Professional wrestling (often shortened pro wrestling, or simply wrestling) is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.[1] It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport. The unique form of sport portrayed is fundamentally based on classical and "catch" wrestling, with modern additions of striking attacks, strength-based holds and throws, and acrobatic maneuvers; much of these derive from the influence of various international martial arts. An additional aspect of combat with improvised weaponry is sometimes included to varying degrees.The matches have predetermined outcomes in order to heighten entertainment value, and all combative maneuvers are executed with the full cooperation of those involved and carefully performed in specific manners intended to lessen the chance of actual injury.[2] These facts were once kept highly secretive but are now a widely accepted open secret. In the United States, this is due to the coerced public admission by Vince McMahon as the result of threatened government regulatory initiatives. By and large, the true nature of the performance is not discussed by the performing company in order to sustain and promote the willing suspension of disbelief for the audience by maintaining an aura of verisimilitude.Originating as a popular form of entertainment in 19th-century Europe[3] and later as a sideshow exhibition in North American traveling carnivals and vaudeville halls, professional wrestling grew into a standalone genre of entertainment with many diverse variations in cultures around the globe, and is now considered a multi-million dollar entertainment industry. In North America, it has experienced several different periods of prominent cultural popularity during its century and a half of existence. The advent of television gave professional wrestling a new outlet, and wrestling (along with boxing) was instrumental in making pay-per-view a viable method of content delivery.
Follow the preparations for Ali's final attempt to win back the World Heavyweight title. Even during the lead up to the fight grave concerns were held for Ali's health and the man who stepped into the ring was frail imitation of his former self.
Original air date: 27 Oct. 2007
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news, reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
42 year old Martin Rogan ko'd by 31 year old Erkan Teper, Germany...
Three right hands in a row and it looks like Rogan was out after the first two rights. The third had added power because the ropes saved Rogan and bounced him into the third crushing right hand in a row. So we have his momentum meeting the power of Tepler while Rogan was already out cold.
Rogan's brains got shook, as Joe Frazier would say.
Heavyweight Martin Rogan looks set to hang up his gloves after
suffering a first round knock out against undefeated German prospect
Erkan Teper in Germany on Saturday night.
‘Big Roggie’, 42, was dropped by a massive right in the opening
stanza of the bout and may require
steel plates to put his shattered jaw back together.
Rogan is currently in hospital and speaking on Twitter this morning
the popular Belfast puncher, who already has a steal plate in his neck, ... indicated that it may be time to hang up the gloves.
This fight matched two knockout specialists who were evenly matched to the extent that they took turns "ringing each others bells" all ten rounds. Abdusalamov looked badly beaten up with his face all distorted with a severe cut above his left eye but seemed able to withstand anything Mike Perez hit him w2ith
Because of Magomed had a reputation as a one punch k.o. artist it was hard for a referee to stop the contest. The combatants had taken turns landing bombs on each other round after round with neither fighter firmly in control of the fight. The determination of M. Abdusalamov made him seem to be unstoppable with any combination of punches. His opponent was a great Cuban fighter, Mike Perez who boxed beautifully in this heavyweight slugfest wearing down his stronger opponent with body punches and setting up clean head shots.
This was one of the more exciting heavyweight fights in years and it is rally sad that Mag. Abdusalamov paid too high a price...
ESPN
Comatose Abdusalamov expected to survive
Comatose heavyweight Magomed Adusalamov s condition is improving, leading doctors to say he will live.
By
Dan Rafael | ESPN.com Comatose heavyweight Magomed Abdusalamov's condition is improving, leading doctors to say he will live. Nathan Lewkowicz, vice president of Sampson Boxing, Abdusalamov's promoter, told ESPN.com of Abdusalamov's condition Thursday. "A week ago, the doctors thought he was not going to make it, that he would not survive. They said they were 100 percent sure he would not make it," Lewkowicz said. "Now they think it has turned around. They say he is going to make it now. They have seen progress with his motor skills from the tests they have been doing.
When it's all said and done, offense don't mean nothing if the defense is not there to offset what he does to you. Or what he tries to do to you.
- Bernard Hopkins
Boxing is like jazz. The better it is, the less people appreciate it. --George Foreman
Attack is only one half of the art of boxing. --Georges Carpentier
I'm a boxer who believes that the object of the sport is to hit and not get hit...There's nothing cool about taking punishment. --Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Bank hits Tountong with his fst in the face. Both boys are 7 years old. A minimum age for the fighters does not exist.
Sandra Hoyn/laif
Photographer Sandra Hoyn was on vacation in Thailand in 2011 when she happened upon a Muay Thai
competition near Bangkok. Known as “the art of eight limbs” where
almost everything on the body is used including elbows, knees, and
fists, Muay Thai is a full-contact sport and one that is considered
extremely difficult. Professional fighters often deal with broken bones
and concussions.
What shocked Hoyn the most wasn’t the sport as much as the
competitors: Children as young as 6 years old were in the ring. She
immediately contacted the coaches and children to photograph the fights
for a series she titled “Die Kampfkinder,” or “Fighting Kids.”
Although at first Hoyn found it difficult to work on the project
because of language barriers, she eventually was able to spend four
weeks accompanying the children at home, during training sessions, and
during competitions.
Bank has lost the boxing match against
Tountong and is lying unconscious on the ground. For many poor people,
Muay Thai boxing secures their livelihood. For a pittance, they reach
their mental and physical limits two or three times a month with boxing
matches.
Sandra Hoyn/laif
Fanta, 6 years old, after winning a boxing match.
Sandra Hoyn/laif
A boxing match between two boys.
Sandra Hoyn/laif
Hoyn studied photography at the University of Applied Sciences in
Hamburg, Germany, and began developing her craft roughly 10 years ago
while traveling. She said she tries to get close to the local culture
and has created many series around Southeast Asia, including one about human trafficking and another about a young punk living in Burma.
“I feel the urgency to show what is happening in the world, in which
circumstances people are living,” she wrote via email. “Sometimes it is
difficult to keep the journalistic difference. With many protagonists of
my stories, I develop a friendship, so on one side it is good for the
story, while on the other hand it’s hard to stay neutral and remind
myself I’m not just a friend, I’m also a photojournalist.”
A Muay Thai fighter in the boxing ring during the break.
Sandra Hoyn/laif
The coach shouts at a boy during the break of the fight.
Sandra Hoyn/laif
Although Hoyn said many people were shocked by her images of children
fighting, she said in Thailand it isn’t really unusual, and it is
common to see young children training, often as a way to escape poverty.
Although her photographs make it seem like a very rough sport for the
children, Hoyn wrote that she didn’t see many of them seriously hurt
since they aren’t as powerful as adults. “Few of these children boxers
will be rewarded with fame, glory, or money,” Hoyn wrote, noting that
although money bets are illegal in Thailand, they don’t seem to be
enforced.
“The most shocking thing for me was to see the pressure on these
children. They are the instrument for the parents to earn money, and
they have to win the fight because the parents bet a lot of money on
them. A lot of people lose all their money in one night,” she said.
A child fighter with money in his mouth.
The victor collects money from tourists and spectators after the match.
The money is divided, and the coach gets the largest share.
Sandra Hoyn/laif
A girl, 6 years old, in the boxing ring.
Sandra Hoyn/laif
Spectators at a boxing match.
Sandra Hoyn/laif
Boys wait for the upcoming boxing match.
Sandra Hoyn/laif
Left: The coach binds a boy into the boxing gloves. Right: Tountong with a trophy after he won the boxing match against Bank.
At the crux of the debate about fighting in the NHL is one
issue: Is it OK to allow bullying among grown men who make a lot of
money?
Further, is it OK for each NHL team to have a version of Richie Incognito on skates to keep bullies on opposing teams in check?
Is
fighting creating a black eye for hockey? Well, it literally could be
for Ottawa Senators forward Matt Kassian, who absorbs a punch from
Columbus Blue Jackets enforcer Jared Boll, left, on Nov. 5.
