The boxing stereotype falls apart
The latest win by an Eastern European fighter over an American for a heavyweight title almost completes a sweep for Eastern Europeans. Wladimir Klitschko’s commanding performance over Chris Byrd gave him “share” of the heavyweight title in a sport where there are often four recognized champions in a division. Only in boxing could something so foolish and corrupt happen. Other than that, the change in boxing, particularly with the heavyweights, is very interesting.
Klitschko now joins fellow Eastern Europeans Nikolay Vaulev and Sergei Liakhovich as champions. The American Hasim Rahman is the only non-European to hold a title. But he must fight Oleg Maskaev, you guessed it, another Eastern European for Rahman’s portion of the belt. The two already fought in 1999 in which Rahman was thrown out of the ring and crashed into a table where the HBO announcers were doing the fight. The event led to a mini riot and Maskaev walked away with a brutal and stunning victory.
This massive change in boxing, where Americans now hold only a handful of titles, is very similar to America’s declining state as a nation as well. The world is catching up. Boxing is just another example of that.
Also, the stereotype that whites “can’t box” has become derisory. The Europeans have shown that they can “throw down” with the best. Surprisingly, the crop of Eastern European fighters is growing like a bullpen full of good pitchers.
The reality is that boxing often represents the poor in a society. Eastern Europe has been through many growing pains and poverty prevails. Also, boxing is a major sport in that place. The mix equals success in the ring.
Of course, white Americans had a big impact on boxing up until the 1960s. Jews, Irish and Italians had a big impact on boxing along with African American fighters. But now the American impact on boxing of all races is slowly drying up like an oil field; this is certainly true when it comes to the champions.
It’s always nice when a stereotype falls on its head. Black quarterbacks have shown that blacks can drop back and shoot with the best of them. Now, white boxers have made a big comeback in a sport where jokes used to be made about them. The jokes are over. Then again, so are the American champions.