By Robert Jackson: “Any Publicity is good Publicity” is an addage commonly attributed to Hollywood movie stars and starlets, the meaning here is that, it’s better to receive bad publicity than no publicity at all, Ms. Lohan can attest to this. After last Saturday’s BIG fight controversy which will be replayed tomorrow night, one has to wonder whether this addage also applies to the ‘Sweet Science’?
The NUMBERS of those watching the replay of the fight for the first time come Saturday night – after hearing about the disputed result, should be huge, as huge as those taking a second look to verify what they saw the first time around. What has peaked these gazers interest, is the publicity + disputable result rendered one weekend ago, creating more interest for onlookers had the fight gone according to script. I’m sure if Bob Arum could charge money for this ‘second look’ he would.
Contrary to the notion that ‘boxing is dead’; boxing is ‘alive, well and thriving’, due in part to the bad decisions, mismatches, inept officiating, fighters behaving badly and juiced up fighters that give ‘bad publicity’ to the sport. Boxers that get in there an mix it up legitmately are relegated to the norm, which goes almost unnoticed in the ‘reality TV’ world of today.
After all boxing IS the sport where one of it’s HIGHEST paid participants bit off part of the ear of one of his opponents, in the ring, and continued on in the aftermath to earn additional millions of dollars and more publicity for other indiscretions. Another one of boxing’s ‘most wanted’ is currently in jail serving a sentence for domestic abuse. We all know these things and yet they intrique us keeping our appetite whet for more.
Boxing will continue to thrive as long as it can draw the crowds to it’s spectacles “by whatever means necessary”. And last Saturday’s event, culminating in this coming Saturday’s replay, will lead to another Saturday rematch down the road. And should all of the drama and controversy one day disappear and dry up, then boxing will truly be dead!