Wednesday Night Fights

I Attended my first live boxing event yesterday and from just one experience I can understand why people who love the sport are sad to see it's decline over the last decade. The main event featured Saint Paul native Jason Litzau who, at 23, weighs in at 129 lbs and is the 11th ranked featherweight in the world. Coming off his first career loss on HBO, Litzau returned to the ring in front of a modest crowd and a live national audience on ESPN2.




Not knowing what to expect, a friend and I forked over $22 for a great front row balcony seat and sat back with a beer. After the first two fights I was already convinced that boxing was an entirely different and much more enjoyable experience live and that there is no way I would ever willingly take the beatings that these guys do. Litzau's fight revealed his cockiness and unwillingness to be a refined fighter. This kid just threw haymakers and was lucky to get out of the way of his opponents well-timed combos. If it wasn't for a late round surge, the "American Boy" would have left his birthplace embarrassed. Instead he got a few great hits in and left acting as though he was the best fighter on the planet.

Turns out the guy has reputation for being a bit too cocky and doesn't know how to block a punch. These clips tell that story. Clip 1- an interview in which his self absorption shines (and his stupidity) and clip 2- him getting knocked out while not covering up in the aforementioned HBO fight shortly after that interview. Gotta see the irony in the fact that he is trying to use the All-American image to fight and lose battles with foreigners.




Overall I found a new respect for boxing and shared a gut-busting laugh with the rest of the crowd when one of the ring card girls broke her high heel and went crashing to the mat. If a pro event comes anywhere near your city I would recommend attending. It's a whole new level of shock to see exactly how hard those punches are being thrown and the tolerance level of a fighter. Plus boxing crowds are a unique crossbread of individuals and personalities, not to mention gorgeous women, so if the fights suck you can always watch the audience.

You can catch ESPN's rebroadcast of the Saint Paul event this Friday. Check your local listings for exact details.

The next big fight, and what is being touted by some as the last big fight, in the boxing world is Oscar De La Hoya v. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. live on PPV May 5th. Plenty of bars will have the fight for free so if this post has made anyone interested you should check it out.

*The pics above are off of my phone (quality = poor).