Letters From the Cheap Seats
Boxing In MMA
I recently read your article on Sherdog.com about the sport of
boxing being in the shadow of MMA. I am a huge boxing fan and a
recent fan over the last few years of MMA. A friend of mine got
into the UFC and was on the Ultimate Fighter and he flies us out to
all of his fights. So I couldn't sit back and say I'm not a fan
after seeing several live events. However, I do get angry when
there is a punchline about boxing almost every five minutes from
the UFC commentators.
Your article is probably the first thing related to MMA that didn't bash boxing. I enjoyed reading about how boxing and MMA are living in peace together, and how you said boxing will not die. It is my personal belief though that if a top ranked boxer was to ever get involved with the UFC that Chuck Liddell (Pictures) wouldn't last very long. If a cruiserweight, or small heavyweight dropped to 205 and learned a takedown defense, Chuck's wild swinging punches would get him in trouble against somebody who throws a big jab.
Anyway, I would like to thank you for not putting down boxing and hope to read more of your articles. -- J. Crissman
Seeing an elite-level boxer against Liddell would be highly entertaining, if only because Chuck might be forced to rush in for a takedown. I know he's an accomplished wrestler, but that's still an alien concept.
I think it's shortsighted to believe that the only thing a boxer needs to do in order to step into a free-fight arena is learn how to sprawl. A traditional boxing stance -- one that was engrained in their early teens -- is going to have to be altered to accommodate the threat of shots, kicks, and the clinch. It can be done -- Jeremy Williams could be considered an early prototype -- but it's far from easy.
Great takes on the boxing/MMA scene. I do know that James Toney has been a fan of MMA since 1993. I remember sitting in his hotel room for an interview before his 1994 fight against Roy Jones and all he was talking about was the UFC. I don't think he is in the same category as Floyd Mayweather Jr. He appreciates the athletes in MMA. He just talks (trash) about anybody he would potentially fight.
I wish he was still young and in shape because I believe he would have been the first big-time boxer to make the jump to MMA. At this point, nobody cares if he tries an MMA fight. I think we are closing in on the day when a major boxer attempts an MMA fight. The money is finally getting up to the level of a major boxing fight. The only reason boxers didn't get involved in MMA was because the money wasn't even close. That's changing. -- Carlos Arias
I disagree that Toney entering the UFC wouldn't draw well. He would be the first boxer with name recognition and a heralded career to switch platforms, and the marketing would be a no-brainer. I understand that the UFC tried putting a Toney-Couture bout together last year, but lost interest when Toney dropped one of the half-dozen heavyweight straps.
The boxing title picture is so chaotic that I doubt fans really care whether Toney has one to his credit or not. The Boxing vs. MMA angle alone would be enough to draw interest, since it would provide some closure on an argument that's plagued both sports for over a decade now. If Toney is crazy enough to do it, they should take advantage.
One thing I have always wondered is why the "ultimate" trump card is not played more: that being the simple fact that no MMA fighter has ever been killed in a sanctioned bout. How many boxers died last year alone? To address Mayweather's comments, I guess Floyd hasn't seen any of the Ray Mercer kickboxing bouts. What I would give to see him fight B.J. Penn (Pictures) or Urijah Faber (Pictures)! - Mike
Money talks, but I don't see any check being large enough for Mayweather to risk his prized legacy as a boxing great by getting mounted and exiting a jeering arena with a couple of broken orbital bones. He seems far too proud to even consider it, and if he did, I'm sure his camp would set him straight. If and when a boxer decides to dive into deeper waters, it won't be a guy with a 37-0 record.
I find the argument over which sports kills fewer athletes to be morbid. Boxing is tough on the brain; MMA is tough on the ligaments. Both styles deserve respect for their respective risks.
Goldberg's meteoric rise
As to Mike Goldberg's "meteoric rise" mantra -- don't meteors fall to the earth quickly? Not to mention all that burning up into thin air? - Joe
I refuse to be spurned into researching boring science. I invite readers to contribute toward the Mike Goldberg Gets a Book on Fresh Metaphors Fund. It'll be the best 50 cents you ever spent.
