Michaelr - I am presently inclined to agree with you completely! That I was raised to accept the Sport as an appropriate test of Manhood notwithstanding. Any childish ideas I might have still had about the Sport having once been more genteel have surely been dispelled by my current research. Tyson's ear-bite seen round the world did shock many people such as myself into our senses. Boxing hasn't really recovered from that.

I don't know if you are a UK Mudcatter or an American, but to many Americans, especially "ethnic" Americans, Boxing remains and important part of their culture. I could bend your ear about how excited the NYC Irish Community was about Gerry Cooney's prospects as well as how I witnessed the Latino adulation of Oscar De La Hoya but it's all been said before more eloquently if not on Mudcat then at least in mainstream Sports literature.

Still, hearing a song like 'Boom Boom Mancini' immediately transports me back to the late 70's and early 80's when certain neighborhoods in NYC really did shut down to watch a particular fight. Zevon's Lyric.. "Hurry home early, Hurry on Home, Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Cahcon" captures that feeling EXACTLY! This of couse was when Boxing was still a Network TV phenomenon and before Pay TV marginalized its appeal away from the "Lower Classes" and towards folks who could afford to pay $49.95 to see ONE fight. (or one set of cards as the case may be)

I think that for a time Pro Wrestling took over the place that Boxing used to occupy in "minority" lives. I should be clear that I considered my upbringing in working-class Irish NYC to be a "minority" upbringing as well so I'm not speaking from outside of a 'class.' People can argue all day over whether or not the Irish are still a 'minority' considering how many million Americans there are with a drop of Irish blood or a vestigal Irish name. That's not what I am trying to say. When I grew up, to be Catholic and to be Irish-working-class was still to be considered 'other". That's all. In fact, it still pretty much is in the neighborhoods where branches of my family still live. But, that's a whole nuther can of worms...

As I was saying..... Pro wrestling seemed to have taken over that slot but that has faded as well. In California Mexican Wrestling is still very popular but more as a fringe sport than a mainstream for of entertainment. I believe all it will take is the rise of another very talented boxer to bring back boxing's traditional audiences.

The songs we have mentioned do explore the brutality of the sport but just as many celebrate the participants as 'brave young men', 'champions' 'bold contenders' and such. Without getting overly historical, I would suggest that we view boxers with the same admirations and disgust as Roman-era audiences viewed gladiators with the big difference being that Boxers are usually nowadays, quite well paid!

The songs about Ali are interesting from a sociopolitical perspective. They celebrate his minorioty status, his Draft resistance, his superior physical prowess, all as fine examples to his 'race'. I plan to talk about the evolution of songs about individual boxers from merely commemorating a thrilling bout for the ages to statements about the ascendency of minority fighters.

Any thoughts you have on the subject Michaelr, I'd be eager to hear!