Boxing Outsider

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.The fact that ARD is a public television network is one reason they can demand this condition, whereas channels like HBO and Showtime can’tor more literally, won’t. In America, boxing promoters like Top Rank don’t have exclusive deals with networks, so if one channel required drug testing, the promoters would simply go to one that didn’t include that stipulation. The fact that these channels are privately-owned also means that they don’t have any real devotion to a community. Finally, boxing standards are by no means regulated across the country, since each state has a separate commission.For boxing fans who are concerned about the prevalence of steroid accusations in their sport, it’s going to take a public effort to show promoters that people care about keeping boxing clean. Until then, things will only continue as they have been going.