After 30 years, I cannot watch this sport anymore

[reggaereggae]

Any article that starts off "To paraphrase hip-hop duo Cannibal Ox, tonight was the night when we’d learn, once and for all, whether Anthony Joshua was the real McCoy or a wind-up toy." has no merit at all.

Certainly not the main point of your post, but pleasantly surprised to see Cannibal Ox paraphrased in a boxing write up!

It's a pathetic piece of writing. I'm fairly sure in saying 95% of the readership don't know who this guy is (and I'm one), it's just a pathetic attempt to sound 'down wit da kids innit'.....

And I'm not quite sure how boxing Martin, the least deserving and worst heavyweight title claimant ever, can shed any light on whether is the real McCoy or a wind up toy...... Blee dat fam

[tobyh5]

The most frustrating thing is that AJ could be the future of boxing, I do not hate on him at all. He is doing his job, will fight who they tell him to and believes in himself which is a great thing. I have concerns raised by the Whyte fight but I am more leaning on the side of him being able to develop into the real deal than I am the other way. And I like him too. It is the the Sky BS thing that is destroying me, the Hearn propaganda, the way insiders are all following the BS party line and I see these IFL interviews with Haye, Macklin, Nelson, McCrory and a ton of other boxers and not one will just speak the damn truth and say, "this guy Martin is a guy lucky to have got a belt, potentially the worse HW champion in history and although AJ may be a great fighter one day, this particular wins proves exactly zero."

It is not about AJ either to be honest, it is the whole Sky/Matchroom thing. This weeks BS has just pushed me closer to the edge

[bodyactive]

I totaly agree what I watched was crap Macklin V Rose was prob a close fight the rest fake.
Selbys opponent had a bit of Class but was Lazy but made it interesting early when he dropped selby.
Groves v Brophy was obvious result
Mcdonnells opponent Vargos had 4 days notice but was more obvious but hearne says coldwells doing a great job
Hahaha hes not changed one bit since boxing ceja
Martin was a poor Champion and after half a round you could see there was only gunna be 1 result.
Nigel Bens son was lucky he was fighting a foreign non punching Journey man becaus if hed box Chri Ashtons Kid he would have got beat but the Commentry is FAKE Just like Hearne. He was calling Etches fight dogshit but it seems his shows fit that Title as we allnknow the winners before they box.

[Syntax Error]

Bet you post again within two days. Boxing gets in the blood. No matter how shite the current state of affairs are

I didn't say I would not post or talk about it mate, but I just cannot watch it and I did say "right now" at the end. But generally speaking, I have watching no sky stuff in over a year and not missed it.

I feel your pain.

I refuse to by PPVs now, mainly thanks to Audley Harrison & latterly David Haye, but don't let that stop you watching the sport altogether, as it needs all the fans it can get.

You can see through all the BS, the 'Cornflake' packet world title trinkets & the crap fights, so just ignore them, but don't give up on the sport.

If sufficient people stop buying the PPVs, they'll soon change their minds.

[Tuan_Jim]

Then I read the report in The RIng, which is a total fluff piece. I read two or three paragraphs then no more. Any article that starts off "To paraphrase hip-hop duo Cannibal Ox, tonight was the night when we’d learn, once and for all, whether Anthony Joshua was the real McCoy or a wind-up toy." has no merit at all. The Ring should be embarrassed to have allowed this on their website. Where is their integrity?

Toby, I don't know how old you are, but in the 70s, 80s and even as recently as the 90s magazines like The Ring and Boxing Illustrated were written by literary giants such as Budd Schulberg, Norman Mailer, Mark Kram, Dave Anderson, George Plimpton, Leonard Gardner, Bert Sugar, Pete Heller, Jack Newfield, Phil Berger (etc etc). Classic articles by Jack London, AJ Liebling, and Hemingway were frequently republished for the edification of the reader.

The quality and richness of boxing writing was once breathtaking. Geniuses covering the sport, and doing so with objectivity.

And now, in 2016, we are reduced to dimwits writing semi-literate agitprop, and without any higher frame of reference than rap music. Such filth isn't fit for the sewer, let alone a boxing publication. How have standards fallen so far?

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

My two favourite boxing writers of all time were in fact O.F Snelling and Gilbert Odd...

Gilbert Odd's pieces would be reprinted in the Pink M.E.N on a Saturday and they were poetry.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bedside-Book-Bo ... +of+boxing

One of my favourite boxing books of all time, four of them for sale - if you are a boxing fan - treat yourself.

[Tuan_Jim]

My two favourite boxing writers of all time were in fact O.F Snelling and Gilbert Odd...

Gilbert Odd's pieces would be reprinted in the Pink M.E.N on a Saturday and they were poetry.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bedside-Book-Bo ... +of+boxing

One of my favourite boxing books of all time, four of them for sale - if you are a boxing fan - treat yourself.

I'm not sure I've ever heard of either man, Mr Git. I do appreciate a classic boxing book recommendation so gracias - going to buy these now!

I keep meaning to post a list about the greatest boxing literature I've read but never seem to get around to it. Maybe I'll do it tonight.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

My two favourite boxing writers of all time were in fact O.F Snelling and Gilbert Odd...

