Exhibition fights are not a new concept!
There’s a lot of people blubbering and mocking exhibition fights and I understand, but I don’t. When reading these articles and comments, I noticed a lot of them insinuating, directly or indirectly, that this is because of the new era of boxing. You know, the boxing that is beneath every boxing era starting from the 90’s down. I understand that thinking as well, but it’s not as bad as it seems, but that’s for another article.
I laugh to myself when I read these outlandish comments about how Floyd, and other exhibitionist, are ruining the sport with these types of shows, but he didn’t start this “atrocity,” and neither did this era. An exhibition is the equivalent to an NBA player playing in a charity game, so I don’t understand the dramatics behind the event.
If you do a little research, you’ll learn that this idea of entertaining fans with no risk of affecting your career record, started a long time ago and was done by some of your favorite fighters.
Let’s see what we have here…
1991: Trevor Berbick had a very strange exhibition against Nobuhiko Takada, a pro wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter. Berbick got kicked in the leg a bunch of times and eventually climbed out the ring, mid action, and forfeited the fight. It seemed like Berbick was unaware that kicking was allowed.
1982: Sugar Ray Leonard had an exhibition fight with a cruise ship waiter, while they were on a cruise.
1976: Muhammad Ali fought Japanese wrestling legend Antonio Inoki that ended with the crowd throwing trash into the ring.
1975: George Foreman pummeled 5 small guys in one night; he was letting off steam after losing his belt to Ali.
1946: Tony Galento had exhibition matches against a kangaroo, a bear, and an octopus!?!
This is just a few of earlier exhibitions, so it’s not new and truthfully, they aren’t that tarnishing either. It should be viewed as entertainment, not a fight that should be added to a fighters legacy.
The way I see it, exhibition events are platforms to give other boxers, having fully sanctioned fights, a chance to put their skills on display. It’s also a way for a fighter to give back to the fans, especially once they retire.
But the biggest thing I want to point out about exhibition fights is, you actually don’t have to watch it. Isn’t that crazy! You are in no shape or form obligated to watch them, so if the match doesn’t sound entertaining, just don’t turn it on.
