I have a confession of things I did. When I sit on the press bench with my brothers, I often feel self-conscious.
Laptops are here, Laptops are there, Notebooks are everywhere except your laptop who actually leaves his house still covering programs for Boxing News by pen and pad. Granted, I’m not usually on very short notice like some other reporters, but anyone observing me might think they’re stuck in a time lapse.
That got me thinking about a lot of things that were the norm in our sport back in the day, but their relevance isn’t as great as it used to be, that is if it exists.
In no particular order of importance, here are 20 of them:
REPORT: There was a time when the major newspapers were the main source of information for fans, but with the advent of the internet, people no longer have to rely on them for the latest information or match results.
LIVE PORTAL: While still important for small club promoters, large promotions can be profitable despite small turnout. With the advent of Pay Per View and various ‘sponsors’, live portals are not always the main source of revenue as they once were. This has been proven during the pandemic when performances take place without the public attending.
MANAGE: Let’s be honest, the manager’s role has largely been diminished at the championship level. It is the promoter who largely takes on the role of de facto manager, making decisions and guiding the boxer’s career the way old-time managers used to do.
POSTERS: One of the reasons these have become so popular in the souvenir market is that their use as marketing materials is virtually gone. In the old days, it was common to see posters hanging all over town for the biggest shows. That’s not so many cases anymore.
RING: Before the days of BoxRec, record keeping was difficult. Even the Book of Reverend Rings of Records is said to have many errors. As a result, some managers fear that their men might be tricked into entering the ring with a much better boxer than they believe. The fear of being cheated is constantly on their mind.
SCOOPS: This is a term used to break up a story. Doing so in front of fellow reporters would enhance the writer’s reputation or, we might say, there was a time when it did. While still satisfying to some extent, any hot story is unlikely to leave a reporter’s fingerprints on it for long. Before the day runs out, it will be indirectly posted on the internet under another reporter’s name.
BE A MONEY EARNING: Because there were far fewer champions in previous eras than in this one, being a contender brought a great degree of prestige. But now it’s no longer a career definition, but a stepping stone to a ‘world title’ chance and more.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS: There was a time when holding a European title had the added importance that its holder would always be on the list of world titles. However, with the ubiquity of belts in this era, a European boxer could go straight into a ‘world championship’ match without having to fight for a legal title or Prove that they are the best in their continent.
KILLER SKILLS: Champions like Jack Dempsey made their reputation for having a ‘killer instinct’, and the term was used for decades after his retirement (1927). However, in this day and age, the term is not accepted, understandably, as many deaths from the siege have occurred.
FORGET AUTHORITY: For decades, there has been a movement to abolish boxing that seems to gain momentum every time a death occurs in the ring. Although medical procedures have improved, the risks remain the same, but today the call to have the fist removed is rarely heard. The shift in attitudes can be traced back to studies showing that other sports also pose serious safety risks, particularly American football. Other combat sports are also gaining popularity to a small extent. Because of all this, the call to abolish boxing is, we hope, a thing of the past.
GREAT WHITE HOPE: During Jack Johnson’s era and for much of the 1900s, the term Great White Hope was introduced into boxing culture. We rarely hear it mentioned now for the simple reason that society has evolved.
A WALK IN SILENCE: Today, even quadruple boxers walk down the aisle to the music of their favorite song. Ring walk has become a product, a spectacle. In the old days, the cheers of the crowd were all that was needed.
SMOKE-FULL CONFERENCE: When I first started covering boxing, I would come home from a show in smoky clothes. The fresh air environment around the ring is not. Clouds of smoke will hover over the ring during matches. With smoking now banned around arenas, this is no longer the case, but sometimes the smell of marijuana is in the air.
COLORS: If you haven’t already, notice a photo of the game from years ago and what the spectators were wearing. The vast majority of men will attend in suits and ties. That has given way to a more casual dress code or, in other cases – like the biggest event, dressing a little flamboyantly to impress.
SATURDAY NIGHT FAST: The Battle of the Century between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier took place on Monday night. In the past, the majority of the big shows took place on weeknights. These days, practically every major event happens on a Saturday night.
WEIGHT ANALYSIS RATE: When there are mainly eight weight classes, champions spend the most of their careers in one or two weight classes. We know Marvin Hagler was a middleweight boxer in his career, but what about the likes of Roy Jones and Manny Pacquiao? It’s hard to say what weight class they mainly exercise in. Outside of heavyweight, the list of the top 10 greatest of all time is not as exciting to argue as it once was.
THE ROLE OF THE TRAINER: The trainer used to take full responsibility for putting the fighter in the best physical condition. That doesn’t happen anymore because most of today’s top boxers use an entire team to get them in shape.
TICKET IDENTITY: Those are the days when you buy your ticket, go to the guide at the entrance, give him your ducat for him to check before tearing it in half and letting you through. Now we are dealing with technology that is good for the younger generation, but not so much for the older generation.
INTRODUCTION BATTLE: Today, martial artists attending a performance are introduced to the crowd via the Jumbotron, the giant screen overhead. At most they are shown for a few seconds to garner a reaction from fans. Years ago, the crowd was much more interested in seeing the champions standing in the ring and being introduced before the main event.
BATTLE NIGHT PROGRAMS: These used to be hot items, but not as popular as before. At one point, fans needed to buy a show so they knew who was boxing and learned more about them. But not many fans seem to have the time to read anymore and get what they need from YouTube and social media.
