DSP Boxing thread. Ding! Ding!

[pk500]

It seemed legal & very opportunistic, but another black eye on boxing PPV. I was in a room full of people screaming "money back". If this fight was on cable or "gasp" network TV, it would have people dying for a rematch(maybe even this time on PPV!), but now it's like "we won't get fooled again" (but eh, we probably will)...

There wasn't anyone in the room that thought mayweather would lose, why not show it to the world & save the good ones for PPV?

Because there's no way promoters could pay Floyd his going rate of $20 million per fight based on network TV revenues. Network TV isn't interested in boxing anymore, so promoters almost would need to buy the time and recoup the price -- including Floyd's steep price tag -- through advertising sales.

Pay per view is the easier and lazier way out for boxing promoters, none of whom are willing to work very hard for their money when PPV, premium cable and casinos are willing to fill their wallets with few return demands.

[pk500]

Also remember that Ortiz is a first-class flake in the ring. First he quit against Maidana. Last night he wanted to all but make out and sing "Kumbaya" with Mayweather after blatantly head-butting him. Yet Ortiz didn't even seem that angry about the way in which he lost.

Ortiz ranks right up there with Allan Green as one of the premier head cases inside the ropes in the sport.

[pk500]

My buddies and I watched the replay almost frame by frame four or five times, with the sound cranked. Cortez screwed up on so many levels after properly levying a one-point deduction to Ortiz for that blatant head butt.

Joltin' Joe meekly said, "Let's go," and brought his hands together, which to me was a signal to continue the fight. But unlike elite refs, he did not do it in a demonstrative fashion with a clear cry of "BOX!" So there was a bit of ambiguity.

And while Ortiz tried to hug Mayweather for the third time after the butt, Cortez looked to the time keeper and said, "Bell ring?" He had no idea if the round had ended.

Meanwhile, Mayweather was throwing his decisive two-punch KO combination.

This was a comedy of errors from Joe Cortez. He has been criticized in recent fights for being over-officious. Tonight he was under-officious.

When was the last time we saw a big fight officiated by Cortez in which he wasn't part of the post-fight narrative? When was the last time he was forgotten after he raised the winner's hand, which is the highest compliment that can be paid to a ref who is doing his job properly?

Cortez is past it, big time. He has his spot in Canastota, which is deserved for his earlier work. But like fighters, refs need to know when to quit. As a referee, Cortez is venturing into Evander Holyfield/James Toney territory. He needs to stop.

Kenny Bayless, Tony Weeks or Steve Smoger should serve as the referee for EVERY major pay-per-view. Refs should earn their spot in these major bouts due to recent performance, like NFL officiating crews earning spots in the Super Bowl. These fights are too important to the sport to let someone be the third man in the ring simply based on a reputation that started to tarnish about a decade ago.

[Rodster]

No sense in wasting my time talking about boxing here, where no one cares. Unlike Billy Idol, I try to avoid dancing with myself.

ORLY ?

[pk500]

No sense in wasting my time talking about boxing here, where no one cares. Unlike Billy Idol, I try to avoid dancing with myself.

ORLY ?

Other people chimed in, so I'll give my 14 cents. Quite a bit of talk in this thread during the last 15 hours for such a "dead sport."

[Jackdog]

http://www.fightsaga.com/news/item/1315 ... ee-Blunder

[fsquid]

Boxing isn't dead, it's just an old sport that has faded a bit. Like tennis and horse racing to some extent. I think if the fights were to make it back to network TV, it might engage a generation it has missed. I am 31 and very rarely has anyone talked boxing around me except back during the Tyson-Holyfield-Lewis era. for whatever reason, the younger group has gravitated to the UFC.

[greggsand]

anyone pay for the hopkins fight tonight?

[backbreaker]

My buddies and I watched the replay almost frame by frame four or five times, with the sound cranked. Cortez screwed up on so many levels after properly levying a one-point deduction to Ortiz for that blatant head butt.

Joltin' Joe meekly said, "Let's go," and brought his hands together, which to me was a signal to continue the fight. But unlike elite refs, he did not do it in a demonstrative fashion with a clear cry of "BOX!" So there was a bit of ambiguity.

And while Ortiz tried to hug Mayweather for the third time after the butt, Cortez looked to the time keeper and said, "Bell ring?" He had no idea if the round had ended.

Meanwhile, Mayweather was throwing his decisive two-punch KO combination.

This was a comedy of errors from Joe Cortez. He has been criticized in recent fights for being over-officious. Tonight he was under-officious.

When was the last time we saw a big fight officiated by Cortez in which he wasn't part of the post-fight narrative? When was the last time he was forgotten after he raised the winner's hand, which is the highest compliment that can be paid to a ref who is doing his job properly?

Cortez is past it, big time. He has his spot in Canastota, which is deserved for his earlier work. But like fighters, refs need to know when to quit. As a referee, Cortez is venturing into Evander Holyfield/James Toney territory. He needs to stop.

Kenny Bayless, Tony Weeks or Steve Smoger should serve as the referee for EVERY major pay-per-view. Refs should earn their spot in these major bouts due to recent performance, like NFL officiating crews earning spots in the Super Bowl. These fights are too important to the sport to let someone be the third man in the ring simply based on a reputation that started to tarnish about a decade ago.

