As a die hard boxing fan it saddens me to see the sport of boxing not doing well. (I know 2009 is off to a great start, but I'm talking in the grand scheme of things). I know the usual complaints of corruption, bad fights, and too many PPV's. I agree with all of them! The Bryguy is not here to convince you that the sport he loves is perfect. I am not here to talk about the reasons why you should overlook bad fights, or even forget about corruption. What I am here to do, is tell you the great secret about how I still enjoy boxing so much. THE DVR! It's not just great for the Office, and Always Sunny in Philidelphia, but boxing too. As much as I love the sport of boxing, I am not willing to lose out on a good Friday or Saturday night out. I can go to the bar and I am guaranteed not to see Jim Lampley and Emmanuel Steward on the TV, and I have even less of a chance catching a PPV or Showtime fight on. I don't have to worry about someone ruining the outcome of the fight and best of all, if the fight stinks, just fast forward past it! I am as big a fight fan as you'll find, and I actually watch most of my fights over coffee not beer. Pavlick - Taylor I, Lacy - Calzaghe, and Cotto - Malignaggi are just few of the brawls I watched over my morning caffeine. (there is the occasional fight I watch with one eye as the room spins, but I usually re-watch those in the morning too). Not a bad way to start the day if I do say so myself. (Of course I'm talking about the fight, not the hangover!) So next time you decide to say boxing is a dying sport, take a moment and ask yourself, "am I just watching it wrong?".
I started Bryguy Boxing exactly three years ago to the day! Thank you, thank you. In that time I have written some good stuff(I predicted Hatton-Mayweather to the round), I have written some horrible stuff(I've gotten just about every other prediction dead wrong), and I have written one entry that appears at the top of Google if you are looking. Ring entry songs! Yes, my blog entry about my top five picks for great ring entry songs has been Googled more times than I can count on my hands and feet! Who knew the Bryguy would be the go to guy for such a thing? I guess I know my stuff, that or I could be the only human being strange enough to write about what songs should be played just before you get into a ring to bash someones face in. In honor of Bryguy Boxing's third anniversary I have decided to make another list, because more music has been released, I've been to a few more fights and......I sure would like a few more hits from Google.
I will just repeat what I feel a good entrance song should be all about. It should be something to pump up fans, while at same time getting the fighter amped up. The song should also be something that could intimidate the the other fighter, realistically if you get the fans going, that should be enough to intimidate the other fighter. Also, I like something that has a solid beat, can get my head bobbing, and keep the fighter moving to the ring, something almost militaristic. Well, there you have it, my criteria for which this list is based. Without further ado, here are my suggestions for some good ring entrance songs.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Believe it or not, I am a big fan of score music. It is some of the best stuff on the planet, and some of it is downright tough. Think about it, when you go to the movies, what makes you scared? What makes you sad? What fills you with pride for a character that you don't know? What would Rocky's training scenes be without his theme? Therefore I think some of this score music could be used for entering the ring. Last of the Mohican's is filled with uplifting, tough, militaristic type music. So is Backdraft, Gettysburg, Gladiator, and Braveheart. Here are a few tracks that stand out to me:
PROMENTORY - Last of the Mohican's - Trever Jones
On the surface this is a nice beautiful song, but if you really listen to it, the strings and the light drum in the back ground keep quite a kick ass beat. It never looses it's rhythm and can get people feeling pretty good about their fighter. The NFL didn't put it in their TV adds because it was pretty! THE BATTLE - Gladiator - Hans Zimmer
This music is from the same guy who brought you The Contender theme. I personally feel this one packs a bit more of a kick than the Contender stuff does. You just need to skip in about two minutes and you've got a great ring entrance. If that doesn't get your pulse going, I don't know what would.
5.IT'S TIME FOR WAR - LL COOL J
Seeing as how my last ring entry song list was topped by LL's "Mama Said Knock You Out", I thought it was fitting that my new list would start off with an LL track. This one is off his latest album, Exit 13, in fact it's the 1st track, and gets his album off to a thumping start. The bells ring and choir sings right off, it sounds as if you are going to someones funeral. It would be a perfect song for Bernard Hopkins to enter the ring to, because LL is mostly rapping about being disrespected do to his age. The chorus just echoes over and over "It's time for war!", the beat stays heavy through out, and the choir never stops. This is no doubt the type of track that would get me amped up while my favorite boxer made his way to the ring.
4. HELLS BELLS - AC/DC
You can hear it now, can't you? The bells slowly ringing, one at a time, a sign that something bad is going to happen, or perhaps someone bad ass is on his way? Sometimes, a good ring entry song will let you know it's time, but then let you wait, for a slow boil. Hells Bells is the perfect song for that. When the guitars kick in that's when the walk begins. It isn't the type of song to make you jump up and down uncontrollably, but it will make you turn to your friend a let him know, "someones getting knocked out tonight!".
3.REMEMBER THE NAME - FORT MINOR
With a catchy hook, heavy beat, and a tough attitude this track is just begging to lead someone to the ring. It also obviously states that after this night you will, "remember the name". It's all about trying to make it big by having a big heart, and a will that won't quit. Remind you of anything? I know that this song has been used for everything from NBA commercials to TV shows like Friday Night Lights, but that's because it's that good. This is type of song that makes me drive faster when I hear on the radio, and I can guarantee you, it would make me stand up and bob my head at a boxers entrance.
2.EYE OF A SOLDIER - YOUNG BUCK
As I said in the beginning I like as song that is somewhat militant. Most every Young Buck track is Militant, but this has a little more to it. I think it's due to the background of Trey Songz. The chorus starts up first thing and boasts "I've got the heart of a soldier, got the soul of Tiger, if you ever said I'm scared, then you a mothef****** liar." Thems fighting words if I've ever heard them! The beat is tough throughout, the pace is not too fast, but not too slow either. It could be just enough to let people know, your here for business.
1. STAND UP (LET'S GET MURDERED) - P.O.S.
This is one of my favorite artists right now, and this track from his album Audition stands out above all the rest. The horns kick in right away, and soon after the chorus is yelling at you to "Stand Up". The beat keeps moving and P.O.S. raps with a frantic angry, yet somehow thoughtful pace that sounds like a combo of Eminem, and Common. Two minutes in to the track, the horns really pick up and you are told, "hands up if your broke, go find a way to stand up, give it up if you're hoping to never give it up, hands up so we know who's here, who wants to open up the machine and rage against the gears, STAND UP!". According to my Ipod, I have listened to that song 625 times, and I can tell you, yes, I still want to rage against the gears(whatever that means). This one gets an added bonus, because I'm sure not many people have heard it, and it could be the type you will try to find after the fight.
There you have it, my suggestions for some ring entrance songs. Let me know what you think, or if you have a few suggestions, let me know.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
A LETTER TO BOXING
With most things jobs, sports, families, there is someone in charge, someone you can bring your problems to. If you have a problem with the NFL, you can write a letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell. If you have a problem with the rules at your house, you can bring it up to Mom or Dad(if your living at home, your landlord if your not). If you have a problem with boxing, you have to just bitch and moan about it, like the no good whinny cry-baby you are. Well, I have many problems with boxing, and thanks to my friend Coach, I have decided to write a letter.
Dear Boxing,
I am writing you because I feel as if I am in a one way relationship. I am not completely unhappy, I just feel that I give so much more to you, than you give back to me. There are times I feel as if I am being stood up on a date. Remember the time you had the pound for pound champ take on the most popular fighter in the game, tota l let down. Maybe you remember the time you had two of the games pound for pound best tacticians square off in a boxing chess match of sorts, then charged me 50 bucks to see it. How about when you dare ask me to give 50 dollars for match-ups that are even less interesting? You have been trying lately, but it seems as if these things you've done for me this fall will be taken away by spring time. Taylor-Pavlick II will be on PPV, Joe Calzaghe's next fight will probably land there as well. That's just more money down the drain.
