I really liked what I saw on a Friday night from the sport of boxing.
More specifically, from MVP Promotions...and yes, Jake Paul.
Say what?!!!!
I know. Stay with me.
Paul has his negatives regarding how he's impacted the sport, with some questionable fights and match-making that have disrupted the sanctity of the sport, as if that still existed.
Boxing has become known for its shady match-making, crooked promoters, and scandals that have plagued its prize fighters, spectacles, and moments.
Paul, despite the unorthodox approach, has brought so much of the latter back to the sport. While the Tyson vs. Paul spectacle felt like a hook, it still was an event. It gave Mike Tyson an official send-off and celebration, and quietly produced an amazing undercard, which included, among those fights, the second fight of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano.
So, going into this Netflix special, I was curious about the event. Considering the card and the overall event didn't have the "spectacle" that was Paul vs. Tyson, it did carry another gimmick in being an all-female boxing event - the first of its kind.
What I experienced, to me, is the future of boxing. The entire event felt like the boxing "upgrade" that the sport has needed for so long, and a way to capture future audiences for the sport. And that was among the many great fights throughout the night.
Some quick thoughts:
- This time around, there weren't any lagging or connection issues. Kudos to Netflix for getting the LIVE aspect down - looking forward to so much more in the future.
- The absolute best thing about this presentation is the video packages and storytelling of the fighters before their fight. The build-up videos for Taylor vs. Serrano, even if you were coming into this viewing experience without knowledge, quickly caught you up to speed and likely got you hooked for the finale in the trilogy.
- The entrance for Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor could not have been any different, and thoroughly added to the clash of their fight.
- I honestly loved the entrance for Serrano. All of it was a bop.
- At this time, I can't think of a clean sweep in a trilogy that felt competitive and lopsided all at the same time.
- Katie Taylor is one of this generation's most underappreciated athletes. So good. I'm hoping she doesn't hang it up, but if she does, she's the GOAT. And it's a retirement well earned.
- Ditto for Amanda Serrano.
- I know he's a promoter and influencer, and that's the whole deal, but I could do with a lot less Jake Paul in the camera shots leading up to the fight.
- Results are in: six million viewers for this fight. Nevermind...Jake and crew obviously know what they're doing. Stay on the screen...
- A live gate of $2.63 million... unbelievable.
- Kudos to women's boxing... more so for the continued upswing of women's sports.
- Boxing still has too many belts
- Definitely looking forward to the next event on September 13.