For comments and Paypal book donations, email jrossen@sherdog.com
Your article is probably the first thing related to MMA that didn't bash boxing. I enjoyed reading about how boxing and MMA are living in peace together, and how you said boxing will not die. It is my personal belief though that if a top ranked boxer was to ever get involved with the UFC that Chuck Liddell (Pictures) wouldn't last very long. If a cruiserweight, or small heavyweight dropped to 205 and learned a takedown defense, Chuck's wild swinging punches would get him in trouble against somebody who throws a big jab.
Anyway, I would like to thank you for not putting down boxing and hope to read more of your articles. -- J. Crissman
Seeing an elite-level boxer against Liddell would be highly entertaining, if only because Chuck might be forced to rush in for a takedown. I know he's an accomplished wrestler, but that's still an alien concept.
I think it's shortsighted to believe that the only thing a boxer needs to do in order to step into a free-fight arena is learn how to sprawl. A traditional boxing stance -- one that was engrained in their early teens -- is going to have to be altered to accommodate the threat of shots, kicks, and the clinch. It can be done -- Jeremy Williams could be considered an early prototype -- but it's far from easy.
Great takes on the boxing/MMA scene. I do know that James Toney has been a fan of MMA since 1993. I remember sitting in his hotel room for an interview before his 1994 fight against Roy Jones and all he was talking about was the UFC. I don't think he is in the same category as Floyd Mayweather Jr. He appreciates the athletes in MMA. He just talks (trash) about anybody he would potentially fight.
I wish he was still young and in shape because I believe he would have been the first big-time boxer to make the jump to MMA. At this point, nobody cares if he tries an MMA fight. I think we are closing in on the day when a major boxer attempts an MMA fight. The money is finally getting up to the level of a major boxing fight. The only reason boxers didn't get involved in MMA was because the money wasn't even close. That's changing. -- Carlos Arias
I disagree that Toney entering the UFC wouldn't draw well. He would be the first boxer with name recognition and a heralded career to switch platforms, and the marketing would be a no-brainer. I understand that the UFC tried putting a Toney-Couture bout together last year, but lost interest when Toney dropped one of the half-dozen heavyweight straps.
The boxing title picture is so chaotic that I doubt fans really care whether Toney has one to his credit or not. The Boxing vs. MMA angle alone would be enough to draw interest, since it would provide some closure on an argument that's plagued both sports for over a decade now. If Toney is crazy enough to do it, they should take advantage.
One thing I have always wondered is why the "ultimate" trump card is not played more: that being the simple fact that no MMA fighter has ever been killed in a sanctioned bout. How many boxers died last year alone? To address Mayweather's comments, I guess Floyd hasn't seen any of the Ray Mercer kickboxing bouts. What I would give to see him fight B.J. Penn (Pictures) or Urijah Faber (Pictures)! - Mike
Money talks, but I don't see any check being large enough for Mayweather to risk his prized legacy as a boxing great by getting mounted and exiting a jeering arena with a couple of broken orbital bones. He seems far too proud to even consider it, and if he did, I'm sure his camp would set him straight. If and when a boxer decides to dive into deeper waters, it won't be a guy with a 37-0 record.
I find the argument over which sports kills fewer athletes to be morbid. Boxing is tough on the brain; MMA is tough on the ligaments. Both styles deserve respect for their respective risks.
Goldberg's meteoric rise
As to Mike Goldberg's "meteoric rise" mantra -- don't meteors fall to the earth quickly? Not to mention all that burning up into thin air? - Joe
I refuse to be spurned into researching boring science. I invite readers to contribute toward the Mike Goldberg Gets a Book on Fresh Metaphors Fund. It'll be the best 50 cents you ever spent.
For comments and Paypal book donations, email jrossen@sherdog.com
