BERNSTEIN ON BOXING
“The truth is there are fewer heavyweights in America in the gyms, and then the ones that are ever going to be contenders make up a much shorter list.”
European domination, along with fighters from African nations, Cuba and even China, has pretty much become a permanent state of affairs. In recent times, only Deontay Wilder’s WBC reign from 2015 to 2020 and Andy Ruiz’s very brief IBF, WBA and WBO reign kept a meaningful American presence in the top 10. There is probably no objective way to determine how much this situation bothers U.S. boxing fans, but I decided to pose this question on social media to American fans to at least get the temperature. Surprisingly (for any topic on social media), most of the responses were measured and even nuanced. It created more responses than any other question I have ever asked boxing fans on social media. I was deluged with comments. And perhaps the most fascinating thing to me is that it was split almost down the middle. Many fans longed for days gone by when Americans were champions and dominated the contenders list, and they felt the importance of it not just for them but for the sport as a whole. But an equally large contingent felt it was not important at all – great boxers and fights supersede national boundaries, and that is what really interests fans. I am sure that the reason I got so many of the latter responses is the fact that technology has made the world smaller. American fans who often never saw or really knew great fighters from around the world now see them regularly due to the internet. National boundaries are blurred. Whichever way people tilt on the question, I think it is interesting to examine exactly why this phenomenon has taken place. For some opinions, I went to two men who have a unique position in boxing. They have both been on the front lines of trying to develop American heavyweights, and they also chronicle the sport in general: Stephen “Breadman” Edwards is a trainer and columnist on boxing, and Hall Of Fame trainer Joe Goossen is a longtime television commentator. They both feel that an American presence in the division adds to its
appeal, and not only in the United States. Edwards said, “Certainly boxing in the United States is better when you have prominent American heavyweights, but I think when at least one of the best heavyweights is American, it helps elevate the sport.” Goossen added this: “I guess because we grew up in America with U.S fighters dominating the division, we were used to it and it seemed odd not to have Americans be a big part of things – you expected it. You often root for fighters of your own country, but like many people I appreciate seeing the great fighters from around the world get attention and succeed as heavyweights.” Their participation in trying to elevate Americans to prominence makes them important voices in understanding the “why” of this. They both agree that the popular idea that great American heavyweights are all tight ends or linebackers in football or power forwards in basketball is more than just a trite opinion. They feel it has validity on several levels. Both of them have trained heavyweights, and in every case they get them later in life, not at an age to mold them. Edwards on this topic: “From the grassroots level in the gyms, the bigger guys don’t come to you at age 13. You get them after they have played football or basketball in high school or college and figured out they won’t make a living at those sports. So now you have a 22- or 23-year-old. In other countries, they would have been in the gym at age 12 or 13 learning the sport and progressing as amateurs.” He has trained several heavyweights who tried football first. Goossen made his name with fighters whom he molded early in their careers, like Gabe and Rafael Ruelas, two brothers he got as teens and turned into world titleholders.
But he did not have that luxury with the heavyweights he’s worked with like Lance Whitaker and Lionel Butler. “We had success in winning a lot of fights, but it is not the same as having someone from almost the beginning.” Edwards says it plainly: “It makes a difference. You can start late and be successful, but it is just harder to do that.” Goossen points out, “The truth is there are fewer heavyweights in America in the gyms, and then the ones that are ever going to be contenders make up a much shorter list.” Another issue is the fact that the lure of football and basketball for some big American athletes has been enhanced with the NIL (name, image and likeness) money available to college athletes. There is now the possibility of life-changing wealth for players who may never even make it to the NFL or NBA. Several people have suggested to me that this has been luring high school students away from the boxing gym to play those other sports. To some, a whole column devoted to this issue will be a sign of American jingoism. I don’t think that is true. This question is of interest regardless of the importance placed on it by anyone. Will the many “late starters” that now exist in American heavyweight culture produce a champion or a significant number of genuine contenders? Even the folks trying to do it can’t really answer that. For my part, I appreciate great boxers and great boxing wherever it comes from, and I am thrilled that the world has shrunk with technology that allows us to see virtually all boxers from around the globe. Boxing, like all sports, evolves. Perhaps a steady diet of international quality will satiate the fans who long for more American involvement among the big guys. I hope so, because it might take a while for things to change.
THE QUIET AMERICANS By Al Bernstein
W hen Cuban boxer Frank Sanchez of an American boxer seeking the heavyweight world championship. That defeat erased the U.S. presence in the Ring Magazine’s top 10 heavyweight ratings and left few Americans on the lists of various sanctioning organizations. Furthermore, at the time of writing, the BoxRec rankings for the top 50 in the division contain only four American heavyweights: Jarrell Miller (17), Deontay Wilder (21), Nigerian-born Kingsley Ibeh (28) and Torrez (30). knocked out the previously undefeated Richard Torrez Jr. (pictured above) in two rounds back in May, it dealt yet another blow to the hopes American boxing fans have resigned themselves to the fact that the days of American heavyweight domination are long gone, but this latest situation drove home the fact that U.S. heavyweights are barely even relevant on the world stage. How important is this to American fans? Is it a problem to the sport, beyond perhaps some light jingoism? Why is it now an undeniable fact? To many fans around the world, these questions are not pressing ones, but to American
fans they carry some importance. History gives us a stark picture of just how much has changed in this regard and why it is a topic of concern to many. In early decades, non-American heavyweight champions came and went in the form of Bob Fitzsimmons, Tommy Burns, Max Schmeling and Ingemar Johansson, but Americans held virtually all of the slots in the top 10. Over the past six decades, that percentage has steadily plummeted.
American Presence in The Ring Magazine’s Heavyweight Top 10 Ratings
Time Period
12 RINGMAGAZINE.COM
RINGMAGAZINE.COM 13
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