After we were treated to Mike Tyson biting off one of Evander Holyfield’s ears, I did not think boxing could descend into any more of a farce. Yet this erstwhile sport has never ceased to amaze me in this respect ever since.
Evidently, last night’s bout between Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz was no exception. For reports are that the hype going in was duly matched by the farce that played out. It began when Ortiz stunned Mayweather with a cheap head butt. Mayweather responded in kind by knocking Ortiz out with an even cheaper right-left combo, which he threw while the referee was still trying to separate them. That was it: show over … in round 4.
Frankly, I can’t remember the last time a major fight generated buzz more for great boxing than for brawling and trash talking. Boxing was once celebrated as a sweet science. But it seems like little more than an offshoot of the spectacle professional wrestling has become. Which makes me wonder why people continue to pay $60 for pay-per-view and hundreds for arena seating just to have two clowns leave them with a bitter taste in their mouths.
Meanwhile the boxers are laughing all the way to the bank, with reigning champ Mayweather standing to make as much as $40 million and Ortiz $2 million for last night’s performance, and both indicating that they can’t wait to give more of the same to the suckers who keep paying for it.
Only in America folks….