I have a few suggestions for you that would change our relationship. I know that I can't ask you to be a different sport, it's too late for that. You'll never be the NFL, or MLB, or even the National Beer pong League for that matter. I'm asking for little things, just enough change to make me feel as if you care. To start, you need to fix the heavyweight division. It's the one division that no n-boxing fans pay attention to. This is easier than you think, are ready for the simple fix.......change the heavies to the Super Heavyweight division. You can then change the name of Cruiserweight to Heavyweight. Think about it, it's just a name, all people will know is that these are big athletic guys who put on good fights and can knock fellas out with one punch. The Supers will be fat and out of shape, like they have been for years. You could even extend the limit to 205 or maybe 210 if you needed to.
Idea number two, stop charging me for good fights. It's been nice this fall with the Pavlick-Tayor and Kessler-Calzaghe fights, but with that you throw at me Pay-Per-Views like Cotto-Mosley, and Mayweather-Hatton. I'm not saying thaose are bad fights, I'm just asking why can't you find advertisement money instead of taking my hard earned cash? Those are good fights, but along with those you try and get me to buy Shannon Briggs vs. Sultan Ibragimov and Fernando Vargas vs. Ricardo Mayorga. I understand that the sport is always going to have PPV's, but if you keep having these lame ones you're not promoting yourself. How do you expect to get new fans involved in the sport? No one is going to fork over 50 bucks for something they don't know anything about. That goes for cheap tickets to the events themselves too. Recently I went to the Contender Finale at The Banknorth Garden, the cheapest tickets were 45 bucks! The Garden is huge, you're telling me that selling 10 or even 20 dollar tickets would have broken the bank? On top of that you didn't even advertise it very well, I talked to at least ten people(most of whom work in the sports industry) and they had no idea there was a big fight happening in Boston. If you sold cheap tickets you would have packed the place and maybe walked away with a few extra boxing fans.
I would l ike to have more good fights televised. I don't think this is too much to ask. Why is it that Spike TV shows every UFC worth watching. ESPN Classic picked up Holyfield vs. Ibragimov, who the heck wants to see that fight? Yet I have to find David Haye vs. Jean Marc Mormeck, and Lucian Bute vs. Alejandro Berrio on youtube after the fact. Or the time you made me watch Wlad Klitschko destroy Ray Austin within seconds. Just air good fights, people will begin to watch if you do that. Along that same line, is it too much to ask to have a PPV event be shown at a bar? The way you charge a bar for PPV's is by their max capacity number. That's forcing bars to not order the fights, that means regular sports loving people are being turned away from the sport. I don't know about anybody else but if it's a sport and it's at the bar, I'll watch it. Once again, your just sucking old fans dry, and not introducing yourself to new ones. Why not just charge a flat rate to the bar, something affordable, you'll benefit in the end, I promise.
One last thing, just make some effort. You have made some real progress this fall. You put together some great fights, now don't turn back. Get the winner of Mayweather-Hatton to fight Miguel Cotto. Heck you could even have the loser fight Mosley. I will also say for the first time in a while I am happy with a PPV undercard(Mayweather-Hatton). You usually stiff on the entertainment for the prefights, but this time you're doing it right, good for you. I know you're not perfect, I don't expect you to be, just give me some effort. I'm gonna love you no matter what, I just don't want other people to say I'm in an abusive relationship, that's all. So work on a few of these things and I think we'll be alright.
The Southern New England Golden Gloves located in Fall River, Massachusetts and is one of the precursors to the New England finals held in Lowell Mass. It has had it's share of names pass through including Matt Godfrey, Jason Estrada, Peter Manfredo Jr., and of course Marvin Hagler. Going to this event is like stepping through a time machine. The auditorium is dank and dirty, the paint is falling of the walls, lights are flickering and the only thing anyone cares about is the boxing. It was an absolute pleasure to witness the event and I would recommend going to anyone. I went and did a small story on the event for my show Out of Bounds, I hope you enjoy it.
