscar de la Hoya was my fav. I don't watch it anymore because of the corruption and the meaningless of some of the titles. But my dad and I used to bond over boxing. (I'm a girl) My brother is crazy over Ultimate Fighting and keeps trying to convince me to watch it but I know i'll get hooked and I don't want to be. Intellectually I realize it's somewhat barbaric but viscerally I love it. One of these days I'm going to read every novel written about boxing. I can't help it. I'm fascinated by the culture.

jodiodi said:

But WHY do people watch it?

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That's why!

There is undoubtedly something primal about boxing but I genuinely enjoy it as a sport. It rewards fitness, speed and agility much more than people give it credit for. There tends to be a civility in boxing (that may not be immediately apparent) for the safety of an opponent.

I am regularly turned off by wrestling (especially some of the hardcore varieties as seen in The Wrestler) but have never found boxing to be as savage as wrestling or as glorifying of violence (just IMO).

It's my guilty pleasure. On cable late at night, between Kurosawa DVDs

There's certainly a talent and a raw athleticism that is vital to the sport. Ali, Evander Holyfield, and yes, even Iron Mike (and the only man to beat him, Buster Douglas ) bring a grace and endurance and strategy that goes above and beyond the caveman testosterone. Of course, not as much as say, martial arts - anyone for Muay Thai?

Millicent M'Lady said:

I am regularly turned off by wrestling (especially some of the hardcore varieties as seen in The Wrestler) but have never found boxing to be as savage as wrestling or as glorifying of violence (just IMO).

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Now THAT is a scary sport (an obviously theatrical sport, but you know what I mean). There are 'backyard' and other unlicensed wrestling videos out there that will turn your stomach.

mario_c said:

Now THAT is a scary sport (an obviously theatrical sport, but you know what I mean). There are 'backyard' and other unlicensed wrestling videos out there that will turn your stomach.

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Have you seen The Wrestler? I had a lot of watched-through-fingers moments with some of the more brutal fights. At least in boxing, nobody's intending to land on your head with a bodyslam...

I've studied kickboxing (not as much as Terror I'm sure). I'm a cerebral, writerly kind of guy, nonathletic, and I never got into organized team sports (much less watch them), but kickboxing was something else.

It was all me - I pushed my physical limits with no one else to control how far I went. I would hit the heavy bag every day at lunch, outside of training, and work on endurance and technique. I was never good, but my mind and body found a balance and rhythm I haven't known, and can only compare to being in "the zone" when writing or programming. Everything else went quiet, time felt slower, and all I would focus on was the sparring partner, the dummy, or the forms.

Old Hack said:

How many bones have you broken fighting, Tiny?

(And of those, what percentage is your own?)

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I only count my own ... my orbital bone, thumb, two fingers, three ribs, two teeth, nose, and two vertebrae (c1 and c2 in my neck). So, twelve. I miss it, desperately.

EDIT *** Oh dang, my foot and my wrist. 14

I don't get it, but I watch it on the rare occasion when hubby wants to.

I'l never forget sitting around at my old flat with a bunch of guys who spent the entire day drinking and watching the build up to a big fight, only for David Tua to knock his opponent out in 20 seconds.
You should have heard the boos! He apologised for the short fight

I am regularly turned off by wrestling (especially some of the hardcore varieties as seen in The Wrestler) but have never found boxing to be as savage as wrestling or as glorifying of violence (just IMO).

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While I'm not a huge fan of the real hardcore stuff, I'll admit I LOVE the wrestling. Yes I know it's theatrical but I feel nothing for admiration for men who put themselves through some of the those moves, KNOWING how much it's gonna hurt and doing it as full on as they can anyway for a 'Good Show'

And when you see one of them, say , rip a quad off and still finish a match by climbing up on a table and pedigreeing someone because the Show Must Go On, that's when you've seen some real intestinal fortitude.

Sheer bloody guts is an attractive quality in a guy, IMO



Yes I'm weird. But physical courage is an admirable quality in my religion. So there.