Glennon looks to throw a pass.
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I'll be the first to admit that I know very little about boxing. Beyond the elementary strategy, I couldn't tell you what the best technique is to beat a welterweight with a devastating hook.
History? Yeah, I know a little bit about Joe Lewis, Clay/Ali, Foreman, Frazier, Liston, Tyson, Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Roy Jones Jr., Rocky and that guy from Cinderella Man.
Beyond those memorable bouts, boxing's just the sport that's on ESPN to fill programming.
The major title bouts are always shrouded by the exclusivity of pay-per-view, with the results being summed up in a story and a couple highlights on regular TV. I could really care less about something to which I have no access and investment.
But HBO's new documentary De La Hoya/Mayweather 24/7 got me legitimately psyched for this weekend's fight. I can't recall ever getting such an in-depth look at the back-story of two individuals with so much on the line. I actually care about this fight.
First off, HBO was smart to have two of the biggest hit shows among males as the lead-ins (Sopranos & Entourage), and then to follow two totally different but equally dynamic figures.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the epitome of all that is obnoxious. He runs his mouth whenever a camera's on him, flouts his wealth and has no qualms about insulting those who don't help to insulate him. Basically, he's the kind of guy who you want to kick the crap out of, but as evidenced by 37 previous elite fighters, it's a damn near impossible task.
In Oscar De La Hoya, there's a proud family man who seems secure with what he's done in life. He's in the midst of a renaissance as a promoter and enjoys a near perfect image as a pitchman. But at the same time, he looks like he's got a crushing weight loaded on his shoulders. He's a gold medal winner, a champion multiple times over, but this fight looms as the defining moment of his career.
Thus, the beauty of confusion. Do you root for Mayweather and the pursuit of perfection, or De La Hoya and the underdog success story?
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