By Chidozie Ehirim
Editor
As boxing and UFC fans worldwide eagerly await the unprecedented showdown between American boxer Floyd Mayweather and Irish UFC champion, Conor McGregor, the war of words between them culminated in a colourful press conference on July 14th.
The two fighters continued to trade insults and the London leg of the fight's promotional tour was was entertaining to say the least.
Both UFC and boxing thrive on hype. Any animousity, real or contrived is integral to successfully selling a fight.
As the war of words between Mayweather and Mcgregor continue, both fighters have also come under criticism from elsewhere. Mayweather for example was recently criticized heavily by one of his former rivals.
Former boxing world champion and founder of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De Lay Hoya recently had some choice words for Mayweather when giving his views about the upcoming fight.
He told USA Today:
"I think - I personally think as a promoter, Mayweather has not been good for boxing. Because fighters now are thinking all about business and not thinking about the fight or the fans. People do not want to see someone win a 12-round boxing match by outslicking (the opponent). People pay their hard earned money to buy a ticket and want to be entertained, not by dancing around and not getting hit. They want to see a show"
Scathing indeed.
Floyd Mayweather, despite being undefeated in 49 fights still faces criticism for his ultra defensive style, seemingly for the lack of entertainment it provides. It is however, effective and one that has not only meant the multiple world champion has remained undefeated but has also meant he will go down in history as one of the greatest fighters to ever lace on the gloves.
It is clear that there is no love lost between Mayweather and De La Hoya. Boxing is a sport with full of opinions however De La Hoya's comments more than miss their mark.
Mayweather has stated that his desire has never been to take unnessecary punishment and values his health above all else - as he should. As a result, he fights in a way that has been praised by boxing purists, former opponents and pundits alike. His last opponent Andre Berto summed up what it was like to face him in a recent interview.
Casual boxing fans want to see a brawl and they do do pay money for that. At the same time, boxing purists want to see a skilled practitioner adept at their craft - they too pay good money to witness this.
Mayweather's critics also pay to see him lose. Either way, he still gets paid.
For boxing purists, it is the 'sweet science' that they appreciate and to them, he is a professor of this science. The fundamentals are this in boxing, "hit and not get hit". Whether Maywether's detractors like it or not, he is one of, if not, the greatest exponent of those principles.
That, for many is entertaining enough.
Mayweather does the basics very well. He has fought world champion after world champion and has found a way to win each and every time.
De La Hoya referred to Mayweather as "dancing around the ring" which could be considerd by some to be a thinly veiled insult. For casual boxing fans, ring generalship and making full, effective use of the ring has been labelled running. The two are definetly not the same.
Oscar De La Hoya may wish to cast his mind back to his own career when he fought Felix Trinidad in 1999. The last two rounds in particular he fought on the back foot and made full use of the ring, with Trinidad the more aggressive fighter.
This was clearly a strategic decision by De La Hoya and he used a tactic he thought would be effective. The crowd, especially in the last round, were vociferous in their disaproval and made their feelings known by booing. The commentators and pundits ringside also made note of the fact that De La Hoya was trying to 'steal the round'.
These fans had paid good money to see an entertaining fight. They did not pay to see De La Hoya dance around the ring.
Stones and glass houses just don't mix Oscar, they just don't.
Editor
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| Mayweather and Mcgregor |
The two fighters continued to trade insults and the London leg of the fight's promotional tour was was entertaining to say the least.
Both UFC and boxing thrive on hype. Any animousity, real or contrived is integral to successfully selling a fight.
As the war of words between Mayweather and Mcgregor continue, both fighters have also come under criticism from elsewhere. Mayweather for example was recently criticized heavily by one of his former rivals.
Former boxing world champion and founder of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De Lay Hoya recently had some choice words for Mayweather when giving his views about the upcoming fight.
He told USA Today:
"I think - I personally think as a promoter, Mayweather has not been good for boxing. Because fighters now are thinking all about business and not thinking about the fight or the fans. People do not want to see someone win a 12-round boxing match by outslicking (the opponent). People pay their hard earned money to buy a ticket and want to be entertained, not by dancing around and not getting hit. They want to see a show"
Scathing indeed.
Floyd Mayweather, despite being undefeated in 49 fights still faces criticism for his ultra defensive style, seemingly for the lack of entertainment it provides. It is however, effective and one that has not only meant the multiple world champion has remained undefeated but has also meant he will go down in history as one of the greatest fighters to ever lace on the gloves.
 |
| Oscar De La Hoya |
It is clear that there is no love lost between Mayweather and De La Hoya. Boxing is a sport with full of opinions however De La Hoya's comments more than miss their mark.
Mayweather has stated that his desire has never been to take unnessecary punishment and values his health above all else - as he should. As a result, he fights in a way that has been praised by boxing purists, former opponents and pundits alike. His last opponent Andre Berto summed up what it was like to face him in a recent interview.
Casual boxing fans want to see a brawl and they do do pay money for that. At the same time, boxing purists want to see a skilled practitioner adept at their craft - they too pay good money to witness this.
Mayweather's critics also pay to see him lose. Either way, he still gets paid.
 |
| Mayweather's titles |
For boxing purists, it is the 'sweet science' that they appreciate and to them, he is a professor of this science. The fundamentals are this in boxing, "hit and not get hit". Whether Maywether's detractors like it or not, he is one of, if not, the greatest exponent of those principles.
That, for many is entertaining enough.
Mayweather does the basics very well. He has fought world champion after world champion and has found a way to win each and every time.
De La Hoya referred to Mayweather as "dancing around the ring" which could be considerd by some to be a thinly veiled insult. For casual boxing fans, ring generalship and making full, effective use of the ring has been labelled running. The two are definetly not the same.
 |
| Mayweather in action |
This was clearly a strategic decision by De La Hoya and he used a tactic he thought would be effective. The crowd, especially in the last round, were vociferous in their disaproval and made their feelings known by booing. The commentators and pundits ringside also made note of the fact that De La Hoya was trying to 'steal the round'.
These fans had paid good money to see an entertaining fight. They did not pay to see De La Hoya dance around the ring.
Stones and glass houses just don't mix Oscar, they just don't.
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