Live Sport 2: The Boxer
Those London Olympics, they were good, weren't they? In all kinds of ways, on all sorts of levels. I was lucky enough to see my fair share of Olympic and Paralympic action.
Amidst various bids for high-end sought after tickets, my Olympic banker was a bit of early-rounds afternoon boxing.
It was in the ExCel Centre in Docklands, and I took my mother. It was the first view of live boxing for both of us. I am an enormous boxing fan, watching it on TV whenever I can, whereas my mother does not at least find the idea of boxing repugnant, as many reasonably do.
There is a lot less to find repugnant and upsetting in amateur boxing than professional boxing, so it's a good "in" for any casual, hesitant boxing fans. Gloves are bigger, headguards are worn, fights are shorter, and the aim of the game is to pick off your opponent with neat punches rather than damage them. At any sign of a boxer being remotely damaged, a fight will be stopped.
We got to see four second round fights in the lightweight category and four second round fights in the middleweight category. And we got lucky.
Before the fighting commenced, there was a little Q and A with Barry McGuigan. If you're a casual fan of boxing in this country, of whatever age, there probably isn't a much more welcoming presence than Barry McGuigan. He was his usual smart, upbeat self and then the 2008 Olympic champion James DeGale was also introduced, which was nice (incidentally, I like DeGale and think he may just about become a world champion, but he's not quite got it to be top level I don't think. Doesn't quite have the dig).
One thing it's hard to forget - the relentless loud music - a feature of pretty much all the Olympic events I attended. I mean really loud. I'm pretty used to relentless pounding music, but my mother was very much gritting her teeth and bearing it. Thankfully, the music turned off when the fighting started, to be replaced (sorry, can't resist) by relentless pounding fists.
I kind of understand the prevalence of music in modern sport and considering I don't let a moment pass either without me talking or some music playing in one of my quizzes, far be it from me to object. Does music make sport more entertaining? ... Oh, it can do, it can build up atmosphere, sure, as can a jolly and knowledgeable MC. But if it's too loud for me, who constantly has the music on my iPod at maximum volume, then something tells me there were an awful lot of other people throughout the Olympics who it was really, really too loud for.
Anyway, the lightweights first, no Brits but some decent contests, and then the treat, Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine, widely considered the greatest amateur boxer of all time. In almost 400 amateur fights he lost once, and it wasn't the time we saw him. He was the only boxer we saw stop his opponent, and his class was clear. He just moved more slickly, had more of an effect when he hit. It was subtle, but clear.
Now, I'd thought I might write this post talking about Lomachenko as the new professional lightweight world champion. In only his second pro fight, he took the ridiculous step of challenging for a world title (it takes most boxers a minimum of 20 or so fights before they're at world level, however distinguished they are as amateurs) last week, and it was a Mexican badass whom this blog has touched on before.
Salido is a fable-crusher, a heartbreaker, a dreamstalker. A fighter's fighter. Boxing has such an upside down value system that the fact he's failed a steroid test in the past means nothing to the hardcore fans. PEDs in boxing are not just an unfair advantage, they're also potentially life-threatening to the opponent you're cheating, and yet boxing has the laxest, most forgiving attitude to it of any sport imaginable. Drug tests are routinely hush-hushed, passed over, bans are measly, it's pretty disgraceful really.
I actually like Salido. He's fun to watch and he paid his time. He beat Lomachenko on a close split decision. He didn't retain his title though, as he didn't make weight, so he was too big for Lomachenko. Furthermore, and more importantly, throughout the fight, he was relentlessly hitting Lomachenko below the belt. I mean, relentlessly. It was ridiculous. The referee, and indeed the commentators for a while, seemed totally blind to it.
Further reflections on the ghastliness of boxing in the commentary box - three people - ghastly windbag "Colonel" (not a real one) Bob Sheridan, octogenarian self-important doyen Larry Merchant and a female commentator whose name I didn't catch, whose comments were usually totally ignored. She kept on pointing out the low blows, only to be patronisingly dismissed that the punches were "borderline" and that this "wasn't a tickling contest" until she finally made her point by going "that one low's ... and that one ... and that one" till finally they had to accept it.
