Boxing Outsider

James Toney claims to have a great deal of respect for mixed martial arts, but he sure isn’t showing any to upcoming opponent Randy Couture.  The match is scheduled for “UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn II” at Boston’s TD Garden on August 28.  It will either be a grand vindication or the biggest comeuppance in recent memory for Toney, who has promised to hit Couture “so hard his grandparents will feel it.”

The odds calculators don’t seem to have the same confidence, judging Toney a 3.5-to-1 underdog.  It’s his first time in the MMA ring, and despite four months of grappling training, it’s not likely that Toney will be able to defeat the three-time heavyweight and two-time light-heavyweight champion.  Couture’s style involves not only boxing, but also Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, among others. Read the rest of this entry »

The boxing community’s interest in a Floyd Mayweather/Manny Pacquaio match-up has come and gone as the proposed match devolved into a media mess.  First Mayweather asked Pacquaio to agree to Olympic-style drug testing for them both before the fight, which Pacquaio refused.  In July, Mayweather let a deadline for accepting the fight pass without comment, though some suggested his uncle and trainer’s upcoming trial could be to blame.

However, the idea of testing all fighters before fights could help shake the stigma that has fallen on the sport.  That was the idea behind the German public television channel ARD’s January contract renewal with Sauerland Boxing.  The channel stated that all boxers must undergo testing before the fight is broadcast.  They cite their reason as the large number of young viewers that watch the network, as well as the role they play in the community.  While ARD’s example is a good one, it seems unlikely that American channels will follow suit. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking to get into a sport that doesn’t have a lot of equipment, boxing is one of your best options.  Professional boxers don’t use anything other than headgear, a pair of gloves and a mouthpiece.  Well-known brands like Everlast offer glove styles starting from $19.88.  But what is the history of this piece of equipment, and just how well does it work?

Hand-gear in fighting competitions was first used in Greek and Roman times, most notably in the form of the caestus.  This glove originally consisted of simply leather thongs tied over the hand, but fighters soon added spikes and studs to further “enhance” the competition.  As you can see, the caestus was a far cry from the modern padded boxing glove, which is designed to protect rather than to maim. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re anything like me, when you want to learn more about a particular subject, you go and rent some movies.  Luckily for you, boxing has spawned some of the most hard-hitting, exciting, and emotional films in the history of sports cinema (and some might say in the history of cinema itself).  Without further ado, here are the films you have to check out.

1. Rocky Series: While each installment has its supporters, if you can only check out one, make sure you get the original.  It epitomizes the boxing spirit in its classic underdog hero, who also manages to woo the girl of his dreams while learning the art of the sweet science.
2. Raging Bull: This is the other film that leaps to mind whenever you put the words “boxing” and “movie” together.  Since it’s directed by Scorsese, though, you should also know that “amazing” goes along with it.  Based on the true story of Jake LaMotta, the film shows what happens when a boxer can’t “shut it off” when he steps out of the ring.  It’s a dark look at why some boxers do what they do. Read the rest of this entry »

Boxing fanatics have grown tired of the endless unfounded rumors surrounding Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather’s fabled match-up.  Meanwhile, newbies looking to get interested in the sport haven’t had much to latch onto this summer.  But both groups got a reckoning with the upcoming Marquez-Diaz bout on Saturday, July 31.  The competitors—Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz and Juan “Dinamita” Marquez—already had one legendary battle under their belts.  Marquez took the victory in the ninth round then, but both fighters were recognized by Ring magazine for the fight of the year.

Marquez’s victory last time was no indication of a sure thing this time, although he did end up taking the victory.  He has enjoyed a steady career, including earning a world title along with his brother Rafael.  When he fought Manny Pacquiao in 2004, he managed a draw after a knock-down in the first round—however, many fans decried the judges’ decision, feeling that Marquez actually overpowered Manny in the following rounds. Read the rest of this entry »