[Previous entry: "Rivera-Mayorga April 17"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "RI's Estrada & Godfrey in US Olympic Boxing Trials"]
02/11/2004 Archived Entry: "Steve Holdsworth's State of Boxing"
Steve Holdsworth's State of Boxing
An Interview by Phillip Madden
Steve Holdsworth is the voice of boxing for EUROSPORT. After retiring from the ring in 1978, Holdsworth went into broadcasting and journalism. Recently, Steve voiced his opinions on the recent departure of Lennox Lewis, the possible returns of George Foreman and Larry Holmes and the state of European boxing.
Phillip Madden: Firstly, let me ask you about Lennox Lewis’s retirement this week. Do you think Lennox has left a big gap in heavyweight boxing? How would you rate him as a contender for one of the greats of all time?
Steve Holdsworth: As much as Lennox has achieved, I have never rated him. He is not my kind of fighter. Too cautious and dull for my liking. “In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king,” as the saying goes.
PM: Do you think that, as a result of Lennox’ retirement the heavyweight scene will become even more fragmented with umpteen different world champions?
SH: Could world boxing be more fragmented than it is already? I doubt anyone will notice.
PM: How did boxing become so complicated in the number of world governing branches and weight divisions and why was it allowed to happen?
SH: I have no real problem with the added weight divisions but find the whole sorry business of multiple ‘world governing bodiesis a complete disaster. It was allowed to happen for short term gain in a business sense, but now the horrors of that short term gain have reaped a harvest of confusion and apathy. I am becoming so disaffected with the sport in its current state of terminal decline. I would prefer to see two good fighters square up without a title on the line and tell them where to stick their sanctioning fees.
PM: Larry Holmes has stated that he would be willing to come out of retirement to fight George Foreman. The mere fact that this is being considered due to the lack of quality and interest in the heavyweight division is surely a tragic comic commentary on the state of pro-boxing. What do you think of this? Is it hype or could it happen? And do you think people would pay money to watch to old geezers slogging it out? Would it work as a shot in the arm for heavyweight boxing?
SH: Like I have said in the past, Sophia Loren or some other aged beauty performing in a strip club would be a real draw. But sitting there gaping we would have to say, “Great, but 20 years too late.”
PM: Is boxing in danger of being reduced to the same circus level as all-in wrestling?
SH: I have no problem with a bit of razzamatazz but things have gone too far in the past. Look at those ridiculous entrences made by Hamed. I never want to see those again. Fighters seem more concerned about the garb they wear and the music they walk into rather than the sporting performance.
PM: Let’s look at the domestic scene for a moment. With the departure of lennox Lewis can you see any of the young British heavyweights making a bid for one of Lewis’s vacant titles, and if so who and why? SH: I can’t see anyone coming along at domestic level to dominate in either Europe or the world. Boxing has traditionally been a sport that has slipped into the doldrums every generation or so. Sadly the rise seems to be less than its former state. In the early 1980’s, Larry Holmes was head and shoulders above all the others. Then along came Mike Tyson and he outshone the previous incumbents. I cannnot see anyone with even a small percentage of either of their ability surfacing.
PM: Is there anyone in Britain fighting now who you are excited about?
SH: I like Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe at the high level but due to the fragmentation, they will never get the recognition they crave. I am much more of a fan of small hall British boxing shows and have often wondered why so many turn out for the big shows when almost inevitable disappointment will surface instead of supporting small hall shows where often the action is so much better. Look at Eugene Maloney’s shows. World class in their genre.
PM: How do the new breed compare with the British legends of the past? Is there anyone who can be talked about in the same breath as Randy Turpin,Alan Mills, Tommy Farr etc? SH: Sadly, these days of ‘so called’ world champions as good as they may be in the sport at the moment, can’t compare to some of the older generation of fighters. Having said that, the Buchanan’s Turpins, Downes, Conteh, etc., would have been great fighters in any era.
PM: Is British boxing in a decline at the moment? How do our boxers compare with other European nations?
SH: I find the current style of European boxers, especially the Germans to be incredibly dull. They turn out in droves to watch Markus Beyer or Sven Ottke but what do they get for their money? Plodding, safety first predictable defences of worthless titles.
PM: How can the Germans get away with so many biased descions given to their own fighters after they have been battered for most of the fight? Shouldn’t somebody be doing something about it or is it another example of the decayed state of modern boxing?
