Boxing Tampa: Can The Sport Go The Distance?

LAGRANGEVILLE, N.Y. - Oct. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- The fans who tuned in to watch Floyd Mayweather, Jr. dominate Saúl “el Canelo” Álvarez earlier this month ranged from the casually curious to the diehard, some with pro or amateur boxing Tampa experience themselves. Tickets to the venue, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, sold out in hours. Weeks later sports sites and blogs are still buzzing about whether there’s anyone out there who could possibly give Mayweather a run for his money next March. Meanwhile, the champ’s got to decide how to spend his payout – reputedly a record-breaking $90 million, or $2 million for every second of the actual fight.

Not too shabby for a dying sport.

For years now, naysayers have been predicting the decline of boxing Tampa. These messengers of doom speak of legends such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, and Muhammed Ali as Untouchables and are confident that another Golden Age ain’t in the cards.

When pressed for their rationale a minority of the individuals cite safety: Boxing is simply too violent for the modern world. In 1987 a Journal of the American Medical Association article described the sport as an “obscenity” and recommended that it be banned. However, more recent studies have shown that boxing Tampa is much safer than it’s perceived to be. Mayweather is a great example of a defensive tactician who made it huge and at the grand old age of 36 has never suffered grievous harm. Every professional athlete – even baseball players – run the risk of concussions and other injuries.Somewhat irrational safety concerns aside, the reason almost every cynic gives for predicting the demise of boxing Tampa is that the sweet science is perceived as old-fashioned.

Trendier martial arts such as jiu jitsu and krav maga (a 20th century Israeli art derived in part from boxing) seem to be taking over. MMA fighters usually train in boxing Tampa, but rarely is it used as a primary attack component of their repertoire. There are of course exceptions. Vitor “the Phenom” Belfort, Anderson Silva, and Junior Dos Santos are three that immediately come to mind. For most, boxing is a secondary skill used to enhance a base of a grappling discipline like jiu jitsu or wrestling.

The dire prediction is that young sports audiences will gravitate towards innovative, less regimented MMA events over boxing Tampa. This will starve everyone involved with “pure” boxing as their livelihood today and up-and-coming athletes will feel that their energy is best spent elsewhere. This would ensure a less talented rising generation of boxers in Tampa and elsewhere. This perpetuates the downward spiral of disinterest. If you believe the shrill voice of the pessimists, we’re but a few years away from when the sport devolves to 18th century conditions where brawlers are allowed to bite and headbutt each other as they fight to the death in shady bars and brothels.

Yet it should be obvious by now that the sky isn’t falling on boxing Tampa. Mayweather is by all accounts an “old-fashioned” striker, a classic out-fighter who knows his footwork and methodically uses counter punches to scourge his opponents. Even the shoulder roll defense he employed against Álvarez can be traced back at least to the days of Jersey Joe Walcott in the 1940s. In spite of this Mayweather and fellow boxer Manny Pacquiao are two of the world’s three most highly-paid athletes. Pundits talked, tweeted, and wrote about his recent boxing Tampa match like it mattered.

The truth is that now is an exciting time to be a fighter and a fight fan. MMA isn’t replacing boxing Tampa but complementing it, and a fan with a working knowledge of both sports would no doubt find both most exhilarating to watch. The natural harmony between the two is even more evident to fighters. The best boxing Tampa coaches don’t fall for the “boxing vs. MMA” hype that has been largely fabricated by sportswriters looking to grab headlines, or people who just aren’t paying attention.

Take for example Kevin Gallagher of Gracie Tampa South. Although Gallagher is an ex-amateur boxer and perfected his skills under Hall of Fame trainers Jimmie Williams and Peter Fernandez he studies wrestling and jiu jitsu as well. Gallagher will undoubtedly pass this winning attitude that you’re never too good to learn new things on to his students during his six week boxing camp which begins October 2nd.And if you’re absolutely new to boxing, now’s the perfect time to get into it. You never know. The next Golden Age may be just around the corner and the next Untouchable might be training at your gym.

To sign up for our Six Week Boxing Camp call Gracie Tampa South at 813-319-5800. Non-GTS members are welcome but don't delay - Boxing Camp starts October 2nd! If you can't make this one but want to learn more about our gym's incredible no-obligation 30 Day Free Trial visit http://www.gracietampasouth.com.