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Boxing is dead.
A revelation we desperately have been trying to avoid, is now in full definition. It was only a matter of time. The cracks started when we saw celebrities and tik-tokers get more event intrigue and event payout than big time boxing matchups. When we started seeing politics and power wangs dictate who could fight and who couldn't. The best in their prime never fighting each other, or fight five years too late. Now we see too many shades of the sport being rigged or poor/biased judging creating ruins. Once a gorgeous phenomenon, now an utter embarrassment warped around pure injustice and greed.
The sport reached different stratospheres in the 1900s, the Golden Age, with legendary figures; culture altering events; and sports galore that gave off positivity and competition in a time made up around war; division; and hate. Boxing introduced an American hero in Joe Louis and a legendary boxing match in 1938 between Louis and Max Schmeling. Boxing gave us arguably the most impactful athlete and person known to man in Muhammad Ali.
The Thrilla in Manila; The Rumble in the Jungle; and The Fight of the Century put boxing in a tier of it's own and all three Ali fights were important in culture and history. Fight of the Century had a level of cultural importance that few sporting events have ever known. The United States was submerged in an era of civil strife, as citizens faced off in conflict over race relations and the Vietnam war. Ali became a symbol, and his greatness inside the ring was just as spectacular.
Boxing was so great that a movie franchise became iconic to the point a fictional boxer, Rocky Balboa, was looked at as a generational symbol in film; boxing; and entertainment. The sport had so many legendary names that give off prestige. The Four Kings: Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran. Ali's rivals George Foreman and Joe Frazier. Iron Mike Tyson. Sugar Ray Robinson. Rocky Marciano. Roy Jones Jr. Evander Holyfield. Prince Naseem. I could go all night. So many epic fighters that defined the prestige of boxing. It seems as if that prestige is now done.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is on that list of prestige but, the demise of boxing started to spark off his moving. Ever since the epic 2015 fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao- the sport has been damaged, outside of two heavyweight fights. So many matchups not made, so much politics and greed amongst promotions. Boxers with names that don't hold the weight of the figures of the past. Mayweather was a known name but, his fights didn't have next level appeal due to the comp level. Boxing has probably been in a decline for more than 20 years and there doesn't seem to be much that can turn the sport around- not after all the bullsh** that has transpired.
The sport finally had three star studded heavyweights rise, just to ruin it with either not having them fight each other, or having them fight at the wrong time (Joshua; Wilder; and Fury). This year we have seen two rigged fights between a youtuber and an aged MMA fighter get more recognition and "hype" then a pro boxing "super-fight" between two undefeated elite boxers. A super-fight that ended one sided. It gets worse. This Saturday, was the worst of the worst in my opinion, as we got the revelation that the sport is rigged.
Everyone has been bamboozled by the bright lights; expensive revenue; and entertainment spectacle in Saudi Arabia with combat sports. In reality, all the events there are STRICTLY money based. Rigged to the top and it's not camouflaged well. You all are just blind fools. We see it time and time again and on Saturday, we saw it on a big stage with the super-cross-fight between lineal world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and MMA superstar Francis Ngannou.
In one of the most shocking moments in sports history, Francis Ngannou went toe-to-toe and then some with the most dominant heavyweight of this century, doing so in just his first professional boxing match. Ngannou was flawless and in my opinion and damn near millions across the globe's- Francis beat Fury in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, the judges thought otherwise, rewarding Fury a split-decision victory that struck controversy across the boxing world... or should we just call it sports entertainment?
Ngannou BROUGHT it to Fury. I'm not talkin' him landing some random strikes, he out-boxed Tyson f'n Fury in his first boxing match. Francis is the first man to control a fight against Tyson Fury. The lineal champ looked like an aged contender, not the undisputed heavyweight king. Ngannou's presence; gameplan; and power had the champ in a haze. I never expected Ngannou to be the one to work the pace in the fight. The fight saw the biggest flip in live odds ever. Prefight was -1400 Fury/+750 Ngannou, by the 7th round it was flipped to +100 Fury/-125 Ngannou. Shocking as shocking can get.
