Female fighting comes of age

[ringsideboxingshow]

By DENNIS TAYLOR
Editor & Publisher of The Boxing Amusement Park
www.ringsideboxingshow.com

Your granddaughters are a new breed.
On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee sanctioned women's boxing for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. And on Saturday night,two females --Gina Carano and Cris "Cyborg" Santos -- will fightin the main event of an otherwise all-male mixed martial arts cardthat willbe televised worldwide on Showtime.
A large percentage of the public remains squeamish about watching females fight or wrestle. Old-world ideas die hard. The truth is, the girls and women who participate in boxing, MMA and wrestling are as passionate about the sport as their male counterparts. They absolutely love what they do.
The gross misunderstanding in all combat sports is that the participants are mean, nasty, sadistic thugs. The reality is that the vast majority -- women included -- are just athletes who cravecompetition, thrive on accomplishment, andfigured out that they're better at fighting than they were at spelling bees.
A surprising discovery that I made during my 30-year career as a sports writer is that, by and large, professional boxerstend to be much nicer people thanother pro athletes. I've covered Major League Baseball and the National Football League as a beat writer, I've been locker rooms of the NBA, pro tennis, and the PGA, and I've found a startling percentage of those athletes to be rude, condescending, and unaccommodating. The complete opposite has been true of pro boxers, who (just a theory) seem to reserve every ounce of meanness, and any mean-spirited attitude, for the time they spend in the ring. Though many of them were once hallway bullies or street toughs, it's rare to read a story about a boxer or MMA fighter who finds himself in a parking lot scrap or a bar room brawl. They save it for the gym, and when they're in the gym, it is a sport and a competition-- not an act of violence. That's why relatively few fighters harbor longstanding grudges or ill feelings toward their fiercest rivals. Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya are business partners. Micky Ward became a corner man for Arturo Gatti. Joe Louis and Max Schmeling were the closest of friends. After weeks of smack talk and bravado at their pre-fight press conferences, and after round after round of ferocious combat, they hug, they congratulate, they part with respect, and often affection.
Gina Carano has movie-star looks and a luminous personality. Cris Cyborg is a playful, engaging, attractive woman. When an international television audience watches them bloody each other Saturday night, old ideas of the traditional feminine ideal are sure to emerge for a lot of viewers. Keep in mind that they're not fighting cocks-- theyabsolutely love the career path they have chosen.
The fact that the International Olympic Committee opened its arms this week to women's boxing is an indicator that much of the world is awakening to the reality that the 21st-century female is embracing a newfound freedom to put her physical strength and athleticism on display without the stigmas and stereotypesthat weighted down her predecessors. (The first female boxers were carnival performers.)
And believe this: Now that they have the Olympics as a goal, there will be more girls -- a lot more -- walking into amateur boxing gyms, asking for a chance to compete. To a fighter, it'snot about being male or female -- and, honestly, they won't care if your old-world ideasmake you change the channel when somebody's lip gets split.
They're not who you thought they were, or want them to be.Deep down, they probably never were.

[I Feel Fine]

*Yawn*

[Goodnight, Irene]

Women are terrible. Truly embarrassing to the sport. Ban them --- at least from being seen. Their, "World Champions" are laughably unco-ordinated.

[Tantum]

I honestly wonder why broads can't punch... (Form, or power)

Most male boxers with losing records can punch far superior to "champion" female boxers.

[Datsue]

I honestly wonder why broads can't punch... (Form, or power)

Most male boxers with losing records can punch far superior to "champion" female boxers.

I think it's 'cos female boxing is in its infancy & most of the top girls come from a martial arts/kickboxing background, so whilst very fit they can't punch for shite -- their stance is always too squared up, they don't turn the bodyweight over into the punches; when you're in a sport that involves kicks, if you try punching like a boxer you'll get flattened by a kick. As a lot of the top girls have started in "kicking" martial arts, they bring those bad habits with them.

See Troy Dorsey & Randall "Tex" Cobb for guys who started off in kicky-kick contact sports. Today's girls literally punch like those two.

Lucia Rijker looked like she could punch properly, made the transition well, particularly after she hooked up with Roach. Anne Wolfe could crack, though she was wild & lacked form. I think it'll take a few years before the womens' game sports a bevy of heavy hitters, it'll need the "started in kickboxing" wave to dry up & more girls get into boxing for itself, rather than as an adjunct or a spin-off of other martial arts.

[Goodnight, Irene]

It's nothing to do with the sport being in its infancy.

Women are as suited to sport as men are to giving birth.

[raylawpc]

I've never seen you, but I'll take Lucia Rujker over you, sight unseen.

Or if you're a geezer like me and boxing ain't your thing anymore as a participant, how about a round of golf with Annika Sorenstam? I'll put my bet on Annika.

[allworld80]

Ali, Rijker, Wolfe.......3 biggest stars in women's boxing at one time....never fought each other. Pretty much made it irrelevant.

[Djanders]

I've never seen you, but I'll take Lucia Rujker over you, sight unseen.