This video will dispute what you said about Ref Joe Cortez and all those who said Joe Cortez messed up in the Mayweather/Ortiz fight. In fact this video uses the fight too discredit all the BS emotional things said and uses facts.

The lies and misinformation of Mayweather/Oritz fight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jka5yEq97gE

[pk500]

anyone pay for the hopkins fight tonight?

Negative. Skipped this one since I bought Mayweather-Ortiz last month and am buying Pacquiao-Marquez III next month. Relied on the alternative means, instead.

Thankfully the undercard featured solid, fun bouts. If you bought this card for just the main event, $50 swirled quickly down the drain.

A HORRIBLE decision by Pat Russell. How can he call that a TKO? Dawson tackled B-Hop. It was a takedown, not a knockdown. Should have been a no-decision due to injury.

A rematch should be ordered immediately, fought as soon as Hopkins' shoulder is healthy.

We'll see all of the "another black eye for boxing" cliches rolled out by media and fans who are too lazy to see the truth. This wasn't a black eye. It was just a very bad decision by a ref who normally is one of the best in the sport.

Still, there's a common denominator between the absent-minded officiating in this fight and in the Mayweather-Ortiz. Both Joe Cortez and Russell are in their 60s, and their expiration date as in-ring officials either is fast approaching or has been reached.

Boxing BADLY needs new, younger blood as referees. It's time to stop relying on old standbys like Cortez and Russell and give some younger officials a chance to control big fights.

[Naples39]

Public service announcement; I received an unexpected recommendation to watch "The Real Rocky" tonight on ESPN at 8. A little documentary about the real guy that Stallone based Rocky on. I know some people who saw it at the Philadelphia Film Festival and said it was well done.

[pk500]

Public service announcement; I received an unexpected recommendation to watch "The Real Rocky" tonight on ESPN at 8. A little documentary about the real guy that Stallone based Rocky on. I know some people who saw it at the Philadelphia Film Festival and said it was well done.

Absolutely. A documentary based on Chuck Wepner, the famous "Bayonne Bleeder" who went 15 rounds with Ali. One of my favorite fighters as a kid. My DVR is set.



Thanks!

[pk500]

Complete episode 1 of "Pacquiao/Marquez 24/7." There's a reason this series wins Sports Emmy Awards year after year for HBO. Pure quality.

[10spro]

As Marquez never gave credit to Pacman's wins over him, there's a sense of an unsettling edge the way Manny has been training for his upcoming bout. The way his sparring partners are left all bloodied lately is a testament of that.

[Diablo25]

Joe Frazier in hospice care with cancer. Doesn't look good. Talk about a warrior.

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/71 ... ill-cancer

[pk500]

Joe Frazier in hospice care with cancer. Doesn't look good. Talk about a warrior.

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/71 ... ill-cancer

It would be nice if Smokin' Joe and The Greatest could reconcile before Joe passes. That would be very nice.

[Diablo25]

Joe Frazier in hospice care with cancer. Doesn't look good. Talk about a warrior.

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/71 ... ill-cancer

It would be nice if Smokin' Joe and The Greatest could reconcile before Joe passes. That would be very nice.

Agreed. I love Ali...he trained about 1/2 mile from where I am sitting...but there is something about Frazier that made me want to root for him. Philly connection probably. I'd be willing to bet Ali reaches out.

[pk500]

Ali already has apologized for the slurs he hurled at Frazier before their three fights, especially the brutally racial overtones of the buildup leading to the Thrilla in Manila.

Only recently has Frazier begrudgingly accepted that apology. But I don't think there's been a true reconciliation between the two giants.

That would be so good for all of sport and for what these two cats have meant to the sporting world.

[pk500]

The first round of the James Kirkland-Alfredo Angulo classic Saturday night on HBO was easily Round of the Year. The bout is a strong contender for Fight of the Year.

As a friend of mine wrote, "What spectacular savagery."



Breathtaking.

[grtwhtsk]

The first round of the James Kirkland-Alfredo Angulo classic Saturday night on HBO was easily Round of the Year. The bout is a strong contender for Fight of the Year.

As a friend of mine wrote, "What spectacular savagery."

Was really glad I watched that one. The action brought me back to the Hagler-Hearns fight.

[pk500]

Damn good analogy, Sharky!

[fsquid]

Had no idea Kima Greggs was a cornerperson.

[Diablo25]

The first round of the James Kirkland-Alfredo Angulo classic Saturday night on HBO was easily Round of the Year. The bout is a strong contender for Fight of the Year.

As a friend of mine wrote, "What spectacular savagery."

Was really glad I watched that one. The action brought me back to the Hagler-Hearns fight.

Holy s***! Awesome.

[pk500]

Had no idea Kima Greggs was a cornerperson.

Damn, Squidly, Ann Wolfe does look like Kima! She's the trainer of James Kirkland, the winner of that fight. She's a fantastic, no-nonsense trainer.

Wolfe is the baddest woman on the planet. She's held that title since this destruction in 2004, even though she stopped fighting to focus on training in 2006:



Wolfe is 9 inches shorter than the 6-6 Ward and still ANNIHILATED her with one shot.

[pk500]

Here is the entire length of the superb Kirkland-Angulo fight:





Great stoppage by the ref. It saved Angulo from some serious physical damage. Mexicans don't quit. You never saw Angulo's trainer, the legendary Nacho Beristain, even hesitate to send Angulo off the stool after each round.