Back to the Future

by John Genco on Feb 23, 2010 10:18 AM EST

Where have all the blockbusters gone? There are still a few every year. Many more to those that follow boxing closely. But why isn't boxing headlining the way it use to? Why don't today's starts shine as bright as those from yesterday? Can the current lineup compare to any one of the golden ages of boxing? Could it be the lack of star power or just the lack of good scripts? Some argue simply, without a compelling heavyweight champion, boxing lacks The Right Stuff.

But here's some Weird Science... The early 80's certainly fall into the category of a golden age. And there are many similarities to then and now. Both eras are topped by heavyweight champions that don't garner much attention or praise. Larry Holmes then, and Klitschko now, are both viewed more by what they aren't than what they are, and what they're opponents haven't been instead of what they have. It is clear that the heavies didn't rule then, and they aren't ruling now.

Is there just not enough star power today to fill the gloves of the legendary leading men of the early 80's? The burgeoning 80's were ruled by the a fab four who made their fame in and around the welterweight division. Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns and Mavin Hagler certainly supplied some Big Chills and are now considered Untouchables.

But what if it was possible to remake those Fast Times today? The casting call would go out to Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquio, Paul Williams and Shane Mosley. What are the major differences? Is there something these stars lack that the royal four didn't? Why are the guys from the 80's considered Raging Bulls and today's formidable four considered Odinary People?. How close could they come to fitting the bill?

"Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather as the original pretty boy, Sugar Ray Leonard. Both men are known to be huge draws with charisma to spare. Floyd talks faster and brasher, but Leonard was what was called back then "well spoken." Equally great talkers in their own way, blessed with fast smiles and faster hands. Neither was ever known for their toughness and their manliness is often questioned by fans and opponents.

Sugar Ray and Money stand as big time money makers for their time. Both men known to be fast and quick movers inside the ring, and excellent boxers with an eye towards opportunities outside the ring. Sugar had some of his biggest, and biggest grossing fights after his initial retirement. Floyd has the same opportunity after his early retirement in 2008/09. They are the biggest name of their bunch.

Manny Pacquio as Roberto Duran. Both come from incredibly poor environments that make American ghettos seem like The Hills. Duran and Pacman started out as very rough diamonds with relentless styles. Manny initially trained in Muay Thai. Duran was initially void of any specialized training. Both turned pro at 16, and each man ran through weight classes like Holyfield through baby mammas, starting at lightweight and willing to top out where the fight was. Both men earned their victories as huge punchers with great chins.

Paulie Williams as Tommy "The Hitman" Hearns. Nobody could believe that Tommy could fit into a welterweight's robe. He was 6'1 with a 78 inch reach. He was always willing to fight anyone. And was a tough fight to take for everyone. Easily and willingly moved up to light heavy. Williams is 6'1 with a 82 inch reach. Nobody can believe that he fits into a welterweight's trunks. He chases fighters in many divisions, willing to fight anyone and a tough fight for anyone to take. Could even one day see him at light heavy.

Shane Mosely as Marvelous Marvin Hagler. While Hagler was the dominating force of his time, Shane is not quite there. Hagler dominated the middleweight division and was champion for seven years. Shane did hold a belt at middle. And totaling all his championships, he's been a belt holder for almost six. They also are both African American fighters, who have often been over shadowed by contemporaries. Forgive a little artistic license with this one.

The current quartet should all be headlining shows in multiplexes all over the world. Instead, some are relatively confined to art houses and dollar theaters. This macho cuatro has big names, some even in mainstream America. They have the styles to make some epic, all-time clashes. Why is it so different now?

The Oscars and Viewers Choice goes to the 80's Smack Pack for one Shining reason.
They fought each other a total of 9 times. Dozens and dozens and dozens of rounds spent together.

The modern version of the unfocused four fought a total of zero times. Zero and zeros and zeros of rounds spent together.

Good movies in Hollywood make your name. Blockbusters make your fame. In boxing, winning belts makes your name. Inside the pound-for-pound list makes your fame.

To today's fractioned four, do you want to be famous? Well, do ya?

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"Inside the pound-for-pound list makes your fame."

Hmm. Doesn’t this go completely against the argument of your whole fanpost?

Surely you’re arguing that Mosley, Mayweather, Pacquiao and Williams aren’t getting the plaudits that fighters of yesteryear enjoyed? Since all four of these guys are in any boxing fan’s P4P list right now (I assume!!), this final point seems contradictory.