Or if you're a geezer like me and boxing ain't your thing anymore as a participant, how about a round of golf with Annika Sorenstam? I'll put my bet on Annika.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I've never seen you, but I'll take Lucia Rujker over you, sight unseen.

Or if you're a geezer like me and boxing ain't your thing anymore as a participant, how about a round of golf with Annika Sorenstam? I'll put my bet on Annika.

Good point, mate. Just so I'm clear, you're reasoning female boxing is legit is because you arbitrarily bet the best female boxers can beat (in a boxing match) someone on the Internet? I don't know --- I think you & I just have different standards on what justifies a, "sport."

I've never made a television set, so if I buy one, & it breaks within the week, I'll just say, "Oh, well. It's not like I could make it better." How many sports can you name where women supercede men? As I said, PC or not, women & sport is about as good a combination as men & childbirth.

Women suck at Boxing. End of story. I'm sorry if that offends you, or anyone, but that's what I'm seeing from so-called female boxers.

[banjo]

Good point, mate. Just so I'm clear, you're reasoning female boxing is legit is because you arbitrarily bet the best female boxers can beat (in a boxing match) someone on the Internet? I don't know --- I think you & I just have different standards on what justifies a, "sport."

I've never made a television set, so if I buy one, & it breaks within the week, I'll just say, "Oh, well. It's not like I could make it better." How many sports can you name where women supercede men? As I said, PC or not, women & sport is about as good a combination as men & childbirth.

Women suck at Boxing. End of story. I'm sorry if that offends you, or anyone, but that's what I'm seeing from so-called female boxers.

Sport is for everyone otherwise you end up with a bunch of fatties, although the standards are much different between male and female competitors.

Womens boxing is crap but if women want to fight then let them fight but I won't be watching it and no it shouldn't be an Olympic sport but the olympic standards have dropped drastically over the years(they even sanction BMX cycling events for f*ck sake) and the standard of boxing in last years Olympics was laughable anyway, if I want to watch pitty patt punching then I'll watch some 9 year olds sparring in the local gym.

[I Feel Fine]

It doesn't really prove anything to say that a professional woman's boxer can beat some average guy. The point is that professional women's boxers would probably lose to a lot of men's amateurs, much less an elite male pro. You have to view it proportionally . And it is not because of their having started out in kick boxing; correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Vitali start out as a kick boxer? Say what you like about the guy, he is hardly a weak puncher. And it is not just punching, male boxers are usually a lot faster from what I have seen.

[Djanders]

I've never seen you, but I'll take Lucia Rujker over you, sight unseen.

Or if you're a geezer like me and boxing ain't your thing anymore as a participant, how about a round of golf with Annika Sorenstam? I'll put my bet on Annika.

Good point, mate. Just so I'm clear, you're reasoning female boxing is legit is because you arbitrarily bet the best female boxers can beat (in a boxing match) someone on the Internet? I don't know --- I think you & I just have different standards on what justifies a, "sport."

I've never made a television set, so if I buy one, & it breaks within the week, I'll just say, "Oh, well. It's not like I could make it better." How many sports can you name where women supercede men? As I said, PC or not, women & sport is about as good a combination as men & childbirth.

Women suck at Boxing. End of story. I'm sorry if that offends you, or anyone, but that's what I'm seeing from so-called female boxers.

Based on what you are saying, you must also believe that there should be no women in any Olympic sport or professional sport. Well...you're entitled to your opinion, but I don't think most agree with you. I know I don't.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I'm not offended by women in sport (though, in the case of boxing, I think they embarrass the sport a bit --- they're beyond mediocre). I don't think they should be prevented from it --- as Banjo says, that's a good way to give the current obesity crisis a stronger foothold. All I'm saying is women & sport are a poor mix. Let them go hog-wild, I say. Nobody watches, though --- & for good reason.

[JAHamilton77]

I'm not offended by women in sport (though, in the case of boxing, I think they embarrass the sport a bit --- they're beyond mediocre). I don't think they should be prevented from it --- as Banjo says, that's a good way to give the current obesity crisis a stronger foothold. All I'm saying is women & sport are a poor mix. Let them go hog-wild, I say. Nobody watches, though --- & for good reason.

I dont think women's sports should be forced upon us, in some misguided PC Crusade.

[ghoster]

I might not be a fan of women's boxing, but as far as the Olympics are concerned, Olympic boxing is at a low point. The judging system is a joke disquised as a bandage to cover questionable calls made in the past. Like a bandage it stands out but doesn't stop the bleeding.

In the U.S. networks are confused and under the impression that we don't want boxing so boxing fans have to stay up til midnight and watch a bout sandwiched between an equestrian event and table tennis. Now we will finally get to see olympic boxing. But it will be the ladies. Gotta love the Networks!

[Robinson]

They have changed the rules to amateur wrestling in the past Olympics,
to make it more 'exciting'...what they did was make it less athletic and
crap.

Leave the sports how they are....

[Adamj1987]

if we dont encourage the female boxing how can they get betetr and thier standards improve the scoring system may be a joke but teh standard of womens boxing wll increase overall

[raylawpc]

I've never seen you, but I'll take Lucia Rujker over you, sight unseen.

