The BoxingScene end of year roundtable continues and, alas, it’s time to identify some of the bad stuff …
What was your biggest gripe of 2024?
Kieran Mulvaney:
It probably sounds boring and whiny and old and washed to bleat constantly about how late boxing shows finish, but: how late boxing shows finish, and how much padding there is between bouts on televised shows. This is one thing UFC does so much better: introductory video, fight, result, repeat. Just get on with it.
Lucas Ketelle:
Boxing is beginning to move away from the United States. American fighters are not that active and now the sport is moving to Riyadh or Las Vegas, where it seems international fighters shine more than Americans.
Owen Lewis:
This gripe isn’t exclusive to 2024 given his ho-hum fights in 2023, but I am so tired of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez taking on hopelessly outmatched opponent after hopelessly outmatched opponent, all the while insisting that he’ll fight anyone and that he’s the best fighter in the sport. It’s disappointing behavior from a sure-shot Hall of Famer…
Matt Christie:
As ever with boxing, pinpointing one is difficult. Though the chatter around ‘undisputed’ will forever drive me bananas, it was the realization that authorities are not equipped with the power, finances, desire or gumption to dish out befitting…
