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HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING TODAY: THE ONLY SPORT WITHOUT STARS

Has anybody noticed the knockout punch that has put the sport of boxing down for the count? 

There’s nary a heavyweight currently active who could be described as a star.

Lennox Lewis has slipped off into a sartorially splendid retirement, Mike Tyson, having spent a great deal of his prime in jail for conduct unbecoming a civilized person, continues to chew on his self-defeating anger, and the principal brunt of his unpredictable snapping, Evander Holyfield, is settling into his post-ring decades, rubbing the remains of his nibbled ear and thanking the Lord for everything as often as he can.

What we have, as a result of a total absence of new boxers who have attained the world’s stage, is the surprising advent of boxing without box office.

We are confident that the exuberant sportscasters who give blow-by-blow descriptions of boxing matches on HBO and Showtime, as if the old-time excitement is still there, are at least somewhat aware of the virtual void in boxing star power, particularly a seasoned and sympathetic observer like Larry Merchant.

What does the future hold for this beleaguered sport?

Until at least two great new heavyweights make their presence felt, we can expect the sport to continue to languish.  We say at least two since it’s awfully difficult for one great new brandisher of the padded glove to distinguish himself as his own canny opponent.

We are certain longtime promoters of what has recently become head-bashers’ anonymous, like sagebrush-coiffed Don King, are aware of the shortcoming and view it in terms of a confoundedly challenging opportunity to make more money.  

While he and the other promoters of the wayward sport attempt to deal its lack of swinging stars a knockout punch, we may be so idealistic as to hope that when two or even three great new contenders for heavyweight fame and fortune come along, at least one of them will be the sort of character adults can condone and impressionable kids can look up to.

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