These are unhappy days for America boxing, women and gents.
The place does one even start to chronicle the utter suckiness of the home boxing product in the US for the time being?
We will begin with, arguably, our all-around greatest fighter, Terence Crawford, who appears to be pouting for a big-money Canelo Alvarez struggle in the identical manner that he pouted for a big-money Errol Spence struggle. This time round, although, there’s no High Rank in his life to power him to get within the ring.
Crawford’s Saudi sugar daddy, Turki Alalshikh, not too long ago instructed UK reporter Charlie Parsons that “Bud” is just excited about a Canelo struggle and isn’t on board with Vergil Ortiz or Jaron Ennis bouts. This sounds completely in character for a personality who, as soon as incomes high canine standing at 147, has completed unto others (in a foul manner) what he felt was completed unto him.
With out the slightest pause, trace of self-awareness, or recognition of irony, Crawford has turn into the business-first, danger vs. reward participant he’s so bitterly lamented through the years. And that’s positive. Let him soul search his method to emotional maturity at his personal pace. However whereas he tantrums over someone else denying him a payday he feels he deserves, he’s additionally protecting his authentic in-ring awesomeness away from followers and away from a US boxing scene that is probably not really supporting him with their client greenback, however can nonetheless be energized by his work.
Then there’s Gervonta Davis, who DOES have the star potential that Crawford doesn’t have, however is sort of equally detached about giving followers what they need.
Certain, shedding a proposed big-ticket bout later this yr with Vasiliy Lomachenko was totally the fault of a Lomachenko who wasn’t “within the temper” to struggle Davis. However that doesn’t wipe away 98% of the remainder of Davis’ profession, the place his matchmaking has been nearly aggressively antagonistic in the direction of the fights that followers really need to see from him.
As attainable Lomachenko and Shakur Stevenson fights fade into the gap, Tank appears positive with disappearing indefinitely till the most secure struggle for probably the most cash presents itself. Good for him, unhealthy for US boxing.
In the meantime…
The red-hot nature of Shakur Stevenson’s promotional free company is generally the results of gradual information cycles as media struggling for content material regurgitated headline-friendly quotes about Stevenson from Oscar De La Hoya and Eddie Hearn.
The reality is that anybody signing Shakur to a promotional contract might be going to lose cash on him, long-term. The one in-the-black choices for the less-than-electrifying safety-first stylist would in all probability be one-off bouts with Tank Davis and, perhaps, Vasiliy Lomachenko. A rumored Saudi-funded bout with William Zepeda could be attention-grabbing, however it will solely occur as a result of the Saudis don’t actually care about shedding cash (or about sacrificing a promotional accomplice’s home fighters).
All in all, although, Stevenson is nothingness to the US boxing scene, simply an excellent boxer with nearly no industrial up facet. Plus, he’s so fucking annoying.
And, talking of annoying…
Ryan Garcia might be, still– embarrassingly– the closest factor the American boxing scene has to a crossover star. Even by way of the PEDs pop and all of the goofy and vile shit he’s mentioned on-line, he has star energy and an precise willingness to get within the ring. Too unhealthy he’s serving a yr suspension and inching in the direction of a spectacularly ugly psychological breakdown.
Garcia sufferer Devin Haney, in the meantime, not too long ago vowed a comeback (as a result of “the sport ain’t been the identical” with out him), then promptly acquired caught on video sucker-punching some man at a good someplace, precipitating a 5-on-1 beatdown.
Reality be instructed, I don’t care if Haney ever really comes again and most followers in all probability really feel the identical manner I do. Though his loss to Garcia acquired become a No Contest due to Garcia popping soiled, the efficiency nonetheless carried the large stench of an “L.” No one can un-see the way in which an unfocused, semi-trained, and admittedly booze and weed-addled Garcia buckled him each time he landed. That was a legit ass-whupping and it’s going to stay on him.
Let’s not even discuss all that a lot concerning the American heavyweight scene, the place “the following nice American heavyweight” Jared Anderson acquired completely starched by Martin Bakole and the following greatest US massive men– Jarrell Miller and Andy Ruiz– appear like entrants in a sizzling canine consuming contest.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis will, apparently, be tied up with a compulsory IBF protection in opposition to Karen Chukhadzhian, in a rematch of his worst and least-inspiring efficiency. After that, I’ve zero religion that new promoter Eddie Hearn will get him any opponents past the Euro-cans Hearn digs up from his again yard.
David Benavidez will relaxation in mild heavyweight limbo indefinitely, ready on the winner of Bivol-Beterbiev in considerably the identical manner he “limboed” at tremendous middleweight, ready on Canelo Alvarez.
And don’t you dare look to the latest previous for American excellence.
Errol Spence retains dragging and dragging relating to a return to the ring and that might lead one to imagine that even he doubts the chance of a fruitful comeback. The Charlo twins have melted down. Deontay Wilder is completely completed. Teofimo Lopez– with one principal stage-worthy efficiency (versus a completely light Josh Taylor) in about 4 years– has “takeover’d” his manner into irrelevance.
All now we have is “Bam” Rodriguez at this level.
Sure, these are unhappy days, America. Unhappy days the place Golden Boy and High Rank have offered themselves into “partnerships” with the Saudis and the place American followers at an American venue have been not too long ago compelled to face and pay respects to the Saudi nationwide anthem. And don’t count on PBC to avoid wasting the day with their once-a-quarter pay-per-views or their eternally pushed-back, however eternally promised “free exhibits.”
American boxing is cooked.
I’ve no witty closing retort for this one. We suck.
Acquired one thing for Magno? Ship it right here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com
