You’re a boxing fan … you’ve seen many changes over the years - a fourth
ring strand, the standing 8-count, a three knockdown rule - and more
recently the ludicrous "taking a knee" - but not all has failed the test of
time.
FOURTH RING STRAND
Made sense upgrading from three to four strands with fighters growing
taller each passing year. Some of the today heavyweights, altho’ short on
skills, are able to enter the ring by stepping over, instead of through
the ropes. Would make better sense yet, were those assigned the ring
assembling would remember tightening the strands before the action starts.
STANDING 8-COUNT
This one a bummer straight out of the amateurs that was pre-destined for a
short life - and rightly so. Introduced as a safety measure - but much
like its "cousin" the three knockdown rule, it failed miserably. The
standing eight is a judgment call by the referee, and can easily disrupt
the flow and outcome of a fight, clearly a bad mix - never belonged as part
of the pro game of boxing.
THREE KNOCKDOWN RULE
Joined at the hip with the standing 8, and the only missing entity is a
Norman Stonehead working one corner and a Rockhead Newman the other - and
they call this safety? Problem is all knockdowns are not created
equal- thus, a questionable "gotta call it, the gloves touched the canvas"
version is given equal standing with legitimate knockdown. Recall during
infancy, it once spawned a Niño Valdes "KO" of Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson.
That one consisted of a flash knockdown, coupled with two take downs - and
the Garden crowd went bananas.
Most commissions have since dropped it - some still using it are located
in states of confusion - ones that deny its bronco-busters a second try in
the saddle of a bucking steed that tossed them.
TAKING A KNEE
While you’re down there, why not take two - and, if you’re not in some
house of worship, but on the canvas over fear of being floored by a punch,
you’re in the wrong business.
My concern is one day seeing a fighter stopped under the 3-knockdown rule
after taking three knees but not a single whack. Dispatch this sucker to
the recycle bin.
THE CATCH WEIGHTS
Not every innovation bombed like the proverbial off Broadway show - enter
the "catch weights" that fit comfortably within them original eight
divisions - and with it the four major sanctioning bodies saw its
championship belts grow from eight to seventeen in number.
Fight fans doing the math instantly recoiled in repugnance … seventeen
champions? No way, no way they shouted … then on second look, they
realized multiplying by 4 the numbers translate to 68 baubles - and the
repugnance turned to fear. Was all about ego - once able to rattle off
champions from flyweight thru heavy, the best they could offer now was
"who da champ, who da champ?"
But what about the fighters … those out there reaching for brass rings,
that would come up short while caught in a trick bag at 105, 108, 115,
122, 130, 140, 154, 168 - and spotting others who were "natural" in size
at the respective eight weight classes?
Tippy Larkin comes to mind - once claimed junior welter title in the 1940s
- problem back then it was a "who cares" bauble that was seen more as club
fight gimmick than real deal.
Still, the "Garfield Gunner" from Jersey met the best - beat Allie Stolz,
and Freddie Cochrane who later won welter title. Others he shared the ring
with was special lightweights Armstrong, Beau Jack, Lew Jenkins, Ike
Williams. Died at age 74 in 1992 leaving resumé reading 137-15-1 (59 KO).
On that note, fret not who
da champ is … pick out one of your choice, sit back and enjoy the ring
action.
You’re a fight fan … says here the bottom line is we aren’t among those
catching the leather and being sutured once the smoke has cleared - and
finally, the battlefield has been made more balanced - only missing upgrade
is the return to the same day (high-noon) weighing in to keep it natural.
