Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Boxing seems to be back in business again. Thankfully, for all the right reasons - heroics in the ring rather than histrionics off it.
The weekend just gone by in particular was a very good advertisement for the sport the world over.
American Floyd Mayweather knocked out Brit Ricky Hatton in the10th round of a brawling showdown to keep his Word Boxing Council welterweight crown in Las Vegas while the English wonder kid Amir Khan enjoyed his 21st birthday in blistering style flooring compatriot Graham Earl in 72 seconds to defend his Commonwealth lightweight title in Bolton.
Meanwhile, in Berlin, German Arthur Abraham retained his IBF middleweight title beating another Briton, Wayne Elcock. That's not all; Frenchman Brahim Asloum dethroned Juan Carlos Reveco of Argentina for the WBA light-flyweight title in Le Cannet, France.
There were numerous other support bouts showcased during these four major boxing events.
Even cricket with its multiple clones (Test, Fifty50 and Twenty20) has not seen such high octane stuff on the same night.
But boxing has been like this for decades with 17 major classes in four different categories - WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO - boasting of a truck load of champions at any given time.
But it's not all so simple. Clearly, what you see is not what you get. Here is a sample, something which I read with amusement recently: "There had been no undisputed heavyweight champion since 1992, when Riddick Bowe (who had beaten Evander Holyfield , who had beaten Buster Douglas, who had beaten Mike Tyson) abdicated the WBC belt rather than face mandatory challenger Lennox Lewis. Ever since, the title had been fragmented. In March 1999, WBC champion Lewis and WBA/IBF champion Holyfield met to restore unity to the division ......" I gave up, finding it difficult to follow.
However, boxing at its best, can be dazzling, particularly in the heavyweight category for the undisputed world title. Remember, 'Thrilla in Manila' (Ali-Frazer, 1975, Manila), 'Rumble in the Jungle' (Ali-Foreman, 1974, Kinshasa, Zaire) or the 'Fight of the Century' (Ali-Frazer, 1971, Madison Garden Square).
The best I remember of 'Thrilla in Manila' is Ali's famous quote: "It'll be a chilla, and a killa, and a thrilla, when I get the gorilla in Manila." Ali eventually did get the 'gorilla' after 14 gruelling rounds.
Frazier with his eyes swollen closed was unable to answer the bell for the 15th and final round. "This must be what death feels like," was another memorable Ali comment.
In later years, Mike Tyson reproduced some of the old magic during his knockouts of Michael Spinks and Trevor Berbick and his legendary showdowns with Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield.
Today there are no Alis, no Fraziers, no Marcianos and no Robinsons. No Lewis' and Tysons either.
But I have great admiration for Welshman Joe Calzaghe, the world super-middleweight champion undefeated in 44 fights, including a superb win over Mikkel Kessler of Denmark earlier this year, and the fast improving Amir Khan who could be Britain's answer to Sugar Ray Leonard, according to promoter Frank Warren.
Khan can be easily likened to Lewis Hamilton. Both are just out of their teens, at the prime of their careers and look refreshingly different. Both have provided ample glimpses of their enormous talent, and are presently promising to take their respective sports to new heights.
Calzaghe, on the other hand, is already 35 but easily the world's longest-reigning world champion. He is also the most endearing boxing hero as he eschews limelight for a quiet life back home in Newbridge.
Calzaghe has no entourages, no excess baggage and is not rhetoric either, unlike the rest of the breed. These qualities must have easily gone in his favour when he was declared BBC's Sports Personality of the Year on Saturday night.
By the way, Calzaghe beat Hamilton for the coveted title. The third on the list was Hatton. Boxing is definitely back in business.
