Be Poignant! Reference Boxing Part I
By Stephen Turk
What we see here is one of the greatest works of art ever created. As far as sports related paintings, this one can’t be touched. It shows the 1923 match up between Jack Dempsey and Luis Firpo. Dempsey, the reigning champ is the one careening out of the ring.
There would be some controversy with the count, as it is believed Dempsey didn’t make it back in by the requist ten count, but he would later go on to knockout Firpo in the second round. And so ended one of the most celebrated boxing matches ever.
There’s a romantic aspect to sports history, clearly displayed by this painting, and that romanticism is a big part of why I find sports history so intriguing. It’s also behind every “good old days” argument regarding sports. I would argue that one of the most “good old days” prone sports is boxing. While, obviously, there are still plenty of fans, pay-per-view matches, and a betting industry in Vegas, boxing today can’t even be compared to what it was in the past. Boxing suffers, I believe, from an over romanticization.
If I were to get greenlighted to write a sports movie, and I really wanted an Oscar, I’d write a boxing movie. It would have to be about fighting, that gives an easy opening for inherent conflict. There’s also a strong metaphorical aspect; you could draw parralells between fighting in the ring and struggling in life, herold the notion of getting knocked down and getting back up, etc. There’s the training aspect, which fulfills the rising action of the story arc, as well as gives a nice relationship opportunity with the trainer. Then there’s the opposition, a singular ultimate bad guy other fighter, that gives you an easy villain. Make the fighter poor and you have a sure fire hit.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to berate the sport, I just don’t think that the reality can match what we’ve come to expect. There’s a lot to like about the sweet science. The sport is so relevant, it gets referenced in other sports.
Announcer: And with that touchdown, they really have them reeling.
Announcer 2: That’s right. They got them on the ropes, that may have been the knockout punch right there.
See?
So you really have to wonder: if the public consciousness is still so open to boxing, why isn’t boxing still the biggest thing going in sports?
That’s a thought to chew on for the moment, check back for more history and comment.
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