The complaints has been mounting about boxing over the last few years.

America had won only one medal at the Beijing Olympics! A bronze medal!

Read this article about USA Boxing's failed attempt to re-establish itself among the boxing elite.

http://www.cleveland.com/olympics/index.ssf/2...

What are your suggestions to resurrect USA's amateur and professional boxing?

Highlights of USA's Boxing bouts!

http://www.nbcolympics.com/boxing/video/index...

Enjoy!

Stop it altogether?
It's not a sport it's just outdated Hemantics.
A total waste of time for thugs and brawlers who need to dominate.

smilingsam wrote:

Stop it altogether?
It's not a sport it's just outdated Hemantics.
A total waste of time for thugs and brawlers who need to dominate.

Sam:

Remember, boxing is called the gentleman's sport!

It is the most basic sport in history. Even more so than wrestling!

NateKnuckles wrote:

<quoted text>
Sam:
Remember, boxing is called the gentleman's sport!
It is the most basic sport in history. Even more so than wrestling!

Nate, I am very much in fear that boxing has had its glory days, many of today's sports fans can not appreciate any sort of art in sport and they need the quick action with a fast conclusion, such as the MMA type action.

I am very much of a boxing fan, more of the historical era when the best met the best on weekly basis and not having so many pro organizations that can shelter multilples of
champions in a single weight division only interested in the dollar and not who is best.

It is sad that the Willie Peps of the boxing world are not appreciated for their artful craft of hitting without getting hit. I also miss the ability of the former Casius Clay more famous Ali who boxed his soviet opponent for almost a complete round in the olympics with hands down and still too fast to get hit.

Funny that you start this poll because I watched some of the Butterbean Marathon on TV and while he entertained very well, prehaps it was the somewhat circus act of this man along with the Tough Man competitions that paved the road for the lessened interest in "Real" profesional boxing.

To answer your question, to better the sport of boxing it must start with the young kids teaching them the confidence and art that they can learn through boxing.
Next it would be to reclaim the sport from the Don Kings and other users that seem to control the sport. One can only wonder what great heights and riches Mike Tyson would have achieved if Cuss had lived.

Nate, I do take issue with one of your statements, "Boxing being the most basic sport in history". I would give that title to foot racing.

As always, have a good day, I survived yesterdays rain storm and today I head out to Summit Point West Va.(162 miles) for a motorcycle race.

Hope all is well and stay ahead of the clowns.

Old Bars Man wrote:

<quoted text>
Nate, I am very much in fear that boxing has had its glory days, many of today's sports fans can not appreciate any sort of art in sport and they need the quick action with a fast conclusion, such as the MMA type action.
I am very much of a boxing fan, more of the historical era when the best met the best on weekly basis and not having so many pro organizations that can shelter multilples of
champions in a single weight division only interested in the dollar and not who is best.
It is sad that the Willie Peps of the boxing world are not appreciated for their artful craft of hitting without getting hit. I also miss the ability of the former Casius Clay more famous Ali who boxed his soviet opponent for almost a complete round in the olympics with hands down and still too fast to get hit.
Funny that you start this poll because I watched some of the Butterbean Marathon on TV and while he entertained very well, prehaps it was the somewhat circus act of this man along with the Tough Man competitions that paved the road for the lessened interest in "Real" profesional boxing.
To answer your question, to better the sport of boxing it must start with the young kids teaching them the confidence and art that they can learn through boxing.
Next it would be to reclaim the sport from the Don Kings and other users that seem to control the sport. One can only wonder what great heights and riches Mike Tyson would have achieved if Cuss had lived.
Nate, I do take issue with one of your statements, "Boxing being the most basic sport in history". I would give that title to foot racing.
As always, have a good day, I survived yesterdays rain storm and today I head out to Summit Point West Va.(162 miles) for a motorcycle race.
Hope all is well and stay ahead of the clowns.

Hi Old Bars:

As usual you comments are constructive and well thought out. When time permits I teach boxing and martial arts. But lately, the coaches around the country noticed that we are losing a lot of the boxers to other sports, some quit because they have families to support, others are lost to the drug trade.

As in everything, it takes money to keep these kids in the amateur programs and the amateur programs are feeling a serious pinch. The middle class families in our neighboring state of Maryland are doing a great job sacrificing their hard earned money to keep the programs going, but in Washington, DC. The programs are funded by the government, the DC Recreation Dept, which has recently seen a lot of cut backs.

I have not researched the activities in Virginia, but talking to the coaches and parents there, they are feeling the pinch too.

The best athletes in my area are also opting for football, basketball, track and field,and the armed forces. Very few of them want to continue with boxing after high school. We have a few kids continue into National Collegiate Boxing Association(NCBA) Schools, usually on academic scholarships, work study or loans or a combination of all of them. You can read about those schools on this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Collegi...

