Since when has boxing become so literal? Yesterday's match between reigning heavyweight champ Chris Byrd and contender Wladimir Klitschko could've been so much more than just a world championship bout. Byrd entering the ring with a Jesus T-shirt and a bible verse on his pants a true believer. PhD holding Klitschko fresh from the democratic campaigns with his brother Vitali in the Ukraine a true European. Byrd and Klitschko could've stood for tensions between faith and secular culture just like Schmeling and Lewis stood for the Nazi's masterrace insanity and the American principle of egality, just like Ali and Foreman stood for the modern black man rising and the conservative black man willing to die for his opressor's country. It would've been rather timely, but obviously too risky a marketing move in these ideological times. On the other hand HBO doesn't mind marketing the upcoming fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Ricardo Mayorga with the most racist clichees. They put the good-because-western-looking, well-mannered, business-savy, conservative Chicano against the foul-mouthed, gang-banging, tattooed Central American immigrant, who can't even muster enough courtesy to his host country to spout his profanities in English.
In the end neither prayer, nor partial American referee could save Byrd, whose turn-the-other-cheek strategy turned him into a burger patty in the meat grinder of Klitschko's surgical punches and jabs. KO! Right on! Vladi Bombayé!
4/23/06
Heavyweights
1 comment:
I like fights to just be fights. Joe Mesi or somebody said he was rooting for Byrd because "he's the American." Like an American MUST root for another American, even if his boxing style is "obnoxious" (as Sean O'Grady called it years ago).
Too bad HBO did have to go on and on about how, if Vlad won, it would mean Whitey Russian types held 3 of the 4 belts. I noticed Byrd had a JESUS shirt and was glad nobody made a deal of it. Guess with Vitali & Co we are at least spared the "great white hope" garbage we endured in the Cooney and Golota days.
It was sad when a seemingly decent guy like Schmeling had to be hated for being a "Nazi" when he wasn't, or that poor George Foreman (foolishly emulating Sonny Liston) was considered a deserving-a-beating Tom compared to Ali. Glad George found a new identity (yes, I did root for Ali in that Zaire fight) and I could root for him through his comeback years.
I didn't see the HBO hype for Oscar de La Hoya but I think you get what you see. Mayorga's been acting like a street fighter and insulting the guy. Oscar is just being his baby-faced mild self, which he's been doing for so long it can't be an act. There's been a lot of Los Angeles Latino vs Mexican Latino rivalry fights which makes little sense if you're not from either place!
I think Boxing's marketing will always skew to personalities, and good vs bad or racial issues...kind of rare for most of us to impartially watch a match just because it's a sweet science.
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