DREAMS OF THE LAST GOLDEN ERA PERSIST!
San Francisco, CA- Rarely does a day go by where I don�t think a bit about the last golden era of boxing, that being the late 1970s to the late 1980s, just before the light began to dim circa 1991-92. This time period had Roberto Duran, Ray Leonard, Larry Holmes, Thomas Hearns, Mike McCallum, Aaron Pryor, Alexis Arguello, Salvador Sanchez, Carlos Zarate, and of course Mike Tyson, these were just some of the leading actors. With supporting cast members like Davey Moore, Pipino Cuevas, Wilfred Benitez, Gerry Cooney, Wilfred Benitez, Alfonso Zamora, Lupe Pintor, Alfredo Escalera, and Donald Curry, �superfights� were often the rule and not the exception!
IN 2009, THERE JUST AREN�T ENOUGH PACMEN!
And while there is an exception or two, most notably Manny Pacquiao, today we have guys that couldn�t carry any of the aforementioned cast member�s gym bags prancing around with titles and belts. That being said, there was a sense of urgency in the makeup of these men. Say what you want about Gerry Cooney, but he was a good fighter. Cooney might have been great, had his managerial team, the �Whacko Twins,� Mike Jones and Dennis Rappaport, had they prepared Cooney to be a fighter, and not one just an attraction as they were simply looking to cash in on Gerry being a unbeaten white heavyweight title challenger.
FIGHTERS USED TO CRAVE GREATNESS
Aaron Pryor will forever live off the great feat he accomplished in beating Alexis Arguello twice. For his part, Arguello decimated Puerto Rico�s Escalera, in addition to besting lightweight (135 lbs) champ Jim Watt to gain a spot on the elite list. Roberto Duran, Ray Leonard, besides having each other and Hearns, there was Wilfred Benitez, Davey Moore, and Maurice Hope to further their cause. Sanchez attained his greatness by stifling Gomez. Hearns� blitzkrieg of Cuevas was an embarrassing mismatch seeing for the Mexican champ seeing Cuevas had won 11 straight WBA welterweight (147 lbs) title fights.
OUT OF SIGHT SPORT MEANS OUT OF MIND
When the three major networks, ABC, CBS, and then NBC, when they got out of the boxing game, it was reduced to a niche sport. Not only did this keep boxing from the masses, but it kept boxing away from the potential next great fighter. CBS, sagging ratings what they are for Saturday night, these guys could put forth one Saturday night per month for boxing and one MMA night per month. This could be done, but it would take committment, both in cash and time, something promoters haven’t done in decades!
POWERS THAT BE TOO BUSY STACKING DA� CASH
Promoters, if they were concerned about the future and weren�t so busy counting their PPV money, could work out a deal if so inclined. In every other entity, be it sport or business, the people in charge are looking to insure longevity. Boxing in general, the promoters, even the individual fighters, lack any desire for foresight. In closing, there are roughly 40% the number of boxers licensed in 2009, compared to 1989. If these numbers were to continue going in that direction, where will the sport be, will it even exist in 2029?