For development of good seasoned professional fighters, I believe we have to have a system to work with like the NCAA Division Schools feed the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and USA Track and Field. In all those cases, the athletes get paid and very well (usually through sponsorship, very few boxers in amateurs receive sponsorship), but with USA Boxing, there is no real feeder or recruitment system and the sport is slowing going down the drain.

But as history shows, these things go in cycles. But now is the time to turn USA Boxing around for the amateurs and pros.

Have a great time racing, Old Bars. My brother used to go to W. Va. to race cars, but I forget the name of the track!

Boxing has to work within a whole system of fighting including MMA/UFC. Not that Boxers should fight MMA's, but under a coordinated banner to compete with Pride. How about mixed tickets, a high level boxing match the same night, same arena, same promotion as MMA.

Also, all these disciplines need to find a way to keep the fixers out. I don't know how, but boxing has the worst reputation of all, and I'm sure fixers are trying to get involved in high level MMA cards as well.

Streetz wrote:

Boxing has to work within a whole system of fighting including MMA/UFC. Not that Boxers should fight MMA's, but under a coordinated banner to compete with Pride. How about mixed tickets, a high level boxing match the same night, same arena, same promotion as MMA.
Also, all these disciplines need to find a way to keep the fixers out. I don't know how, but boxing has the worst reputation of all, and I'm sure fixers are trying to get involved in high level MMA cards as well.

Hi Streetz:

It may be hard to get boxing and the UFC to work together, Dana White the President has already threw in the towel for boxing. Just look at this 60 Minutes Clip:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/...

But there are other groups that are willing to work with boxers.

Last year,the boxing Institute in Sarasota Fla had fight cards which contained boxing and MMA. The promoter was Andrew Neitich. Mr Neitich is also trying to start a fight league.

Here is the link to his promotion:

http://www.prlog.org/10015864-bonecrunch-figh...

They are the first group I have known to combine MMA with boxing.

Here is The Boxing Institute's Website:

http://www.kickboxingfitnessinstitute.com/abo...

They held their promotion in Miami.

Definately the back and down hammerfist. Modern day boxing is NOTHING like a real fight. Lets stop being pansies and let the guys willing to bleed for that title get in there. And if they get a boo-boo then they can freaking deal with it.

MPL wrote:

Definately the back and down hammerfist. Modern day boxing is NOTHING like a real fight. Lets stop being pansies and let the guys willing to bleed for that title get in there. And if they get a boo-boo then they can freaking deal with it.

Most fans want to see the fights varied with more action, I agree. The refs should be able to keep the action going too. If there is stalling, there should be a deduction.

[ who="smiling-Sam"]St op it altogether?
It's not a sport it's just outdated He-man-tics
A total waste of time for thugs and brawlers who need to dominate.
Who ever wrote this has a view of the Sport that I can not equate to. Sometimes, "People" have "views" on every-topic-under-the-Sun! Doesn't mean they EVER were involved one bit p s: Here in Connecticut the "Courts" are dirty-as-fuck ("sorry" "sometimes FOUL is the ONLY ACCURATE DESCRIPTION). One Judge named Howard Sch-e-in-bl-um might as well be a "Criminal" the Laws he CERTAINLY BREAKS. I can't understand why he is allowed to continue. What a disgrace. Nathan Hale gave his life up for "Naught!" I am totally UNPATRIOTIC ("d i me n t i o n a l l y") BECAUSE of "My Experiences". The Fed Gov t mt NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING!- I MEAN, THEY "Should do something!".
Right this minute, it LOOKS as if Ba rack, AND JOHN M c C A IN are our "greatest He r o s".**about the -boxing- Our Sport is not "everything" (in the Universe) but, You are talking about a "great" and dignified (-for the most part-) Sport. With "Great History".

Just to talk about the Amateurs right now. I am a former boxer and previously held the V Corp Lightwelterweight championship, in Germany (Army). I was boxing in a time period when Ed Green (Welterweight) and Juan Dominguez (Feather)-Both "Truly Great" boxers of their time- were ACTIVE (I was team mate with both Jerry (Red) Wiles and Robert Naper. Later: The hugh Star,Middleweight Emilio Amantine came-to-our-team). In 85 I was the Coach of the small/National program of Brunei and in 1980 I founded boxing at Central Ct. State, in NEW BRITAIN (Three National College Champions 1980-93). I do a "lot" now (I feel) though, it may not be something that is easily measured (Like,"3000 interest items" to -doors in West Hartford/Newington in July and August).
I'll TELL YOU what is wrong with the NATIONAL PROGRAM. To "sugest" that "Other sports" or "
drugs" is the root problem, I say "No",that THAT is "Wild Guessing". The ONLY PROBLEM with the National Program is that the ADMINISTRATION is filled with "Real Estate" -sorts- and is not filled with boxing minded individuals. They are not "deep" and that-right-there is the WHOLE - PROBLEM.-and- "It's no use making friends" with THEM, either. The only solution is going to be if, "angleing/from -inside--happens-". JOHN WILKINSON has -Spoken- today. WilkinsonJboxingII@Hotmail.com NEW BRITAIN, CT my-good-friend TIMMY STEWART the MAYOR. WORLD Hqts of STANLEY TOOLS; New Britain, Ct. is the ONLY CITY IN U.S.A. "Hitler" planned to BOMB, during WORLD WAR II??

