Total-Boxing Blog

OK so the long running debacle between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio has come to a bit of a stand still. So, while the accusations of ducking and cheating have died down, its time to take a hard look just where we are with drug testing in our beloved sport.

For many years now, drug cheats and boxing have gone hand in hand. Though maybe it would be unfair to say cheating occurs to a greater extent in boxing than in other sports.

There will always be cheats in sport, but technology in science improves and it is no different with drugs. They become more advanced and easier to hide. Testing technology needs to move along with this and measures need to be taken to eradicate the cheats.

Where boxing suffers, as a sport, is the way in which it tests boxers for drugs. Sure the boxing commissions may have rules they adhere to involving drug tests and most boxers abide by these rules. But it lacks somewhat compared to other sports in terms of in-depth testing. It is no secret that the boxing bigwigs have been seen to turn somewhat of a blind eye to drug cheats over the years.

Victor Conte, the man who provided illegal drugs to disgraced athlete Marion Jones now works with boxers and believes drugs are rife within boxing.

“Testing that is being utilised in boxing is virtually worthless,” Conte told the BBC.

“I don’t think a genuine effort is being made to establish an effective (anti-doping) programme.”

Floyd Mayweather’s demands for Olympic style drug testing may just be a ploy to stop the fight from going ahead, or it could be a genuine attempt by him to get the controllers to seriously take a look at their drug testing policies. Just because there are policies in place, does not mean they are watertight. There is always room for improvement.

Alot of people are slamming Floyd, who say he thinks he is bigger than the sport. This is besides the point. The truth is, we don’t know what his reasons are for his demands, nor do we know what Manny’s reasons are for not going ahead with the tests. But this spanner in the works should give the governing bodies and authorities food for thought either way.

While in other sports, the substance users only cheat themselves and fellow competitors, in boxing it could have fatal consequences. Boxing is dangerous enough without the possibility that someone gives themselves an unfair advantage in this already brutal sport.

Drug testing in boxing must seriously be looked at now to remove any chance of a tragic catalyst, resulting in a review of the methods used to deter drug cheats.

For as long as two men have exchanged blows in the squared circle, adhering to Queensberry Rules, the build up to boxing bouts has always been a focal point. It is in the build up to a fight that the participants try to outwit, intimidate or even respect their opponent, and try to gain a psychological advantage before a single punch has been thrown.

The build up is not only about mind games between the boxers themselves. It can be a frenzy of media interest and suspense between fans about just what the outcome might be. Intrigue fills us all, and endless debate heats up as fans try to fathom out exactly what game plan their preferred boxer should adhere to, in order to win.

Never the less, in more recent years the build up to fights have been about smack talk. Muhammad Ali is regarded as the creator of smack talk in the post war era of modern boxing. Ali could talk the talk, and talk he did, outwitting his foe prior to the fight. His tactics? To get under their skin so they try too hard to knock him out. Thus allowing Ali, the slickster, to pick off his opponent as he tires.

Over the years the pre-fight talk has hit headlines. Opponents clash via the media, exchanging verbal blows. They even do it in the media press conference. It is a frequent occurrence that a press conference ends up in a mass brawl. Suited men can be seen falling over each other as they try to separate each fighters’ entourage.

As time moves on, so do trends, and so too, does technology. Boxing got broadcast across the world via television, first in black and white and then in colour. Ali started the trend of smack talk and having dozens of people in his entourage. And the internet and social networking allows people to reach out to a mass audience of anyone who will listen.

The 24/7 series has become a regular feature of the build up to “super-fights” and is just another opportunity to sell fights and generate interest some more.

Smack talk doesn’t just stop after a fight of course. Boxers are always gunning after someone next, and they use the post fight interview to call people out. This is where social media could play a big part in the future of boxing.

In the last year, Twitter has become a word and concept that we are all too familiar with. The social networking website where you have 180 characters to let your friends, or “followers” know what you are up to.

Businesses saw it as a way to get a message across to masses of customers, celebrities see it as a chance to plug their latest single, album, film or TV appearance. And sports stars have used it as an opportunity to rant and shame themselves, getting into trouble in the process.

In the last few days, it has become more apparent as to how boxers could use this internet phenomenon. Boxers may have been using twitter for months, updating fans on training camps and stated who they would like to fight. But just the other day, two entered into a war of words. (That is assuming each profile is genuinely each boxers’ genuine Twitter account).

