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“The Fight Game” with Jim Lampley – Boxing Review

By Gina L. Caliboso

If you read my RSR bio, it begins with a tidbit about my love for boxing. In conversation with my brother in law this past weekend, he asked me, “Who’s your favorite boxer?” But, with a hook (non punch type). “You can’t mention Pacquiao or Mayweather. No one currently.” I nodded okay and it took a moment. “Sugar Ray Leonard. He fought everyone. Duran. Hearns. Hagler.” He and I continued to discuss various aspects of boxing, including the cost of the Mayweather – Cotto PPV. It cost him $60! “And for what, Gina? For what? To see Mosley fight and then Mayweather?” Good points brother in law. Later, my sister says, “You paid $60 for that fight?” She looked at me. It’s still unclear as to if whether I’ll be invited for the Pacquiao – Bradley fight on June 9th.

Over the weekend, the first episode of Jim Lampley’s show on boxing titled, “The Fight Game” premiered and for the first time in a long while as a fan, I found the specific discussion on boxing to be brilliant. I’ll begin by saying that it’s obvious the show is a work of love for Lampley. He’s passionate, genuine, and unafraid to ask the boxing experts and high level players the questions and answers that boxing fans want to hear. Just in his first installment, he spoke with Richard Schaeffer of Golden Boy, Bob Arum of Top Rank, Amir Khan and Freddie Roach, Max Kellerman, and Roy Jones, Jr. As MMA (specifically UFC), gets play on FOX Sports and even Spike has an MMA show, it’s just too bad that “The Fight Game” doesn’t appear on network television. Any sports fan would love this in-depth look at boxing.

As I’ve mentioned before, boxing is really at a crossroads. But ultimately, if fights want to be made, it isn’t just the boxers speaking anymore. There’s a lot of back and forth on who should fight who, which fighter should get what. I get that. Boxing fans get it. But for some reason, STILL the fights DO NOT HAPPEN. All the fighters do is pay lip service to give what the fans what they want to hear, but very rarely do they make good on what the fans want. At the same time, as each fighter remains in his corner, one fighter can take the role of the good fighter versus the bad fighter. Promoter versus promoter.

But back to Lampley’s “The Fight Game.” He did not give a drawn out history about boxing, but instead, dived right in and gave kudos to Mayweather for his victory over Cotto. He then spoke to Schaeffer of Golden Boy, but I enjoyed his interview with Bob Arum most of all. Arum had a great quote about Mayweather, making reference to the undefeated champ taking a lesson and coined a phrase “Joseph Goebbels of propaganda.” That name has history attached to it, no doubt.

Following his discussion with the match making powers that be for Mayweather – Pacquiao to happen, he then mentioned Lamont Peterson being tested positive for steroids. Peterson’s bout against Khan has since been cancelled. And then, he brought on Freddie Roach and Amir Khan. Is this show great or what?
Lampley then went on speak with fellow HBO Commentator Max Kellerman. Kellerman is fast becoming one of my favorite play by play boxing commentators. His language is fresh and his boxing opinions and insight are right on.

But my favorite part of the show occurred when he brought on Roy Jones, JR to discuss the ‘head butt’ behavior of Timothy Bradley. Jones played a bit from the Devon Alexander bout, but I loved his comment, “It’s purposeful, but not intentional.” It is the colorful banter of a fighter that makes it so wonderful to watch!

Finally, I’d like to comment on how the show ended. Lampley will have an ongoing list called the “Arturo Gatti” list. The fighters on this list represent what Gatti represented as the people’s fighter that with his entertainment quality, he appealed to the boxing fan because he fought and gave his best performance at every opportunity. Gatti’s fights with Mickey Ward are the best boxing has ever seen. In the bouts between Gatti and Ward, you could see that it was sheer will by the end of the fight. I can still see that fight and root for one over the other. The Gatti – Ward fights were on par with Rocky Balboa vs. Apollo Creed. There truly is nothing like watching boxing – when, in the ring of boxing, two boxers are merely two men just trying to survive with someone wanting it more. I’ll be tuning in just to see who makes Lampley’s “Arturo Gatti” list.

As I mentioned that boxing is currently at a crossroads because there is such great potential with the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bout, I’ll steal a few words a la Larry Merchant. Please forgive me. Despite the fans’ complaints about boxing no longer being a sport in the next few years because of MMA, we still tune in to see the fights. For all you combat sports fans that watch both, but perhaps watch one over the other, I’ll give you this. MMA fights are more brutal. MMA fights are exciting. There is appeal because you can expect the unexpected, such as a front kick by UFC fighter Anderson “Spider” Silva, or GSP giving a boxing clinic in the octagon. One well-timed elbow or knee and an MMA fighter can be done. I love it too.

But, my love, my true love is boxing. It’s still a highly contested bout that is played out like a small play and the fight emerges with who can take the punch better. Who the judges perceive as winning the bout over 12 rounds. As much criticism as there is with boxing taking too long with a decision, MMA disappoints me because once a fighter gets caught NOT looking, he’s done and that’s it. MMA ends too quickly. And really, every criticism one combat sports fan says about boxing, can be said about MMA. Dana White ultimately saved a sport that was on the verge of just not cutting it. There were no rules, no judging. Apparently combat sports fans need some order to two fighters battling instead of a massacre royale with blood spewing and bones being broken.

With that, RSR Boxing fans, I leave you on this note. In the end, despite the lofty criticism of my true love, I remain loyal and I love boxing. I have a genuine love for the sport of boxing, but as Lampley suggests, boxing truly is a “Fight Game” and I’ll be tuning in for the next installment. As with all things I love, I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.

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