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What are our thoughts on boxing?

Personally, I have to say that I am torn between thinking it is a thugs game, and being drawn to the battle. I am a man after all. I like a lot of people from the main stream were drawn into boxing a while back by the hype and buzz that surrounded Mike Tyson and his seemingly unbeatable ability. And then voyeuristically watched on as his life has continued to spiral into confusion and entanglement.

I noticed the other day looking around that backgammon gurus and online gaming company backgammonmasters were a big sponsor of a young Russian, as yet undefeated. They are touting him as a heavy weight world champion, and it sparked my interest. Here is a snap shot from the official press release on backgammon news service gammonish:

The yet undefeated heavyweight boxer Roman Greenberg 25-0 (17), born in Russia, raised in Israel and currently trains in the UK, is scheduled to battle Damon Reed at the South Town Exhibition Center in Sandy, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA on August 18. Greenberg, only 25, is going up against 35 year old veteran boxer Damon Reed 43-11 (30). Greenberg’s last fight was in March against Michal Simms where Greenberg beat Simms, battling it out in 10 rounds in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

I wonder if there is something to be inspired by in boxing.. especially for young kids in the rough neighborhoods. I think this is a commonly overlooked positive byproduct of the generally considered brutal and thuggish sport.

If kids get involved in gyms and boxing, not only do they get fit and healthy and combat low self worth and esteem problems by the sheer power of a healthy body and the associated anti-depression fighting endorphines you get from physical exercise, but they learn respect and a natural hierarchy that can help them make sense of the world and the need to conform.

And from a marketing perspective I am intrigued by online companies like backgammon boys that I mentioned above, spending up big and driving viral interest in young athletes like Greenberg. Especially effective I would suggest in a sport like boxing where popularity and celebrity are almost as important in securing good bouts than raw talent and boxing ability.

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