I would also argue that there are a lot more famous fighters outside the P4P lists than there are in it. For example, Ricky Hatton is much more famous than Ivan Calderon; Amir Khan much more famous than Hozumi Hasegawa (although I accept that this may not be the case in Japan…). Paulie Malignaggi is more famous than Chad Dawson.

Overall, I suppose I would say I have an idea what you’re driving at (although your Mosley/Hagler comparison is tenuous at best), but I think you could have summed it up pretty quickly by asking the question, “Why are the boxers from the 80’s more venerated than those active today?”

My answer to this? Time. In 20 years time, there will be another generation of fighters who we will compare unfavourably to those fighting now. We will hanker for the days of Mayweather and Pacquiao in the same way that some now pine for the days of Hagler and Hearns…. Those who come later will be forced to stand in the shadows of those who came before.

Or as Rod Stewart said, “The first cut is the deepest….”

Some people are acting like Pacquiao should be expected to have just gone, "Yeah sure, let’s do something I’ve never done before because your dad made some dumbass baseless comment."
(SC, 28/12/09; http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/12/27/1221143/mayweather-pacquiao-update-bob#comments)

by Chaos100 on Mar 3, 2010 2:26 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

"Inside the pound-for-pound list makes your fame."

My point was you make your fame by fighting those inside the pound-4-pound list. Not just being in it.

Yes, I would agree that Paulie is more famous than Chad and Khan more than Calderon and such. But all those guys have made their name. None have made their fame. It is the difference between Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks and Kevin Garnett. My wife has no idea who Joe Johnson is, but knows kevin Garnett.

My neighbors don’t have any idea who Williams or Shane or Manny are, some have heard of Floyd but aren’t sure what he does, even with his stint on dancing with the stars. But they all know Sugar Ray, or Duran. I would argue that if Shane, Manny, Paul and Floyd fought each other a total of nine times, my neighbors will know them. I would also argue that if Sugar, Duran, Hearns and Hagler didn’t spend those rounds together, they’d be forgotten as today’s four ultimately may.

I may not have been as clear as I hoped to be, but my point was this group has a chance to do some special things if they would all get in the ring together. Put it all on the line like the Four Kings did.

Solid point about your answer of 20 years from now. Some will stand in the shadows… but what about standing on the shoulders of giants?

by John Genco on Mar 3, 2010 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

So, like… Nickelback > The Clash

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Mar 4, 2010 7:01 AM EST up reply actions

lol

Good effort…..

Anyway, I’ve been meaning to ask, what does your current sig mean? Or where is it from? I might be thick, but I just don’t get the reference….

by Chaos100 on Mar 4, 2010 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

"My point was you make your fame by fighting those inside the pound-4-pound list. Not just being in it."

I don’t think this is either necessarily true, nor the cruz of your piece. However, since this is your thread, I’ll let you have that your way.

As for standing on the shoulders of giants…. I personally don’t think there is much need to. As much as I respect fighters from bygone eras, I tend to think I look objectively at all fighters, regardless of era, and evaluate them independently. While I apppreciate the greatness of Pacquaio as much as I appreciate the greatness of Robinson. The fact that one came first is largely irrelevant to me. However, in the general scheme of things I agree, people should at least be given the chance to superimpose themselves over the existing definitions of greatness, but the shame of the thing is that a lot of people won’t let them. There will always be those who proclaim that Ali was “The Greatest” (I cringe even as I write the moniker), that Hopkins wouldn’t be fit to lace Leonard’s gloves, that Tyson would have received a severe whooping against Louis.

The fact is, I may personally agree or disagree with those statements, but I make up my mind based on what I see, not with some sort of nostalgic bias making my decisions for me.

Now, where’s jrok to rip my post apart when I need him? ;)

by Chaos100 on Mar 4, 2010 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

We will hanker for the days of Mayweather and Pacquiao in the same way that some now pine for the days of Hagler and Hearns

Exactly.

"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey

by Drunken cutman on Mar 3, 2010 6:11 PM EST up reply actions

Boxing these days is a sad and hollow sham of what it was in all respects.

The fighters of the lower divisions are as good as they’ve ever been but the fights aren’t made or they’re mostly for not the elite title. Too many titlists, too many divisions. As for the Heavies, forget it. Two over-hyped and over-muscled brothers who won’t even fight the other – that’s the supreme joke.

I want a bigger juke-box.

by Randy Loathsome on Mar 8, 2010 4:48 PM EST reply actions