SH: The Germans formula is perfect for the Germans. They invest heavily in their fighters and promotions and it seems to me they do their utmost to ensure they get the right result. Whether it is incompetence or corruption on behalf of the officials is unclear but something is going on.
PM: Which nations , which have not traditionally been areas of nuturing boxing talent are coming through now? Why is that do you think, I mean countries like Turkey and Algeria who have not been part of the boxing world are now producing some handy fighters, what happened to increase the attraction of boxing in those countries or is some other factor involved?
SH: The Turks and the North Africans will be a serious threat to other fighters in and around Europe. They did well in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and although new to professional boxing on their own turf, when they get it together, they will be very interesting to watch. Sadly, they will probably all be promoted in Germany.
PM: Is boxing just going through a bad patch or is it in serious bad health?
SH: Boxing is going through a bad patch. The long term prognosis is often rosy but I cannot see an upturn in boxing’s fortunes. I could be wrong but we have had ten years of decline in world and local terms and I cannot see a rescue package on the horizon. People will still pay good money to watch rubbish and while that continues the sport will not heal. These days, there are fighter fans and not fight fans.
PM: In which direction will boxing go in the furure? Do you think we will see more fragmentaion, more weight divisons or are you optimistic? Do you think the only way is up?
SH: I think the only way is up. Could it get any lower? I don’t think so. Sadly, I think the hangover of the legacy will remain like a bad smell for some years to come but there will be a move in one of two directions. The sport will disappear up its own orrifice or emerge stronger and unified.
PM: Would you like to see a return to some of the traditional aspects of boxing such as 15 rounds for a world title fight, the lifting of the 3 knock down rule as another example, do you think these things would reinstate some quality back to boxing by sorting the wheat from the chaff so only the very best fighters rise to the top?
SH: I have often said that these bogus ‘world’ title fights should be reduced to 10 rounds. I would like to see the reinstatement of 15 rounds, a mans distance, but think it is unlikely. I don’t mind the ‘three knockdown rule’ but the standing eight count doesn’t belong. The mandatory eight count is fine.
PM: Finally, would you consider coming out of retirement for one last chance at ring glory? What do you think of fighters who once they are past their prime keep coming out of retirement? Roberto Duran for example, what makes them keep on fighting depite the fact that they are not up to it anymore? SH: I am 47 now and have had a few unlicensed fights over the last couple of years. I did it for fun. I have never kept fit so the three round distance was ideal. I can do that from memory. However I find it hard to accept that some fighters can contemplate coming back to ‘world’ class fighting at an advanced age. Maybe they should be protected from themselves or only be allowed to compete against someone of a similar age.
Replies: 3 Comments on this article
I respect almost anyone's views regarding boxing and boxers but I must point out that Phillip Madden sought my opinion and I was happy to give it. If he had asked for anybody else's, they would be just as entitled to give a view as I was regardless of how unpopular that view may be. Lewis leaves me cold, that is my view and I welcome anyone to add their own point of view but reserve the right to form my own opinions. I am not being defensive, just stating the universal view that how ever unpopular an opinion may be, we all have the right to express it. I, unlike many other faceless and nameless contributors invite comment and criticism and always will regardless of the flack I sometimes get. If you want your opinion really aired, get in print and leave the websites to those who otherwise would have nothing to say of any value to anyone. They pontificate without responsibility which is why I don't read websites as a rule but was invited to by Mr.Madden and did so. Never again. And lastly, had I known this interview was going to be web-based, I probably wouldn't have done it for the reasons mentioned earlier. I don't blame Mr.Madden for this as he was seeking a place to air his own interview but I was under the impression it was for publication in Boxing Monthly. We all live and learn.Thank you.
