Boxing?

What are your thoughts on boxing? I know it's an ancient sport, and very brutal. But I grew up watching it with my dad on the old black and white TV's as a very small child, cheering along with my dad for Jake Lamotta or Sugar Ray, or Rocky Marciano.
This really shows how formative things can be with small children, I think, since I was preschool when exposed to this.
I don't follow contemporary boxing, and I guess Ali was the last great that I paid any attention to.
I like Boxing history...Jack Johnson, about whom the broadway and movie productions were made: THE GREAT WHITE HOPE. Also loved Robert Deniro in RAGING BULL.
Patty

boxing, when parcticed in a controlled environment, but properly trained fighters, is a highly sophisticated and strategic form of combat. There are both physical and pyschological componants to a match.

Boxing is also great exercise and stress relief as well.

I too am fond of old boxing movies, Raging Bull, Rocky 1 and 2, million dollar baby etc...

"The Sweet Science"...isn't that what they call it?
I've read that the Romans (maybe the Greeks) had the fighters' fists wrapped with sharp spikes....really brutal, eh!
Early boxing had no limit on numbers of rounds, or very long numbers of rounds. Often boxing was performed outside in blazing heat as well. Seem to recall the match that Ali/Frazier bout in Africa was also in the hot sun!
I've observed a lot of historical footage, and I have concluded that Sugar Ray Robinson was the most eloquently moving boxer.
Patty

I agree, Mr. Robinson had a lot of panache and grace in the ring.

There were a lot of great ones Ali, Frazier, Marciano, Foreman, Leonard, Johnson (Days of Bare Fists) and say what you will about the foibles and character flaws but there is no doubt that Mike Tyson hit harder than any man alive.

Take care, TJ

Yes, I see that about Mike Tyson....Experts of boxing speak of him in this way. I think it is his character flaws, his lacking in the ability to speak that makes him less memorable, rather than his ability in the ring.
Patty

Tim...As I was about to fall asleep last night, I realized I was wrong about the African match, the "Rumble in the Jungle." It was Ali and George Foreman, not Frazier. And Foreman was an impressive physical specimen at that time, really impressive. It was also the basis of the film in which Will Smith portrayed Ali.
Funny how these things come to my crowded mind just upon falling to sleep!
Patty