adding John Wilkinson wrote:

[ who="smiling-Sam"]St op it altogether?
It's not a sport it's just outdated He-man-tics
A total waste of time for thugs and brawlers who need to dominate.
Who ever wrote this has a view of the Sport that I can not equate to. Sometimes, "People" have "views" on every-topic-under-the-Sun! Doesn't mean they EVER were involved one bit p s: Here in Connecticut the "Courts" are dirty-as-fuck ("sorry" "sometimes FOUL is the ONLY ACCURATE DESCRIPTION). One Judge named Howard Sch-e-in-bl-um might as well be a "Criminal" the Laws he CERTAINLY BREAKS. I can't understand why he is allowed to continue. What a disgrace. Nathan Hale gave his life up for "Naught!" I am totally UNPATRIOTIC ("d i me n t i o n a l l y") BECAUSE of "My Experiences". The Fed Gov t mt NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING!- I MEAN, THEY "Should do something!".
Right this minute, it LOOKS as if Ba rack, AND JOHN M c C A IN are our "greatest He r o s".**about the -boxing- Our Sport is not "everything" (in the Universe) but, You are talking about a "great" and dignified (-for the most part-) Sport. With "Great History".

So what would you do to improve and make the sport more exciting/dignified?

John Wilkinson wrote:

Just to talk about the Amateurs right now. I am a former boxer and previously held the V Corp Lightwelterweight championship, in Germany (Army). I was boxing in a time period when Ed Green (Welterweight) and Juan Dominguez (Feather)-Both "Truly Great" boxers of their time- were ACTIVE (I was team mate with both Jerry (Red) Wiles and Robert Naper. Later: The hugh Star,Middleweight Emilio Amantine came-to-our-team). In 85 I was the Coach of the small/National program of Brunei and in 1980 I founded boxing at Central Ct. State, in NEW BRITAIN (Three National College Champions 1980-93). I do a "lot" now (I feel) though, it may not be something that is easily measured (Like,"3000 interest items" to -doors in West Hartford/Newington in July and August).
I'll TELL YOU what is wrong with the NATIONAL PROGRAM. To "sugest" that "Other sports" or "
drugs" is the root problem, I say "No",that THAT is "Wild Guessing". The ONLY PROBLEM with the National Program is that the ADMINISTRATION is filled with "Real Estate" -sorts- and is not filled with boxing minded individuals. They are not "deep" and that-right-there is the WHOLE - PROBLEM.-and- "It's no use making friends" with THEM, either. The only solution is going to be if, "angleing/from -inside--happens-". JOHN WILKINSON has -Spoken- today. WilkinsonJboxingII@Hotmail.com NEW BRITAIN, CT my-good-friend TIMMY STEWART the MAYOR. WORLD Hqts of STANLEY TOOLS; New Britain, Ct. is the ONLY CITY IN U.S.A. "Hitler" planned to BOMB, during WORLD WAR II??

You are not making any sense!

Then, How about you just -keep going- with your Novice/Little Ass/Fast at the trigger -Self- at the Wheele, O.K. Because, that what you got here. Or: since you have the "last word" and the bottom line come with your dollars. Otherwise, honest, I'm not going to have the time for developement on your channel, here. Make the sport more Exciting. What, have you and me, box?("ha, ha!") More Dignified? You think Boxing is not dignified? WilkinsonJboxing@Hotrmail.com Private e-mail. Or an even better question for your person: Do you really know boxing history, much?
You make me sorry I venture on the -face- of your DOMAIN, HERE.

New Britain, Ct.,WilkinsonJboxingII@Hotmail .com

all yours

Controls wrote:

all yours

Bye Bye!

-I have one question for you- Do you yourself have actual boxing experience and if you have would you ever agree to a competition in the present sense? First hurdle will be WEIGHT-?- If you are a Lightweight or below, this will never work. I don't want to waste too much time here but I have one friend who asks me to make this inquiry.-Reply-
-Thank you- AC-9-74-82-29-200@Hotmail-addr ess

David Harmon wrote:

-I have one question for you- Do you yourself have actual boxing experience and if you have would you ever agree to a competition in the present sense? First hurdle will be WEIGHT-?- If you are a Lightweight or below, this will never work. I don't want to waste too much time here but I have one friend who asks me to make this inquiry.-Reply-
-Thank you- AC-9-74-82-29-200@Hotmail-addr ess

I boxed in my middle school years and I fought in kickboxing and Sanshou as a young man and an adult up to age 42.

I like boxing, but I think there could be improvements now to make the sport more exciting and appealing. Like anything in this modern world we can keep the traditional, but it does not hurt to add something that has variation. Every body's taste do not run the same!

It will help boxing, like the variations in team sport leagues!