Why Boxing is falling apart
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by Cbothe
Just tonight the replay of Mayweather-Hatton was on HBO, I watched it after hearing some good things about the fight and hearing about the great atmosphere. I must admit watching the fight this may have been the best atmosphere I've seen in any sporting event in my life. The English fans completely changed the fight, they brought passion for one fighter, not normally seen in any type of American fighting. The chants, the songs, the energy could be felt even watching the replay; you were drawn to the screen just to see what would happen next.
Heres the problem, as great as the atmosphere was, the fight was typical boxing and shows why people are drawn towards the action packed Mixed Martial Arts. In the first 5 rounds it was a one sided affair, and no it wasn't one sided like the judges all posted on their cards. Mayweather may have won a round or 2, and yet 2 judges somehow had Mayweather ahead in some fights by 4 rounds to 1 or 3 rounds to 2. Yet watching the replay you see that Hatton clearly is in control of the fight and dictating the pace.
The first 5 rounds were a joke everytime Hatton got close Mayweather would hold him so no punches could be thrown slowing the fight and just wasting time. The Judge warned Mayweather countless times in the first 5 rounds, and yet not once was he penalized. It seemed like everytime Hatton was doing something Mayweather would just grab him to stop everything. This shows whats wrong with boxing, if even once or twice the Ref just simply says "1 point deduction Mayweather" that changes the fight. Hatton should have already been ahead and give him another point advantage its a totally different fight. MMA does not allow its fighters to just sit there and delay the fights; they force them up if they do nothing on the ground and they take away points if the fighter just runs away. If boxing learns from this then maybe, it will become more action packed and more interesting.
The final problem I had in the fight took place in the 6th round. The other thing throught the first 5 rounds that I did not mention was that the times Mayweather missed the grab on Hatton he would curl up and duck down to try and get hit in the back of the head. The whole time he just hid and curled up, boxing takes away points for hitting people in the back of the head, so Hatton couldn't do anything even though it was his opponents fault that he got hit in the back of the head. In the 6th round this issue came to its head when Mayweather ducked down and backed through the ropes, Hatton threw a punch that actually hit the rope then glanced the back of Mayweather's head. Hatton was deducted a point in that round, another round which he actually should have won yet the judges had Mayweather win.
All and all it was the greatest atmosphere for a sporting event I've seen, but the fight did not live up to the atmosphere. The fight continued to show why Boxing is a coming apart and the seams and MMA is growing.
After 6 rounds the judges had the Mayweather ahead at least 4 rounds to 2 with a deduction of 1 point for Hatton. The problem is after 6 rounds Hatton should have been ahead at least 4 rounds to 2, with a deduction of 1 point on Mayweather for holding.
Thanks again Boxing for having your biggest fight of the year turn me away towards UFC.
