Junior Seau Dead

[rodneyh]

Don King brought corruption into everybody's living room.

You're probably right, that's why nobody ever questioned the second Ali-Liston fight.

Come on, those early 1960s hearings were big time. Not as big as the initial Mafia hearing ten years earlier, but with the Mafia fresh in everyone's mind now, you had the Team Sports hearings a couple years earlier, Marciano testifying, Dempsey, Louis, LaMotta admitting the fixed fight, Tunney, etc. everybody's living room learned all the sorted details. I read somewhere one time, the ratings for those hearings was a big as any boxing match on TV at the time.

The fact that the IBC who ran promotions at the Garden, Yankee Stadium, Polo Grounds, etc was controlled by the mafia became front page news.

Everyone knew way before Don King ever convinced Ali to show up at a Cleveland Hospital for charity.

[BADGER]

I totally disagree. Corruption (Don King) killed boxing.

Boxing died because it was almost completely removed from free and even cable tv. That is the reason 95% couldn't tell you who the heavy weight champ currently is or care who he is.

[mstove]

Boxing died because it was almost completely removed from free and even cable tv. That is the reason 95% couldn't tell you who the heavy weight champ currently is or care who he is.

This is why I ended up losing interest.

[skypigeon]

Boxing died because it was almost completely removed from free and even cable tv. That is the reason 95% couldn't tell you who the heavy weight champ currently is or care who he is.

Yep. When the powers that be got greedy and made it all pay-per-view, they effectively killed the sport.

[Neshaminy]

Yep. When the powers that be got greedy and made it all pay-per-view, they effectively killed the sport.

Didn't boxing effectively die twice? The first time in the late 50's or so with overexposure from the friday night, saturday night, wednesday night, tuesday night fights on the tube, then while making a comeback with WWoS in the 60's and 70's then effectively strangled itself with PPV and a lack of characters at the heavyweight level, and the death in the ring of Duk Koo Kim (IIRC) at the hands of that nice kid "Boom Boom" Mancini. After that it all but disappeared.

[Truth Detector]

This is why I ended up losing interest.

I once paid $50 to watch a Tyson fight that lasted IIRC less than one minute.

Never did that again.

[Truth Detector]

Duk Koo Kim died in 1982. Boxing was huge for years after that. Kim's death was stunning but I don't agree with those who think that killed boxing.

[Neshaminy]

Duk Koo Kim died in 1982. Boxing was huge for years after that. Kim's death was stunning but I don't agree with those who think that killed boxing.

I really do not recall much boxing after that time period......but it was no longer on many satudays on WWoS either, it's sort of like football almost came in to fill the timeslots.

[Truth Detector]

It was 1990 when Tyson lost to Buster Douglas.

And I agree about the role played by TV. Hell, I'm living proof.

[rodneyh]

Duk Koo Kim died in 1982. Boxing was huge for years after that. Kim's death was stunning but I don't agree with those who think that killed boxing.

Of course, it wasn't sudden knockout to the sport, but it set the wheels in motion, IMO. Of course, there are no hard facts, just my subjective opinion why I feel that way.

As mentioned OTA shows have deterioated over the years, I think it started with that. Boxing thrived on its mano a mano image, the human will to survive, the desperation. That was never more pronounced in those championship rounds. That defined the sport. They moved it 12 rounds, they introduced a standing 8 count. The sport started a spiral downward after that, limited free television, questionable stoppages, medical checkups not just yeah his heart works.

It was sport that defined brutality, not caution.

[Neshaminy]

It was 1990 when Tyson lost to Buster Douglas.

And I agree about the role played by TV. Hell, I'm living proof.

.....and I'd be willing to bet if Tyson wasn't so dominant and had a few challengers who were 99% of his fury he may have pulled it back into the (mainstream) spotlight. But alas he destroyed them all (making for some very short PPV fights) and then ended up being known more for his violent antics outside the ring.