The shockwaves were at it's highest when Francis DROPPED the Gypsy King in the third round, for the only knockdown of the fight by either fighter:
You notice Fury's eyes and facial expression? Yeah brotha, that power is real. Fury became hesitant after that, and only relied on a jab as the main source of striking. Tyson wasn't quick to get in Ngannou's range as he knew vulnerability would have floored him. Even Deontay Wilder didn't give Fury those feels, lets not forget Tyson Fury had the longest camp of his championship career to prep for Francis. Here is another shot that had Fury in a haze:
Francis had the knockdown, and he paced the fight. On top of that, Francis landed the power shots and did the most damage. Here are the punches stats:
We had a judge score this fight 96-93 Fury. 96-93. Just appalling, and we are to take this seriously? The stats slightly scale over to Fury's side but, that's all he had. Not only that, the ref missed an OBVIOUS illegal elbow:
Francis ate that thing and went back to work but, nothing was done regarding it. I am a massive Fury fan, always have been. Fury resurrected the heavyweight division and has been one of a few names great enough to have kept light in the tunnel of Boxing but, he lost this fight. He lost his ZERO. Yet the record books say otherwise. The scorecard says otherwise. It's just nasty. Some are saying that Francis only relying on counter-punching is the reason for the nod going to Fury. WHAT? Ngannou landed the power shots and controlled the flow, doing so all the way into the distance:
This leaves a sour taste. 96-93 Fury!? The worse thing, when the fighters gathered in the middle of the ring to hear the ruling- I knew it was going to Fury. I knew it was, and I knew one of the three would have some wild ass score like 96-93. It's become custom. In MMA and boxing. Especially overseas. Lineal champion losing his zero to a boxing rookie that just flipped from MMA? Nah can't happen, we have a fight scheduled in December for the belts. I'm not a fool, just a disgusted boxing fan it seems. This is what Francis had to say on if he won:
video via Brett Okamoto//X
Even Francis knew a decision was automatic to Fury. How nasty is that, even the competitor knew the result was in someone's hand and not morally done. Ngannou's hard work and greatness is in the hands of a money grabber. All your bets, all your money, straight to a money grabber. Boxing doesn't share the stories it once did. We don't see true competition. We don't see true overcoming moments. Instead we get cap; fake tellings; and pure disappointment. One of the greatest accomplishments I have seen is flawed due to money grabbers. What Francis Ngannou did, is pure greatness. One of the greatest feats in sports. Dana White is steamin' angry.
Everyone doubted Francis and expected the fight to be a Fury masterclass. With me being one of those fools:
Being for real, we aren't fools for predicting it. I for one didn't have a prediction to disvalue Ngannou, more so I knew the eval' and trusted Fury's greatness. Francis Ngannou proved that he can and will accomplish anything he sets his mind to. Something he has done time and time again in his phenomenal life. You google overcomer or never give up and a picture of Francis appears. What an amazing conqueror. A reason in me not believing in this originally was due to Francis' form and wild punching seen inside the Octagon. Power that can knock you out, but not the form to be successful in boxing. What I didn't do is consider Ngannou's work ethic and ability to learn to an elite level in short time. I regret that.
Francis is a special human being. I really hope more people can see his life story and use it as a beacon to follow their dreams. Ngannou wasn't supposed to be here. The world rained down obstacle after obstacle to make sure he wouldn't be here- and he destroyed all the obstacles in his path. He dares to be great, and it's so damn inspiring. Born in Cameroon, he had things difficult from the beginning. People who get handed everything aren't willing to open their mind on how difficult it is to survive and live grand throughout many areas in the world. Ngannou would have to find food in trashes, he didn't have a wardrobe or a beautiuful house to grow up in. Francis started physical labor at ten years old, he fled to Paris to seek his dreams, being arrested six times crossing borders while sleeping on streets. Francis never gave up, never gave in. He earned a UFC contract and became the UFC Heavyweight Champion. After such a difficult life, he vowed to make sure he received as much value for his work ethic as he could. Ngannou bet on himself by leaving the UFC for a multi-million-dollar deal with the PFL that included a high 7-figure per fight guarantee; a share of each event's net profits; freedom to box & sign sponsors; equity in the PFL; and Chairman status of PFL Africa.
Ngannou should have the win over Fury to top that off with a cherry, at least he has the payday though, right? Pssh. Regardless, what a feat. What a man. Bravo, Francis Ngannou. You are a true inspiration and that's coming from a privileged American who can't relate in terms of being raised in the trenches. I can only imagine how big of an inspiration Francis is to young ones across Africa and areas of poverty and forgottenness.
We should have woke up on Sunday to say "wow, I witnessed the greatest upset ever". Instead, we woke up angry; annoyed; and disgraced. I have no positive predictions. This will continue to be a thing, boxing and MMA is to money hungry to get out of this trench. People will continue to buy PPVs; will continue to attend the events; and will continue to bet on the events. Making change impossible. Saudi Arabia gettin' control of combat and sports entertainment is the final straw. Corrupt judges; refs; and commissions will continue.
Frankly boxing in America has been dead for awhile. Ever since it switched off free cable to paid-cable and pay-per-view telecasting, the sport eased out of the living rooms of everyone but dedicated fans. “Friday Night Fights” were once a weekly broadcasting ritual and that ended. Now we spend over $80 bucks a fight just to get left with a sour taste in our mouth and money out of our bank account. The beauty is gone. The vibe is dead. Boxing must die completely if we ever wish to get the candle lit again. This era is brutal. I guess every era is pretty damn brutal but, at least the early to mid 1900s got to witness peak boxing!
Enjoy this montage of Francis in his moment to the Rocky theme:
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