Anyway, Lomachenko lost, he was "old manned" by Salido, whose prizefighting nous took its one opportunity to beat the younger, more talented guy be any means possible. Lomachenko will be a world champion soon, he offered no excuses where he could have offered thousands, and will probably be a better boxer and a bigger star for this rough start. Look out for him, he might be the biggest Eastern boxing star that America's ever seen.
It was a privilege to watch him. But the middleweight bouts brought the real highlight, the moment when the roof lifted off the venue, where Lomachenko had brought only respectful applause. Amongst the middleweight participants was the Brit Anthony Ogogo. One thing I saw at the Olympics, is that British people go fucking mental for British people, even if they've no idea who they are. Ogogo actually has a proper back story, his mum was seriously ill just before the games and he almost didn't compete. He's a marketable, chatty young fellow too. Anyway, he was fighting the World Champion and favourite, another Ukrainian, Evhen Khytrov. It was really a tremendous fight. Just 3 rounds of 3 minutes, but clearly this was the defining moment of Ogogo's sporting life, in a way that the stronger Khytrov hadn't quite realised it was of his. The Brit fought his socks off, gained a lead and then as he tired in the final round, you could hear the crowd begging him to hold it together. The noise was really unforgettable. You realise what a shame it is that boxing promoters have taken their money to satellite channels and there's hardly ever any on terrestrial. People still love boxing. It's great sport.
Anyway, at the end, they could not be separated. They had the same number of points, the same number on countback, and so it was decided purely by the five judges deciding who they thought they deserved it. They went for Ogogo and everyone, my mother included, was on their feet. Ogogo won one more tough fight and consequently guaranteed himself a bronze medal. He lost a tough fight in the semis, but an Olympic medal has set him up for life.
To be honest, he's not top notch, and if he hadn't won the fight against Khytrov, he might have struggled to make much noise, but with the medal to his name, he signed a deal with Golden Boy and has made a start on his pro career with slots on really prestigious bills, like the forthcoming Mayweather-Maidana bill. If he should ever become a World Champion, I'll get an even bigger sense of "I was there" - I don't think he will, but you never know.
Amidst various bids for high-end sought after tickets, my Olympic banker was a bit of early-rounds afternoon boxing.
It was in the ExCel Centre in Docklands, and I took my mother. It was the first view of live boxing for both of us. I am an enormous boxing fan, watching it on TV whenever I can, whereas my mother does not at least find the idea of boxing repugnant, as many reasonably do.
There is a lot less to find repugnant and upsetting in amateur boxing than professional boxing, so it's a good "in" for any casual, hesitant boxing fans. Gloves are bigger, headguards are worn, fights are shorter, and the aim of the game is to pick off your opponent with neat punches rather than damage them. At any sign of a boxer being remotely damaged, a fight will be stopped.
We got to see four second round fights in the lightweight category and four second round fights in the middleweight category. And we got lucky.
Before the fighting commenced, there was a little Q and A with Barry McGuigan. If you're a casual fan of boxing in this country, of whatever age, there probably isn't a much more welcoming presence than Barry McGuigan. He was his usual smart, upbeat self and then the 2008 Olympic champion James DeGale was also introduced, which was nice (incidentally, I like DeGale and think he may just about become a world champion, but he's not quite got it to be top level I don't think. Doesn't quite have the dig).
One thing it's hard to forget - the relentless loud music - a feature of pretty much all the Olympic events I attended. I mean really loud. I'm pretty used to relentless pounding music, but my mother was very much gritting her teeth and bearing it. Thankfully, the music turned off when the fighting started, to be replaced (sorry, can't resist) by relentless pounding fists.
I kind of understand the prevalence of music in modern sport and considering I don't let a moment pass either without me talking or some music playing in one of my quizzes, far be it from me to object. Does music make sport more entertaining? ... Oh, it can do, it can build up atmosphere, sure, as can a jolly and knowledgeable MC. But if it's too loud for me, who constantly has the music on my iPod at maximum volume, then something tells me there were an awful lot of other people throughout the Olympics who it was really, really too loud for.