Gilbert Odd's pieces would be reprinted in the Pink M.E.N on a Saturday and they were poetry.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bedside-Book-Bo ... +of+boxing

One of my favourite boxing books of all time, four of them for sale - if you are a boxing fan - treat yourself.

I'm not sure I've ever heard of either man, Mr Git. I do appreciate a classic boxing book recommendation so gracias - going to buy these now!

I keep meaning to post a list about the greatest boxing literature I've read but never seem to get around to it. Maybe I'll do it tonight.

They are two of our greatest ever boxing writers, the first chapter starts off about an article regarding Billy Walker being shown live on national TV in his fight vs Eduardo Corletti whereas the flyweight Walter McGowan's fight with the 'American Negro' (I suppose those terms were au fait in those days) Ronnie Jones only got a round shown on Grandstand two days later, because McGowan has the physique suited more to being a jump jockey that Walker will be remembered more (and will certainly be wealthier) in years to come - it is titled 'There ain't no justice' some of those chapters - the one about Jack Doyle, are some of the best boxing writing you will ever read. Enjoy - I lent a copy from the local library in 1984 and still remember the chapters.

[Ezzard]

I have an old HW history boom of Gilbert's from the 1980s. I'm sure he has Floyd Paterson in his top 5.

Damon Runyan was another great writer the sport once had.

I first divorced the sport in 1989...Leonard-Duran III was a terrible match up and the fight itself proved as much. I couldn't stand the way Leonard tilted the sport in his favour...and agreed to fights he had refused when they meant something...

But I was soon back.

I walked again in the mid 90s when Roy Jones ran all the taxi drivers and bin men out of the sport. Never had I seen such a poor excuse for a pound for pound claimant.

Tarver's sparking of Roy was wonderful. Brought back all that I loved. But I know what the sport is... I accept it...warts and all... And the truth is it's always been this way to some extent. Let's not forget Sam Lnagford never got a title shot...not to say it's not wrose now...

[Tuan_Jim]

I have an old HW history boom of Gilbert's from the 1980s. I'm sure he has Floyd Paterson in his top 5.

Damon Runyan was another great writer the sport once had.

I first divorced the sport in 1989...Leonard-Duran III was a terrible match up and the fight itself proved as much. I couldn't stand the way Leonard tilted the sport in his favour...and agreed to fights he had refused when they meant something...

But I was soon back.

I walked again in the mid 90s when Roy Jones ran all the taxi drivers and bin men out of the sport. Never had I seen such a poor excuse for a pound for pound claimant.

Tarver's sparking of Roy was wonderful. Brought back all that I loved. But I know what the sport is... I accept it...warts and all... And the truth is it's always been this way to some extent. Let's not forget Sam Lnagford never got a title shot...not to say it's not wrose now...

Yes, Leonard for all his match fixing did still, at least in his original run, win a gold and prove his greatness versus Benitez, Duran and Hearns. And to come back and beat a middle in Hagler, or do whatever he did with Hagler, was amazing given the inactivity.

Roy Jones, with HBO's full cooperation, invented the 'Become Great Without Proving You're Great!' model, which has been adopted by numerous fighters since, much to boxing's detriment.

Incidentally, Sam Langford did fight the original Walcott for the actual world welterweight title(!).

[Ezzard]

Stand corrected. I didn't realise the fight with Walcott was for the title.

[orbtastic]

The writer posts on here, doesn't he? Fairly sure I've seen him post regularly.

Must admit the Can Ox reference threw me slightly.

[reggaereggae]

Then I read the report in The RIng, which is a total fluff piece. I read two or three paragraphs then no more. Any article that starts off "To paraphrase hip-hop duo Cannibal Ox, tonight was the night when we’d learn, once and for all, whether Anthony Joshua was the real McCoy or a wind-up toy." has no merit at all. The Ring should be embarrassed to have allowed this on their website. Where is their integrity?

Toby, I don't know how old you are, but in the 70s, 80s and even as recently as the 90s magazines like The Ring and Boxing Illustrated were written by literary giants such as Budd Schulberg, Norman Mailer, Mark Kram, Dave Anderson, George Plimpton, Leonard Gardner, Bert Sugar, Pete Heller, Jack Newfield, Phil Berger (etc etc). Classic articles by Jack London, AJ Liebling, and Hemingway were frequently republished for the edification of the reader.

The quality and richness of boxing writing was once breathtaking. Geniuses covering the sport, and doing so with objectivity.

And now, in 2016, we are reduced to dimwits writing semi-literate agitprop, and without any higher frame of reference than rap music. Such filth isn't fit for the sewer, let alone a boxing publication. How have standards fallen so far?

