Michael McClintock I work with a guy who, when given his assignments for the week, sits back and relaxes, shrouded in sickening self-righteousness that exudes an air of apathy. I don't agree with how he writes his articles, but to each their own.
The fact you managed to get through this article without mentioning the name "Katie Taylor" just shows you haven't a clue about the subject. Katie is one of the most talented boxers on the planet, male or female, and stands on her own as evidence that there is true talent in the world of women's boxing.
Sure the talent doesn't run that deep. There is the taboo that women shouldn't be fighting and it was that which realistically kept the sport out of the limelight for so long. Now that people have disregarded that, suddenly more funding has become available and more and more talented boxers emerge every year. Certainly in Olympic-mad countries like Russia and China (and the USA I'm sure) they have been throwing money at women's boxing in the hopes that they can buy a few more medals. When it comes to London 2012, they won't be buying anything at middleweight.
After the 2012 Olympics people will realise what commentators have been saying all along. Women's boxing can be a fantastic sport with skill-levels easilly matching that of it's male equivalent. In fact, in the top-level fights I've been lucky enough to witness (for instance, Taylor's demolition of Caroline Barry, the American #1 at the time) I've noticed that these women make up for their lack of natural strength with an increased focus on hand speed, evasiveness and defensive surity. It makes for fascinating watching, especially for the purist.
Back to Taylor, she is a true champion and spars against and regularly beats successful men in her weight-class (some of whom I know well). She has won 3 World Championships and 5 European Championships and has a career record which includes over 100 wins with just 8 defeats (and, needless to say given the standard of judging at amateur level, some of those defeats were quite controversial). Now consider the fact she is just 25 years old and has done all this while concurrently representing her country at soccer, which she does as an amateur as well.
I hope that you, along with anyone you can convince to do the same, will give amateur women's boxing the time it deserves. There really is some remarkable talent on display!
The women are coming... but does anyone really care?Apr 28 8:39 AM