prize fighters not pride fighters pdf

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1 “Prize fighters  Not Pride Fighters” By Anthony Umar Navarro Recently, while watching ShowTimes “Fight Camp 360”, I was stunned at the answer given by the trainer of Andre Dirrell, when he was asked why a certain fight hadn’t been signed yet. He

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“Prize fighters

Not Pride

Fighters” By Anthony Umar Navarro

Recently , while watching ShowTimes “Fight Camp 360”, I wasstunned at the answer given by the trainer of Andre Dirrell, whenhe was asked why a certain fight hadn’t been signed yet. He

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claimed that there were problems with the contract and thenadmitted that the problem was with the amount of money beingoffered. He then said, “We’re prize fighters, not pride fighters”,

and it hit me! This term “prize fighter” was the reason boxing fan shave been suffering for the past decade. Suffering through monthsof failed negotiations. Suffering through mismatched opponentsand boring fights.

It’s almost as if this term “prize fighter” has gone to everyone’s

head and erased the memory of a young child hitting the heavy bagwanting to be like Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson, taking on anyand everyone . Now, I’m not a proud person myself. I’m rather humble, but pride in boxing is a dangerous thing …. when it’s notthere anymore. Not so much for the fighters, but for the sport of Boxing itself when boxers have already planned out their careerand do whatever it takes to retire with their dream record or“legacy ” intact. Whatever happened to the fighter who representedhis nation, going against another fighter with his nation backinghim? The mini world wars. The great Puerto Rican verse Mexicanbattles. People chanting their countries name as their fighterpushes himself to the limits not to let them down. The underdogwho got that unbelievable win for the simple fact that his heart wastoo big and tonight… he was NOT to be denied. It’s almost as if the era of legends has been replaced with the era of gold diggerswho are only in Boxing for the money.

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How long do we have towait for FloydMayweather Jr to finally

step up, put his 0 on theline and face a worthyopponent? Not someonesmaller or slower, not aC class fighter or a great

fighter past his prime. I’m talking about someone who is in their prime, who has heart and who will give Floyd a fight. Instead of hearing him call out the best to prove himself as the “greatest” , wehear him scream “it’s all about the money” and then proclaimhimself the “greatest ” anyway. How do we let him get away withthis? To this day I sit and wish Shane Mosley had the stamina andendurance to finish Floyd off in the 2 nd round of their fight. Shane,an aged warrior of course, ran out of gas and it ended up being arelatively easy win for “money” Mayweather.

Fighters like David Haye with his petty 25 wins claiming to be the“best ” Heavyweight in the world are a slap in the face to all thosegreats who fought countless worthy opponents to EARN the title of “Best in the world”. Haye’s recent enactment with fell ow Brit

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Audley Harrison was a disgrace to the sport of Boxing and toBoxing fans all over . Two so called “fighters” bouncing aroundeach other, throwing feints without punches for two rounds, then a

signal in the 3rd

round from Haye with a following onslaught to putHarrison down, is far from the legendary nights I’m used to. Thefixed fight was obvious to all, but Haye’s fans . I think it’s time for Haye to either fight the Klitchkos and other great fighters or leaveBoxing to the “real ” fighters and go become a movie “star” , like heso arrogantly swears will happen.

Is it too much to ask for a “fighter” to dohis job and fight?Put it all on the lineand test your skillagainst anotherman’s will. Do

what you’re trainedto do and attack your opponent,

whether or not it’s you on top at the end. Really it’s not their faultthat they’re big masculine Pre -Madonna’s. It’s our fault, the fans,for creating these wealthy, young, ego maniacs. If we didn’ t playfavorites so much and buy every fight our favorite boxer fought,

then maybe we would get the fights we wanted to see. How canyou blame Haye when he’s making $8 million for one minute of punching against Harrison, or for Mayweather making millionsupon millions of dollars fighting lesser opponents? Shame on us

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for allowing the demise of this great sport and definitely shame onus for paying for it to happen.

If we are to ever get our sport of Boxing back … men verse men;we will have to boycott the fights that should have never takenplace. No Haye or Mayweather fights until they fight someonewho is a serious threat to them, until they fight the “worthy ” opponent. Force them to grow some balls in order to make the big

money they lust for and I guarantee you, that we will get ourbeloved sport back. Until then, we will suffer through big mouthsand big disappointments, while paper champions reap all thebenefits.

Dedicated to my grandfather Pedro Urrutia, who taught me about the “ REAL” Boxing that I miss so horribly and what it takes to bea “REAL” man… I love you and will miss YOU horribly.