I wouldn't go as far as genius, but certainly great writers. I guess the thing is that in this age, there are more outlets for writing than the old days. So you have a lot of poorly written stuff from guys who wouldn't get a look in in the old days. For example, look at boxing news, the premier boxing weekly. The writing is terrible.... Tris Dixon wrote like a GCSE student. I've bought a couple of his books and I enjoyed them, due to the interesting stories about the fighters. But it was not well written and cringe how Dixon couldn't stop talking about himself. Especially when he talks about how he's a tough guy with a decent punch I've seen him on the pads and for a 16 stone plus man, I have never seen anyone punch so lightly..... And apparently he claims he pushed back former contender Lenord Pierre! what a joke! Claude Abrahms was not much better and was a sycophant...... Matt Christie I liked, but he's another dreadful editor. Compare that to Harry Mullan who was not perfect, but at least wrote well. I like Graham Houston, but even he is never going to be regarded as Shakespeare.

[Tangerine]

Good post OP I totally agree with your post.I support Blackpool aswell so that's the football and the boxing taken from me..time to take up tennis or cricket I think.F this!

[Bard of Boxrec]

WAH WAH WAH

[Boxing Prospect]

Ignore Sky and tune into some of the obscure foreign stuff, been some fights this year away from the Sky hype machine.

[Tarkus]

Sky commentary is the worse commentary of all times and nations. However what do I care what Halling is saying, I barely even listen to it. I knew Martin was a bum and I know Joshua is not a champion. I am not taking anything at face value, especially what promoters and payed journalists are saying. What matters is my own assessment. If Joshua fights Haye next then I will have to figure out what it means by myself. As long as good fights happen I am watching the sport.

[Deserter]

Must admit my love affair with boxing has waned in recent years, though I can't make up my mind how much if it is attributable to living abroad, how much of it is being a certain age (45) and how much of it is because of what's being served up.
I watched the Joshua fight when I woke up this morning and must admit that for me it bordered on an all-time low for a world heavyweight title fight - I just could not believe how rudimentary Martin looked and the way he got repeatedly tagged with the straight right was something I'd expect to see at novice level.
I'm not quite ready to split up yet, as the likes of GGG, Lomachenko and Kovalev keep me entertained at world level, while the Degale, Groves, Smith situation at Super-Middle remains intriguing. However, outside of that I'm struggling... I'm hopeful the likes of Errol Spence Jr and Felix Verdejo will pull me back in, but shame I can't think of any British prospects that I think have the technical and commercial potential to become the next Naz, Hatton or Froch.

[Sklar]

There will be young kids absolutely in awe of Joshua. The guy us sn Adonis and he's knocking guys over like nine pins. If I were ten again I'd still fall in love with the sport. From the naive mindset of a youngster what's not to like about Fury and Joshua?

That I'm a cynical old fornicator who's seen it all before is my problem. Sport is for the youth, let them enjoy it.

[dbf]

Surely some of the Sky team found that hard to swallow last night. I mean that was a gift of a fight, Martin was totally hopeless. Ed Robinson, Froch, Audley, they were surely embarrassed and though the Hearn/Sky hype machine had gone too far.

I actually thought AJ was a bit embarrased about how easy it was and how poor Martin was. I mean he barely celebrated, like he knew deep down it was just a paper title he was winning. I guess it would have been worse if he had done the whole falling to his knees, crying etc like some fighters have done in the past when they won a WBF title or something.

[Tuan_Jim]

AJ gave a sort of shrug gesture after the second knockdown. I wonder how hollow it all must feel to him.

That IBF title was contested in the two Holmes/Spinks fights, Tyson/Tucker, Douglas/Tyson, the Bowe/Holyfield fights, the Holyfield/Moorer fights, the mind boggling Foreman/Moorer upset, the Lewis/Holyfield fights, Lewis/Tyson. . . . And now Anthony Joshua holds it - having landed just two solid punches on a man who didn't know how to defend himself.

[TheCobra]

I agree the Hearn monopoly and Sky's general attitude to boxing has spoiled a lot of it for me. I used to love it in the 90s and 00s, but the last 5 years it has gone downhill for me.

But maybe just maybe this is also a symptom of my age and experience in watching boxing for a number of years. When I was younger I was fresh, i would watch one-sided undercard bouts with relish, I was just in love with boxing, whereas now I'm more of a cynic, i know when a fight is bullshit or when it's a proper 50/50.

I'm trying to figure out which it is, whether boxing has genuinely gone more crap or whether I just see the nonsense for what it is. I always say this on things like this, but bring back Friday Fight Night for me, small hall scraps. it was miles better when we had Maloney, Warren, Hearn, Hatton, etc etc all getting shows on Sky and spreading it out between them. The British and Euro title fights with Jamie Moore, Macklin, Hunter, Carl Johanssen, Froch (for a while), they were the fighters and fights that got me interested. Some of these arena shows are just a bit insipid, stacked cards full of mismatches.

[punchers chance]

Monopolies never work for the consumer. Matchroom. & Sky is no good for the sport.

[Paullow]

Sky Sports is dead anyway, it's lost the champions league, a huge chunk of the premier league, there's only so many times you can fill all the gaps in the channels with "Dwight Yorkes Greatest Goals" and Sporting Greats programs. Come to think of it the only thing I watch on Sky Sports are the rare bit of non-PPV boxing, Liverpool(when they're on, which isn't often these days) and Speedway.

21 of your league games have been on Sky Sports this season, i'd say that's more than enough for one channel. How many were you expecting?

[Counter-puncher]

Classic scouse stuff, that