Since his split from Frank Warren, Amir Khan has been much talked about recently, with lots of speculation about his next opponent. Paulie Mallignaggi was one touted as a possible foe for the WBA light welterweight champion. Things were said via Twitter with each man blaming the other for the fight not going ahead.

Whatever the outcome of that debacle, we may have witnessed a common future occurrence. Fighters calling each other out, having sly diggs and exchanging a war of words via social networking. After all, when they are at home they are left to their own devices, without any promoters keeping an eye over them.

We all know that promoters are very protective of their fighters, and we also know that fighters have ego’s and pride. It could just so happen that a fighter gets himself into a corner by rising to a challenge from an opponent who his promoter would not choose!

It just might be, that promoters have written in their contracts that a boxer is not to interact via the internet with any prospective opponents, but can that really stop them?

Twitter, Facebook and the next big social thing online could be the latest thing that captures the imagination of boxing enthusiasts and may be a tool to make or break future match ups!

News has filtered through today that Amir Khan has left promoter Frank Warren and signed with Oscar De La Hoya’s Goldenboy Promotions, one of the leading boxing promotions based in the United States. Khan, the WBA Light Welterweight Champion has been promoted by Frank Warren since turning professional in 2005, who has since led him to Commonwealth and World Titles.

Amir Khan and Frank Warren

These turn of events shows some spirit and hunger on the part of Khan, but also it shows of a lack of loyalty to a man who has saved Khan’s reputation after his 1 minute demolision at the hands of Briedis Prescott in 2008.

After all, Warren has put all, or at least the majority of his focus on Amir since turning professional in 2005 leaving the likes of Kevin Mitchell, Nathan Cleverly and Kel Brook in the shadows. Frank, the leading promoter in the UK, saw Amir as a future star and the darling of the nation following his fantastic Silver Medal at the Olympics in Athens at just 17 years of age. From the word go, Amir was plying his trade on national television in 4 rounders against the kind of no hopers you expect a top prospect to face early in his career.

Warren continued to showcase Khan on national television gaining him a Commonwealth title along the way, despite the mediocre opposition he was put against. As is always the case in boxing, tv channels pulled out of offering big contracts to show Khan’s fights, and Warren landed a deal with Sky for Pay Per View events, even at this early stage in Khan career. Despite, in his first pay per view showing, being knocked out in under a minute, Frank Warrren continued to get Khan on Pay Per View shows, regaining his confidence and reputation as a top boxing prospect.

Yet despite so much, and even getting Khan the WBA light welterweight title, Frank Warren finds himself getting ditched. Something he must be getting used to since the likes of Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe did the same thing, although much later on in their careers. Warren is notoriously outspoken about fighters not on his payroll and you do wonder how much of a kick in the teeth this is for Sports Network, the company behind Frank Warrens empire. If true to tradition, Warren will express his dismay and feeling of betrayal by Amir.

Khan is probably the second most popular boxer in the country after Ricky Hatton, and he will have been Franks treasured cash cow. But many people will applaud Amir for breaking away and leaving behind Warrens cautious approach to match making. Amir has stated many times he wants to fight the best out there, and he must have known deep down that with Frank Warren overseeing things, that was never going to happen.

Leaving Warren and heading stateside, Khan will get some much needed exposure over the pond, and will no doubt be matched against tough opposition, as that is what Golden Boy Promotions is all about. Amir has left Warren early in his career, something Joe Calzaghe may well have wished he had done. Calzaghe’s talent is undisputed, but his achievements in the ring are questioned because of the cautious management of Warren. Many feel Calzaghe never went after the big american names when he should have done, and instead took on Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins a good half a decade too late. Amir Khan, can avoid such accusations.

There is no doubting that Frank Warren is a shroud business man and we must remember thats what he is first and foremost. Match making is an important part of his job, and he needs his fighters to win to generate the most money he can both for the boxer and himself. Warren can however take somewhat limited boxers to heights they should only dream of, but there is always a common belief that he also holds back the boxers with the most promise.

Amir Khan may well go on to face the best opponents, and he might even lose to a few, but his hunger to maximise his legacy will never be questioned nor being accussed of ducking the best. Having the courage to ditch Frank and go stateside early on in his career is worthy of applaud, but it is yet to be seen whether he really can mix it with the big boys and live up to his own opinions of his potential greatness.

