Connect with us

Articles of 2005

Malcolm Garrett’s Boxing Org

Published

on

Reformists are everywhere in the world of sports. The issues are always the same: Ways to play, run and pay a sport better.

Boxing is not without its reformists. Much like baseball’s steroid controversy that sat high on the congressional docket, the fight game is raising motions and approvals in the senate. It’s a push for a federal boxing commission – the first and only of its kind in professional sports.

Malcolm Garrett will agree boxing has its troubles. The Indiana-based trainer, manager and promoter stands shoulder to shoulder with most of the active boxing world in expressing his disgust at the thought of their sport falling into the hands of some political chump who has never stepped into the ring.

What audacity – teetering on brash insanity – for anyone on Capitol Hill to think they know better than those who’ve sealed the cuts, taken the punches or tried to set up an undercard.

Garrett wants to restore boxing’s credibility – and he wants it without government interference. Oddly, he hopes to repair this business of bruising with something reformists have claimed has done most of the bruising.

He wants another set of letters – his own – in the alphabet soup of boxing.

Garrett’s intention isn’t to get his cut of the money or dilute the championship belt ranks. He just wants his organization to be the one to end all others – legitimately.

To do that, it all comes down to the ratings and how to acquire them. While every other organization does its ratings inside, Garrett wants an organization that leaves it to an outside entity: the boxing writers.

It’s a system – although flawed to an extent – that has worked for collegiate sports, which depend on the Associated Press and USA Today polls to sort through the plethora of basketball and football teams each week.

“I think it would be received a lot better than people would think,” Garrett said. “The only downside is, if you do things correctly and you have only one organization, it puts a lot of champions out of work.”

Garrett hopes to enlist the top 50 or 60 boxing writers in the world to help rate fighters monthly. The Ring magazine has rated fighters for years, but without any true effect on the ratings that create contenders.

USA Today … they do a good job,” Garrett said. “I don’t always agree, but they do a good job.”

One or two writers could vote a local bum or gym rat as the No. 1 contender in Paducah, Kentucky. While it’s worrisome, it bears the likelihood of Bloomington, Indiana writers voting the hapless Hoosiers all the way to the top of the Division I college football polls.

Garrett will assure anyone, the law of averages makes this bum proof.

The point of this entire exercise is to kill the corruption, or merely scale it down to a non-factor in the scheme of champions and contenders. It’s to take away the money speak between that allows organizations and promoters to put in “their guy” as the No. 1 contender, even if he isn’t.

“I could get you ranked if I had enough money,” Garrett said.

Boxing has become too political for his liking. He believes the political structure reaches the referees, who work directly for the organization. They guide the fight for the eventual result of the organization’s man coming out on top. As a reformist, one would have to expect him to espouse some conspiracy theories based on his own perception.

“[Organizations] are all corrupt, so we should eliminate them,” Garrett said. “If it’s not political, why should they care who is No. 1?”

The writers could make a difference in such an organization. Garrett isn’t the first to cry corruption on the part of the sanctioning bodies or their ratings. The beat writers – some of which may be susceptible to corruption, but in small doses – could for once end the chatter of political malfeasance.

But with this being Garrett’s organization, which he hopes to launch by the end of 2005 or the beginning of 2006, it still leaves ethical questions of his influence. After all, he claims to have wrapped up $100,000 in administrative costs to get the cogs rolling in this crusade.

He can easily quell those concerns by stepping aside, and that’s what he’s got in mind.

“I don’t want to run this organization,” he said.

Garrett is much happier in the thick of the fight game most people can identify. He’s got younger prospects such as featherweight Ricky Benavides he wants to train all the way to the top. He’s on call at the fights to help out other corners with the taping and general consultation.

The guy hardly ever wears anything else but blue jeans and a t-shirt. That’s proof enough he has no administrative aspirations.

But that doesn’t diminish the care and hope he has for bringing boxing out of its decline and back into the mainstream.

“For God’s sake, hockey has more credibility, and nobody watches that,” he said.

If Garrett’s project becomes reality, it’s assured everybody will be watching.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles5 days ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles1 week ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles6 days ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles2 days ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles10 hours ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles2 days ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles5 days ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles6 days ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles1 week ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending