WORCESTER — Some sporting matchups are games. Others are events.
It wasn’t (that) long ago when boxing matches were always events. Remember?
Look at the top-10 grossing pay-per-view fights in history: nine of 10 feature either Ali or Tyson. It’s not like either of those two are ancient history, per se.
The one fight on the list that didn’t feature those two was this year, actually. When Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis (1.2 million buys) broke the sports world back in April, it got me thinking.
Is boxing back?
Saturday’s super middleweight bout between Lynn’s James “Pitbull” Perkins and Steve “The Savage” Sumpter was my first boxing match in a while.
Man, it was awesome. More importantly, it was an event.
Granted, that’s not always a good thing. Parking was a pain and my tire ran over a beer bottle in the parking lot. My tire survived. Thank God.
And from the moment I saw the Palladium in Worcester, I knew people were excited.
On a side note, the Palladium is a converted movie theater from back in the day, only adding to nostalgic boxing times.
Unlike some other games where people sit down in their seats – and that’s it – this one was different. Like a disco party, a restaurant/bar area was an option, followed by general seating closer to the ring.
Above the bar, it looked like movie theater seating where people watched from above. Again, very reminiscent of the old Palladium.
People are such characters, too. Perkins supporters wore customized pitbull t-shirts, while Sumpter supporters wore t-shirts of Sumpter, well, dragging a pitbull.
Others – young and old – wore suits and ties. It was awesome.
With loud music playing and red, white, and blue lights shining down on the ring, it was go-time for seven undercards and the main event.
Seven of 16 fighters were from Massachusetts – roaring applause, included. One fighter, Calixto Cruz of Springfield, even pulled an Apollo Creed by holding an American flag during his ring walk.
Some fights were dances, with lightweights circling the ring before firing timely shots. Others brought the power. In the co-main event, Denzel Whitley of Holyoke knocked out his opponent in 25 seconds.
I guess I didn’t need to score that one.
Speaking of that moment, the intensity of the night was off-the-charts exciting. Every punch looked like it hurt, and, not for the squeamish, sweat and blood were flying everywhere.
Granted, I made a rookie move by wearing a white button-down ringside. I managed to escape with no blood, but nice going, Joey.
See what I mean, though? There aren’t many things better to do on a Saturday night. I’m not just talking about sports, either. I’d much rather go to a boxing match for a few hours than to the movies or downtown.
Just being honest.
I’m also honest when I say: boxing is back.