Anyway, the lightweights first, no Brits but some decent contests, and then the treat, Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine, widely considered the greatest amateur boxer of all time. In almost 400 amateur fights he lost once, and it wasn't the time we saw him. He was the only boxer we saw stop his opponent, and his class was clear. He just moved more slickly, had more of an effect when he hit. It was subtle, but clear.
Now, I'd thought I might write this post talking about Lomachenko as the new professional lightweight world champion. In only his second pro fight, he took the ridiculous step of challenging for a world title (it takes most boxers a minimum of 20 or so fights before they're at world level, however distinguished they are as amateurs) last week, and it was a Mexican badass whom this blog has touched on before.
Salido is a fable-crusher, a heartbreaker, a dreamstalker. A fighter's fighter. Boxing has such an upside down value system that the fact he's failed a steroid test in the past means nothing to the hardcore fans. PEDs in boxing are not just an unfair advantage, they're also potentially life-threatening to the opponent you're cheating, and yet boxing has the laxest, most forgiving attitude to it of any sport imaginable. Drug tests are routinely hush-hushed, passed over, bans are measly, it's pretty disgraceful really.
I actually like Salido. He's fun to watch and he paid his time. He beat Lomachenko on a close split decision. He didn't retain his title though, as he didn't make weight, so he was too big for Lomachenko. Furthermore, and more importantly, throughout the fight, he was relentlessly hitting Lomachenko below the belt. I mean, relentlessly. It was ridiculous. The referee, and indeed the commentators for a while, seemed totally blind to it.
Further reflections on the ghastliness of boxing in the commentary box - three people - ghastly windbag "Colonel" (not a real one) Bob Sheridan, octogenarian self-important doyen Larry Merchant and a female commentator whose name I didn't catch, whose comments were usually totally ignored. She kept on pointing out the low blows, only to be patronisingly dismissed that the punches were "borderline" and that this "wasn't a tickling contest" until she finally made her point by going "that one low's ... and that one ... and that one" till finally they had to accept it.
Anyway, Lomachenko lost, he was "old manned" by Salido, whose prizefighting nous took its one opportunity to beat the younger, more talented guy be any means possible. Lomachenko will be a world champion soon, he offered no excuses where he could have offered thousands, and will probably be a better boxer and a bigger star for this rough start. Look out for him, he might be the biggest Eastern boxing star that America's ever seen.
It was a privilege to watch him. But the middleweight bouts brought the real highlight, the moment when the roof lifted off the venue, where Lomachenko had brought only respectful applause. Amongst the middleweight participants was the Brit Anthony Ogogo. One thing I saw at the Olympics, is that British people go fucking mental for British people, even if they've no idea who they are. Ogogo actually has a proper back story, his mum was seriously ill just before the games and he almost didn't compete. He's a marketable, chatty young fellow too. Anyway, he was fighting the World Champion and favourite, another Ukrainian, Evhen Khytrov. It was really a tremendous fight. Just 3 rounds of 3 minutes, but clearly this was the defining moment of Ogogo's sporting life, in a way that the stronger Khytrov hadn't quite realised it was of his. The Brit fought his socks off, gained a lead and then as he tired in the final round, you could hear the crowd begging him to hold it together. The noise was really unforgettable. You realise what a shame it is that boxing promoters have taken their money to satellite channels and there's hardly ever any on terrestrial. People still love boxing. It's great sport.
Anyway, at the end, they could not be separated. They had the same number of points, the same number on countback, and so it was decided purely by the five judges deciding who they thought they deserved it. They went for Ogogo and everyone, my mother included, was on their feet. Ogogo won one more tough fight and consequently guaranteed himself a bronze medal. He lost a tough fight in the semis, but an Olympic medal has set him up for life.
To be honest, he's not top notch, and if he hadn't won the fight against Khytrov, he might have struggled to make much noise, but with the medal to his name, he signed a deal with Golden Boy and has made a start on his pro career with slots on really prestigious bills, like the forthcoming Mayweather-Maidana bill. If he should ever become a World Champion, I'll get an even bigger sense of "I was there" - I don't think he will, but you never know.
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