By: Sean Crose
Let’s face info, it was not battle. Indeed, it could nicely have been the worst battle I’ve ever seen and I’ve been a fan because the late 70s. Yes, Thursday evening’s WBC light-weight championship bout between Shakur Stevenson and Edwin De Los Santos actually was that unhealthy. Neither man threw many punches. What’s extra, the favored Stevenson didn’t appear involved in throwing many punches. His resolution to battle on autopilot in entrance of a booing viewers earlier than ESPN cameras might nicely injury his total status considerably. That might sound draconian, however it’s what it’s. Stevenson gained truthful and sq., but when that’s how he needs to battle, nobody will need to watch.
It’s a tricky state of affairs to be in, frankly. A boxer’s job is to win whereas making an attempt to not get damage. No one must be reminded of what a harmful sport that’s, so it’s laborious to fault a fighter for enjoying it protected. On the opposite hand, taking part in it protected shouldn’t be at all times interesting to an viewers. Floyd Mayweather may pull it off. Pernell Whitaker may pull it off. Willie Pep may pull it off. They, nevertheless, could also be about it. Muhammad Ali and Ray Leonard, in any case, had been capable of prove the lights in addition to have interaction in slick preventing. The similar goes for Ray Robinson.
And Stevenson is left with a alternative. Should he proceed to have interaction in sleep inducing fights, even sometimes, he can say good by to being a giant title. That would admittedly be unlucky, as the person is a world class expertise, however nobody goes to look at one other outing just like the one they did on Thursday night. With that being mentioned, Stevenson himself has referred to his “bad performance” on Thursday, so it’s apparent even he wasn’t happy together with his work. The factor for the New Jersey native to do now (if he needs to be a well-liked ring attraction) is to get again within the ring quickly, not in six months. Soon. The faster folks neglect about this final bout, the higher for his profession.
One extra fast observe – Stevenson wasn’t alone in lulling everybody to sleep on Thursday. De Los Santos definitely wasn’t partaking in a Tysonesque efficiency. Even extra troubling, ESPN determined to attend till midnight on the east coast to get Stevenson-De Los Santos began. Like Stevenson, ESPN has a alternative on the place they need to go transferring ahead. Without excuse, there’s no good motive to maintain followers up till midnight to ensure that them to listen to the sound of the opening bell of a most important occasion.