Posted by steve holdsworth @ 02/12/2004 06:12 AM EST
Some good some bad in this article, but he is very honest and in boxing that needs to be applauded at the moment. LEWIS was not an all time great. This is not all his fault. You are only as good as the opposition lets you be. In this case he was cursed with a real lack of credible opposition. An aging TYSON and HOLLYFIELD are hardly the stuff legends are made of. Had he been around in the 60 or 70 he might have had a chance at greatness, but in todays world of boxing that will be all but impossible for all fighters not only LEWIS. Even the standout fighters of today, some as brilliant as any that have gone before, will not fight the calibre of opponent that was the norm in the past. Opponents are hand picked to achieve victory, even at championship level. Some of the POUND FOR POUND greats should be ashamed for some of the muggs they beat up on. ( YORY BOY CAMPAS - MARRODE HACKAR - JESSE JAMES LEJA to name but a few of the most glaring miss matches by current "LEGENDS".This is certainly nothing new as the same crap was pulled in the past with only 1 or 2 sanctioning bodies, the shame is simply that this has become more the norm than the exception. Look at OTTKE / CALZAGHE or BEYER's records for example ( any german for that matter). These guys are no doubt good, but who woudn't be when you keep fighting stiffs in your own backyard with your own judges etc.I used to be a fanatic boxing fan, but now only seldom tune in. Most fights today start with a designated victim and are licensed executions. To top it all off, the idiots in commentary talk up the tomato can as if he is a worthy challenger. Of course they get paid by the broadcaster who has an interest in the proceedings. I would love to see commentators that call a bum a bum. I object strongly to be treated like an idiot and that is what they are doing. When fighters with records like 8 -17 -1 with 2 KO's are introduced as a step up and dangerous, I cringe. After they have kissed the canvas for the 3rd time in the first round we get told that he hasn't won a fight in 6 years ( BUT HE HAS BEEN IN WITH THE BEST ) who have all knocked him cold. This is than tranformed into experience ( HE IS A VERY EXPERIENCED CAMPAIGNER AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL ). I am not sure how the experience of being continuously concussed can be of great help in your career. I will tune out untill I can see some real changes that make this sport one of the greatest spectacles again. ALI / FRAZIER - ALI / NORTON - MONZON - NAPOLES - CERVANTES and many of the former greats would have the same problems today and would not have reached their lofty positions while fighting MANAGERS / PROMOTERS and the scum that feeds of this corrupt business / sport.
Posted by hharms@goldcoast.qld.gov.au">Hans Harms @ 02/12/2004 01:47 AM EST
Having just read Mr. Holdsworth's comments on the retirement of Lennox Lewis and the state of boxing in general, it is clear that Mr. Holdsworth knows as much about boxing as a pig does about Sunday.He's never rated Lewis because he's not his kind of fighter? Oh deary me, how dreadful for him! There's lots of fighters out there with 'styles' that leave me cold; but judging them against their peers and then putting them into an historical perspective, surely isn't all that painful? Does Mr. Holdsworth expect us to believe that Lewis' career doesn't merit a fair analysis? Wow! Perhaps for an ego as sensitive and precious as Mr. Holdsworth's this may be so; which begs the question, 'what the hell is he doing discussing prize-fighting?'The state of boxing has been apalling for over a century, that is, if all one looks at are the promoters and bureaucracy enveloping and occasionally smothering the sport. Trying to control that has proved, over decades past, to be as difficult as making a wet hydra lie down for a nap. It probably can't be done. I say 'probably' because there are folk out there who continue to try, for good or evil, to take control of the chaos.Boxing is bigger and better than all of that. Despite the inherent nonsense slithering behind the backsides of boxing promoters and their bumbling bureaucrats, the actual sport can and always will rise above the avarice of its handlers.Over the past three years, we have seen some fabulous contests between tremendous fighters and god bless every one of them. As for Lewis, he brought dignity and power to one of the most corrupt weight levels in the sport. The three American fighters, Bowe, Holyfield and Tyson ducked him for a decade. The only reason Holyfield fought him was because Tyson was in jail (again) and Bowe had run away and hid in the US Marine Corps rather than face Lewis. The handlers of these fighters were not stupid. They knew exactly what would happen to their man if he stepped into the ring with Lewis. And they were right. There is no doubt that Don King's shenanigans robbed Lewis in that first Holyfield fight, but Lewis stayed the course and, as in all his dealings with the sleazoids of his world, he fought them in the courts and won. His fights in the ring were dull? Maybe Holdsworth leads a more exciting life than the rest of us, but a fighter doesn't beat EVERYONE of note in his division, and that's exactly what Lewis did, without generating some excitement. The only problem with Lewis was Lewis. He was so good, that people with noses stuck up their rectums refuse to see it. The man dominated and in some circles, he was hated for it. One of those circles, apparently, is a very tiny little one, only big enough to hold Mr. Holdsworth's puny, yet somehow bombastic knowledge of the game.Class will out and even in his retirement speech and the interviews he gave afterwards, Lewis oozed class.Face it, Stevie, the guy was just too good for you.
Posted by Morganston @ 02/11/2004 04:05 PM EST
