“My business is not prognosis, but diagnosis. I am not engaged in therapeutics, but in pathology.”
H.L. Mencken wrote that in his 1926 book, “Notes on Democracy.” Here we are nearly 100 years later and it’s still true. One of the weird things about boxing, and life for that matter, is that if you spend too much time thinking about what you want in the future, you lose sight of what’s in front of you, and what’s just happened. You get stuck in a negative feedback loop of constantly being disappointed to the point that no matter what does happen is seasoned liberally with bitterness. That’s no way to live, yet so many of us do just that.
The start of the new year is almost always a time when people discuss what they hope, or expect, to happen in the coming months. That damn near happened in this exact column space, but after about 300 or so words, my self-loathing began to crescendo from sheer irritation with the level of naivete I was displaying. This is a space for vivisections, not augury. That’s not to say that I don’t want to see fights. There are dozens I would love to see, but if they don’t happen, that’s not the end of the world.
So much of our conversations as a fanbase center on what’s next. What fights are getting made, who said what, what can or can’t happen. It’s almost like a permanent stage of anticipation, with only minor breaks of an actual release. I’m as guilty of it as anyone. So, instead of saying what I want or expect to see in 2020, I’ll just sign off with that I hope we can all take more time to enjoy the good fights we do get, and make sure we call out the bullshit when it happens but don’t get hung up on it.
Delirium Tremens
- I understand why the McGuigans are upset that Josh Taylor bolted from Cyclones Promotions for Top Rank. If I were in their shoes, I’d be beyond furious. However, I’m not going to join the line of hand wringing pearl clutchers lambasting Taylor for disloyalty. He’s the one risking his health. If he thinks he can make more money elsewhere, that’s his decision alone.
- All that said, Taylor and trainer Shane McGuigan had the makings of a special pair. It’s not easy to find that kind of chemistry between a fighter and chief second, and they seemed to be growing at the same rate.
- I heard all the reasons that Julian Williams and Jarett Hurd didn’t have a rematch, and it’s fucking incomprehensible to me that they’re fighting a week apart.
- People are apparently still talking about a potential Kell Brook vs Amir Khan fight, by which I mean occasionally someone in their camp brings it up as a possibility. If it happens, who gives a fuck?
- If Tyson Fury fought half as hard as he says he’s going to, I’d be more interested in his rematch with Deontay Wilder on Feb. 28th. He’s not going to. And $80 is a helluva ask for a fight that will be boring until a knockout happens, or boring for 12 full rounds.
- Last night marked the 250th edition of ShoBox, and I’m happy that it’s still kicking. I enjoy watching prospects, and it’s always nice to hear an actually professional announce crew. Barry Tompkins, Steve Farhood, and Raul Marquez are terrific together, and most importantly, they never talk over the action.
- Speaking of Shobox last night, the body shot Shohjahon Ergashev landed to stop Adrian Estrella was vicious.
- Conor McGregor mentioned wanting to box again against Manny Pacquiao and people are treating it as news for some obscure reason. Boxing desperately trying to appeal to mainstream fans is the communal equivalent of the fat, divorced, balding middle-aged dude who spends his free time sliding into women’s DMs hoping upon hope some lithe thirst trapper will respond. It’s not fucking happening. Mainstream sports fans don’t want unsolicited dick pics from boxing. Stop doing that.
