By: Sean Crose
Let’s face info, it was not struggle. Certainly, it might effectively have been the worst struggle I’ve ever seen and I’ve been a fan for the reason that late 70s. Sure, Thursday night time’s WBC light-weight championship bout between Shakur Stevenson and Edwin De Los Santos actually was that unhealthy. Neither man threw many punches. What’s extra, the favored Stevenson didn’t appear keen on throwing many punches. His resolution to struggle on autopilot in entrance of a booing viewers earlier than ESPN cameras might effectively harm his general fame considerably. That may appear draconian, however it’s what it’s. Stevenson received honest and sq., but when that’s how he desires to struggle, nobody will wish to watch.
It’s a tricky state of affairs to be in, frankly. A boxer’s job is to win whereas attempting to not get harm. Nobody must be reminded of what a harmful sport that’s, so it’s exhausting to fault a fighter for enjoying it protected. Alternatively, taking part in it protected is just not all the time interesting to an viewers. Floyd Mayweather may pull it off. Pernell Whitaker may pull it off. Willie Pep may pull it off. They, nevertheless, could also be about it. Muhammad Ali and Ray Leonard, in any case, have been in a position to end up the lights in addition to have interaction in slick preventing. The identical goes for Ray Robinson.
And Stevenson is left with a alternative. Ought to he proceed to interact in sleep inducing fights, even sometimes, he can say good by to being a giant title. That will admittedly be unlucky, as the person is a world class expertise, however nobody goes to look at one other outing just like the one they did on Thursday night. With that being mentioned, Stevenson himself has referred to his “unhealthy efficiency” on Thursday, so it’s apparent even he wasn’t glad together with his work. The factor for the New Jersey native to do now (if he desires to be a well-liked ring attraction) is to get again within the ring quickly, not in six months. Quickly. The faster individuals overlook about this final bout, the higher for his profession.
Yet another fast word – Stevenson wasn’t alone in lulling everybody to sleep on Thursday. De Los Santos definitely wasn’t partaking in a Tysonesque efficiency. Much more troubling, ESPN determined to attend till midnight on the east coast to get Stevenson-De Los Santos began. Like Stevenson, ESPN has a alternative on the place they wish to go shifting ahead. With out a good excuse, there’s no good purpose to maintain followers up till midnight to ensure that them to listen to the sound of the opening bell of a foremost occasion.
