Well, former MMA stars Tito Ortiz and Andersen Silva faced off in a boxing match last night. For what it was worth, I can't stand Ortiz, so I was glad to see the humble Silva get the win.
Silva really *was* great at MMA, especially his MMA striking, but his high level competition days in MMA had peaked when he lost to Chris Weidman in 2013, and he never regained his earlier success. Now he's 46 and of course, this isn't MMA, it's boxing. Tito Ortiz is even longer past his prime in MMA, and never *had* the technical striking skills of Silva.
The other big name fight involved a 58yo (nearly 59) Evander Holyfield versus another washed up MMA competitor, Vitor Belfort. Belfort was quick with his hands and very aggressive, but he didn't have good defense, and his fights were a 50:50 deal as to who'd get knocked out. Holyfield was one of the all-time greats in boxing, but he's nearly a senior citizen, for crissakes, and he fought his last fight at 48yo.
The other fights that have people talking involve YouTuber turned boxer, Jake Paul. Paul is big and strong and has been training with pro boxers for 3 years, so he's not just some average joe, but his choice of opponents - smaller, non-boxers, still don't suggest he is legitimately competitive with the best pro boxers.
Yet this is where all the hype and money seem to be? What is going on? In both MMA and boxing, the making of fights because that's who fans want to see, rather than that's who are the best competitors, aren't new. And yet, things seem to be taking a real turn for the worse.
Some observations here: "EVANDER HOLYFIELD IS 58, AT WHAT AGE DOES BOXING SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?"
https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2021...FPM_w.facebook
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