Mayweather vs Pacquiao - The brutality of boxing

The much awaited Boxing match between Mayweather and Pacquiao will take place in May. Irrespective of the results, they will split a cool $200 million. (Wish I could be one of them, passing out after one punch is worth $100 million). This game will be the single most highest paid Sporting event in the world. The tickets are going for a staggering $10,000 and above. The pay-per-view on TV would be $95, for an event which could be over in minutes. (Once Mike Tyson handed a knockout to Leon Spinks in 90 seconds. Those who paid close to 50 bucks on pay-per-view channel complained of their money getting washed into water).

 

Professional Boxing is a wham-bam sports, with hardly any sporting spirit involving between the opponent. During the final years of my Engineering we used to do mock GD (group discussions) in hostel on random topics in preparation for MBA and job interviews. One such subject was "Sporting Spirit". A friend of mine (later made it to IIM) opined that a sporting duel enhances bonhomie and brotherhood between the parties involved, challenging the rest of us to contradict him. I retorted back "When two folks hit one another in a boxing duel, there will be anger and animosity rather than fellowship and camaraderie, unless the persons involved are Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy". All broke into laughter.

 

The basic human nature has not changed over the centuries. Gladiators have been replaced by Boxers. Then it was the turn of the wild animals to tear away each other's flesh and douse the Roman soil in blood. Ages later, its the Bullfighting Madators in Madrid, albeit a shade less gorier in the veneer of modernity. The ignominious venue of the ancient era was Roman Coliseum. It's modern era counterpart ? Where else but a Boxing ring in Las Vegas, the Sin City, where two Human Matadors will punch each other on their way to share a record $200 million. 

We all harbor an inherent sadistic tendency. Barbarism is well ensconced within us. Only a veil of civility in form of hypocrisy separates between our real us and unreal self. Our basic instincts, stupidity and carnal desires come out as and when situation demands. It yet vindicates that despite all the strides made in education and technology, sermons from seers and prophets, we human beings are basically intelligent animals in the guise of civility. No more, no less.