As we roll into a New Decade, there is only 1 fight on the mind of most fight fans! Since the turn of the century, there have been 2 men who can claim they are up there amongst the all time best pound for pound boxers. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have began a fued over blood testing which has ingited an impending lawsuit by Team Pacman against the Mayweathers and Goldenboy. Tongues have wagged and people have been quick to jump to conclusions. Is Pacquiao a drug cheat? Is Mayweather ducking the challenge?

What this sorry mess has done, is jeapordise one of the biggest fights in boxing history, to rival the Rumble in the Jungle, the Thriller in Manilla, Hagler vs Hearns and Tyson vs Holyfield. However it has also brought to light something that has, for years, had people turning a blind eye to! Drugs have always been involved in sport, for someone to gain an unfair advantage over an opponent. Boxing is no different, but then again boxing is a lethal sport without the added advantage someone make gain by using drugs.

Innocent until proven otherwise is definately the case here. Supporters of both camps make accussations and excuses against the other. Whether this is a huge publicity stunt or not, it should make the boxing authorities think about amending rules on drugs test to eliminate and cheats. Mayweather may have accidently opened up the gates to a reveiw here, and it can only be for the better.

Should the sport act now on amending testing to try and catch the drug cheats, or will we have to wait for someones untimely death due to injuries suffered in the ring at the hands of a “juiced” boxer? Are current tests sufficient enough to catch the most advanced performance enhancing drugs? And does blood testing have its disadvantages and have an affect on a boxers’ performance and condition in the ring?

There are many factors to consider and questions to be answered here. But this observer is always welcome of a review of how things are done, especially if it will eliminate any cheats in this already dangerous sport.

David Haye WBA Heavweight Champion

As the turn of the year fastly approaches, and the high streets are littered with mums, dads, sons, daughters, grandads, grandmas, uncles and aunts all looking for the perfect christmas gifts, we leave behind another memorable year for the sport of boxing.

2009 has seen both glorious highs and tragic lows in equal measures. We have, for example, seen the creation of the new super six tournament which has been welcomed by boxing the world over and is potentially a permanent and regular feature for each weight division. We have watched in amazement as Manny Pacquiao dismantled men much bigger than his starting fighting weight, and place himself in the history books forever!

However we also had the disgraceful plaster in wraps saga which saw Antonio Margarito and trainer Javier Capetillo suspended from the sport in February. Boxing also mourned the loss of Arturo Gatti, Darren Sutherland and Vernon Forrest all of which cherished in tragic circumstances and well before their time.

Domestically, Britain has seen the rise of several stars and new world champions. David Haye and Amir Khan lead the way becoming WBA champions in the Heavyweight and Light Welterweight Divisions respectively. Carl Froch has started off well in the Super Six tournament defending his WBC crown against former middleweight king Jermain Taylor. We have also seen a domestic heavyweight shake up with the Cinderella story of Irish cabbie Martin Rogan conquering for the Commonwealth title, bad mouthing Tyson Fury’s instant impact and Audley Harrison back on the scene after his Prizefighter glory. Veteran fighters Danny Williams and Matt Skelton suffered some big losses, while Sam Sexton is the new man to beat domestically and a target for prospects Derek Chisora and David Price.

In other divisions Kel Brook, Nathan Cleverly, Darren Barker and Rendall Munroe look set to step up to world level in 2010, after successful 2009 campaigns and Ryan Rhodes rolled back the years last time out to claim the European title and potentially step up to world level again next year. The nation will watch with interest and following their progress! Follow their progress with the latest boxing news sites here

2009 also saw the return of former universally recognised pound for pound number Floyd Mayweather, who convingly outpointed Pacman rival Juan Manuel Marquez. Manny Pacquaio continued his truly unbelievable legacy by dramatically knocking out light welterweight king Ricky Hatton in 2 rounds, forcing him into retirement and then forcing a stoppage of the tough Miguel Cotto to confirm Manny really is contender as the all time pound for pound greatest fighter.

2009 really has been a year to remember in the world of boxing, with its highs and lows, tragedies and newborn superstars.

What have been your best moments from 2009, and who are the ones to watch in 2010?