Videographer/editor Bryan Brennan(The Bryguy) covers the sights and sounds of the history rich Southern New England Golden Gloves in Fall River, MA.
Friday, July 27, 2007
WHAT'S NEXT?
It seems to me that Bernard Hopkins has done everything, defeated everyone, and has nothing left to prove. Although now that i think about he hasn't defeated everyone, has he? Clinton Mitchell, Jermain Taylor, and Roy Jones Jr. can still claim victories over the hall of fame boxer. Mitchell beat Hopkins in his first fight back in 1988, I think we can chalk that up to a fluke. Jermain Taylor beat Hopkins by razor thin decisions in 2005, but many had Hopkins winning one maybe even both of those fights, so once again he's forgiven. Then there is Roy Jones Jr. who got a unanimous decision over Hopkins in 1993. Their giant egos never let them agree on terms for a rematch. Now could be different, they need each other to go out the way they want to. In his win against Winky Wright, Bernard seemed to finally show some signs of age. I would by no means call him shot, but I do feel a guy like Calzaghe could to take advantage of Hopkins' slowed reflexes. Ever since his back to back knockouts by Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson Roy Jones has been trying to fix his legacy so he can ride off into the sunset as a pound for pounder. What better way to go out than beating a pound for pound great like Bernard Hopkins? What better way is there to retire than defeating Roy Jones, the only guy who has a legitimate win over you? Hopkins can't compete with the likes of Chad Dawson and Joe Calzaghe. A win over Glen Johnson or Clinton Woods wouldn't really do much to improve his already impressive list of victims. To get rid of a blemish on your record, now that would be a nice caper to an already remarkable career. Now some fans would say this fight five years too late, I say it's just in the nick of time! The fight is more interesting now than it was five years ago, because both now have kinks in their armor. They still match up in a similar way to when they were in their primes, they are each just a little more vulnerable. Also I kinda like that the roles would be reversed, in 1993 Hopkins was the bad guy. This time around I think most would be rooting for the "executioner" to finish Jones once and for all. Let me know what you think.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
WHY DO I GET PUNISHED?
I had recently heard that there was an article in Ring magazine about one of favorite fighters(Matt Godfrey). So during a trip to my local Stop & Shop two weeks ago, I decided to peruse the magazine section and see if they had the issue. They had quite the selection of mags. They must have had ten hip-hop magazines, at least a dozen teeny bopper mags, countless health & beauty reads, and three pro wrestling magazines(WWE type stuff). Not one issue of The Ring! I wasn't too surprised, maybe a little angry, but that's because I think boxing fans take it a little more personally when people bash their sport. I returned to S&S today to pickup a few essentials(chips, dip, Ramon Noodles, Tuna) and I thought two things: Why do I eat like a college student, and I wonder if they have a copy of The Ring today? Sure enough they did, then as quickly as I picked it up to see what the issue contained, I put it down realizing it was 8 bucks. There was no way in hell I was paying 8 dollars for a magazine, even if it is "The Bible of Boxing"! As I continued to shop I wondered, "Why am I being punished?" Why did I have to pay 50 dollars to see my favorite fighter get in the ring on Saturday? Why should I pay 8 bucks for a magazine covering my sport? Why do eat so much Tuna? Why do I have spend so much money to watch a sport that I love? The only answer I had was, Tuna is cheep and easy. When two elite fighters square off it's guaranteed that I am going to fork over 50 smackers. When the Patriots play the Colts everyone watches Monday night football. When the Red Sox play the Yankees I just tune in to my local radio station and listen in. I'm not saying that Winky and Bernard should be on radio and given Superbowl treatment, but at least try and drum up support from new fans instead sucking the old ones dry. All I can say is boxing needs to be more accessible to everyone. Promoters and managers will take a prospect and bring him along slowly, making sure he gets the skills he needs and builds a fan base. Why can't they treat the sport of boxing the same way they do their prospects? I have no answers only questions, sorry if you were expecting more. By the way, being a stupid boxing fan, I paid the 8 bucks and bought the magazine.
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