They were the best of times; they are the worst of times...
In our present day and time the "Championship Rounds" are rounds 10, 11 and 12. In a not too distant past...the true test of a boxer's mettle was the 13th, 14th and the 15 rounds. Imagine for a moment how different things would have been if Louis vs. Conn, Robinson vs. Maxim or Leonard vs. Hearns I had been scheduled for 12 rounds vice 15...
On the flip side of things, if 15 round bouts were the standard today...DeLaHoya vs. Trinidad might have ended in a KO/TKO vice a disputed decision.
The tragic bouts...
Three bouts come quickly to mind when thinking of ring tragedies that were shown on the world’s platform...television.
Emile Griffith vs. Benny "the Kid" Paret, March 24, 1962. This was the third bout between Griffith and Paret. The previous two was the switching of hands the welterweight title of the world. The bout was closely contested; Paret would floor Griffith in the sixth round, until the tragic 12th stanza...
Griffith trapped Paret in a corner and administered a fierce beating (a modern day equivalent would be Mercer vs. Morrison, fifth round..) that was seen on national television. The horrifying sight of Paret literally hanging off of the ropes would forever be etched in the minds of the public at large...
The year is 1963, featherweight champion Davey Moore dies of injuries sustained in a bout with future Hall of Famer Ultiminio "Sugar" Ramos. This bout was the final "nail" in the coffin of boxing being taken off of the national television forum...for a short time anyways...
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Duk-Koo Kim & Ray Mancini exchange punches!
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By 1982, boxing was again in good stead with nationwide television. As circumstances would have it, tragedy would strike again in the form of lightweight champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini vs. Duk-Koo Kim.
As an eerie foreshadow of things to come, Kim reportedly wrote "Kill or be killed" at his hotel room prior to the bout. Mancini would go on to keep his title via 14th round knockout. Kim would slip into a coma for several days after the bout, eventually he would die from the head trauma suffered in the championship match.
The repercussions...
In Dec. of 1982 the World Boxing Council would lead the train of progress (really???) by formally changing the length of Championship bouts from 15 rounds to 12 rounds. The other major world sanctioning organizations would later follow suit. The last 15 round championship bout shown on television was Jorge "Maromero" Paez vs. Calvin "Silky Smooth" Grove for the IBF Featherweight title.
Winds of change...
Seemingly, the two main reasons for the disappearance of the 15 round championship bouts are:
a) 15 round bouts are deemed detrimental to a boxer’s health, therefore cutting back to 12 rounds spares the body the wear and tear of a grueling 15 rounds...
And...
b) 12 rounds "fit" better into a television schedule, without the added 3 rounds a single 12 round bout can fit a one-hour format much easier...
In April 2000, the World Boxing Union flirted with the idea of bringing back the 15 round limits for championship bouts. Based on the theory that 15 rounds bouts are no more detrimental to a boxer’s health than 12 round bouts, the then WBU President, Jon Robinson suggested that he would look into the matter.
Well-respected referee and judge, Stanley Christodoulou believes that the 15 round distance for championship bouts proves a boxers mettle.
The end???
In this writer's humble opinion...if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Today’s modern boxers should have the endurance and wherewithal to "survive" 15 round bouts...but...doing any strenuous activity for a longer time than is necessary has to take a toll on anyone’s body, professional athlete or not.
I'll catch a TON of flak from the "Old School" experts who'll proclaim: "What about Leonard vs. Hearns I or maybe Louis vs. Conn I???" They will be well within rights to feel however they may. As for this "Old and New School" pundit, I'll stick by my guns that the new/modern day athlete can go the 15 round distance. There's just no need in doing so!
To drop me a line, send to the USMCRugger!!