Or if you're a geezer like me and boxing ain't your thing anymore as a participant, how about a round of golf with Annika Sorenstam? I'll put my bet on Annika.

Good point, mate. Just so I'm clear, you're reasoning female boxing is legit is because you arbitrarily bet the best female boxers can beat (in a boxing match) someone on the Internet? I don't know --- I think you & I just have different standards on what justifies a, "sport."

I've never made a television set, so if I buy one, & it breaks within the week, I'll just say, "Oh, well. It's not like I could make it better." How many sports can you name where women supercede men? As I said, PC or not, women & sport is about as good a combination as men & childbirth.

Women suck at Boxing. End of story. I'm sorry if that offends you, or anyone, but that's what I'm seeing from so-called female boxers.

Why would I be offended? All this stuff we talk about on this website is fun, but its also pretty inconsequential in the total scheme of things. Nobody should get offended by any of it.

Actually, I believe that God, for whatever reason, made men stronger, faster, quicker, and generally gave men more endurance than women. If you match an NBA team against a WNBA team, the NBA team will win. Tiger Woods will always beat Annika, and the elite male tennis player will always beat the elite woman tennis player.

That said, I believe these women are good, and in some instances, great athletes. I think many of them are incredibly talented, and they can do things on the playing field that most of us, women or men, cannot do. I have found that women athletes are very dedicated to their sports.

Regarding your statement in another post that "Nobody watches" women's sports, I disagree. I actually prefer watching the WNBA, professional women's tennis, and women's gymnastics over the male version of those sports. I don't enjoy women's boxing generally - although I did enjoy watching Lucia Rijker.

[HomicideHenry]

Ali-Wolfe was the last significant bout, and really the only bout, everyone was interested in womens boxing. Unfortunately, Ali retired, rather than take on 'The Man' in the ring. Now the sport has lost the only personality it seemed to have, and arguably, its main talent.

I do give women boxers credit though, since the late 1970's to now, their technique has gotten better and isn't the wild, sloppy, catfights of old.

[raylawpc]

Ali-Wolfe was the last significant bout, and really the only bout, everyone was interested in womens boxing. Unfortunately, Ali retired, rather than take on 'The Man' in the ring. Now the sport has lost the only personality it seemed to have, and arguably, its main talent.

I do give women boxers credit though, since the late 1970's to now, their technique has gotten better and isn't the wild, sloppy, catfights of old.

I would have watched Rijker-Ali in a catchweight fight, and I would have pulled for Lucia. But I fear the 30 pound weight difference might have been too much for the Dutch Destroyer to overcome.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I've never seen you, but I'll take Lucia Rujker over you, sight unseen.

Or if you're a geezer like me and boxing ain't your thing anymore as a participant, how about a round of golf with Annika Sorenstam? I'll put my bet on Annika.

Good point, mate. Just so I'm clear, you're reasoning female boxing is legit is because you arbitrarily bet the best female boxers can beat (in a boxing match) someone on the Internet? I don't know --- I think you & I just have different standards on what justifies a, "sport."

I've never made a television set, so if I buy one, & it breaks within the week, I'll just say, "Oh, well. It's not like I could make it better." How many sports can you name where women supercede men? As I said, PC or not, women & sport is about as good a combination as men & childbirth.

Women suck at Boxing. End of story. I'm sorry if that offends you, or anyone, but that's what I'm seeing from so-called female boxers.

Why would I be offended? All this stuff we talk about on this website is fun, but its also pretty inconsequential in the total scheme of things. Nobody should get offended by any of it.

Actually, I believe that God, for whatever reason, made men stronger, faster, quicker, and generally gave men more endurance than women. If you match an NBA team against a WNBA team, the NBA team will win. Tiger Woods will always beat Annika, and the elite male tennis player will always beat the elite woman tennis player.

That said, I believe these women are good, and in some instances, great athletes. I think many of them are incredibly talented, and they can do things on the playing field that most of us, women or men, cannot do. I have found that women athletes are very dedicated to their sports.

Regarding your statement in another post that "Nobody watches" women's sports, I disagree. I actually prefer watching the WNBA, professional women's tennis, and women's gymnastics over the male version of those sports. I don't enjoy women's boxing generally - although I did enjoy watching Lucia Rijker.

Well, "nobody watches," was just a reference in-general to the number of followers to each sport. Okay, it was off-the-cuff.

Fair point, btw, about people not getting offended by what is, in the end, something we all enjoy (posting, & responding to one another.) Any chance you can pass that on to Collins, whose offer to meet me in person & beat me up, "still stands" I'm told?

[Collins2000]

Fair point, btw, about people not getting offended by what is, in the end, something we all enjoy (posting, & responding to one another.) Any chance you can pass that on to Collins, whose offer to meet me in person & beat me up, "still stands" I'm told?

Anytime, Lard Arse.

[Goodnight, Irene]

You're beyond pathetic

[Collins2000]

You're beyond pathetic

And you are beyond gutless.