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Rizwaan
Zahid
The Grinches Steal Christmas
By Rizwaan Zahid
of The Boxing Amusement Park
Boxing fans were supposed to get a terrific Christmas present: an official announcement for a Pacquiao – Mayweather fight, a gift so great that it took two Santas -- Pacquiao and Mayweather -- to deliver it. On Christmas morning many of us were expecting to run, not to the gifts under a tree, but to a computer to log on and see a headline of “It’s on!"

 

 But now those same Santas are the Grinchs who are stealing the gift from boxing fans. This simply looks like yet another fight that did not go through. Weight additions and refusal to take drug tests have ruined what was supposed to be an unforgettable event.

 

Boxing has been embarrassing at times over the past couple of years, and it’s hard to imagine a time when the sport was so ego-driven. Even an ego-minded boxer like Muhammad Ali managed to have big fights constantly, and the worst thing about Pacquiao and Mayweather is that there is no one else for them to fight besides each other … besides, of course, Paul Williams -- but who wants to fight him anyway?

I don’t think there is one fan in the world that would prefer the two fight the Matthew Hattons, the Paulie Malignaggis and the Yuri Foremans of the world. After the fallout, Pacquiao apparently will now sue Mayweather for tarnishing his image.


Many thought the biggest factor would have been the payout, and surprisingly that issue was solved. Looks like Santa gave us one gift, but not another. It’s like receiving a Hot Wheels track set  for Christmas -- minus the cars. You need the whole package. Even with the Super Six continuing in 2010, and other major fights that will emerge, it simply won’t be the same. It seems that boxing fans will get a few gifts, but not the one they truly wanted this Christmas.
If there were ever a fight that would save the dying sport of boxing, this was it. However instead of rescuing boxing, this same fight is slowly killing it. And if events like this don’t come out more often, there will be no sport to save.

More columns
by Rizwaan Zahid:

Malignaggi-Diaz showed why instant replay is needed

Williams, Martinez show why they're avoided

Lucian Bute impresses America, and the world

James Kirkland: So promising, yet so wasteful

Suspension for foul language? That's bull$#:+!!!

Pacquiao-Cotto: Who wins?

Super Six Will Still Have Controversies

Haye, Angulo proved little

 


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Rizwaan Zahid



Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Rizwaan Zahid is in his senior year at Carleton University in Ottawa, pursuing his Mass Communications degree, with the future aspirations of becoming a professional sports journalist.
Although relatively young, Rizwaan has shown his passion of writing the beautiful sport of boxing and has worked with Bragging Rights Corner, Boxing Banter, Diamond Boxing, Fightfan.com, East Side Boxing as well as The Fight Network for over three years. With Fightfan.com, Rizwaan has been awarded the feature article of the month numerous times.
Over these past few years, Rizwaan has interviewed and conducted conferences with fighters and trainers such as Jeff Mayweather, Jermaine Taylor, Kelly Pavlik, Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr., Jackie Kallen, Wayne McCullough, Manny Pacquaio, Wladimir Klitsckho and Emmanuel Steward.
Although boxing has been his main focus over the years, Rizwaan still has a strong passion for many other sports and has covered various sports in The Charlatan, Carleton University's newspaper.
Rizwaan has also worked with PHASE 1 Basketball, a camp based out of Toronto which is a showcase for the best basketball Canada has to offer on various levels, as well as the Out of Left Field blog which attracts numerous readers daily.
Rizwaan Zahid hopes to continue his efforts in journalism in the world of sports.
Contact Rizwaan