An Ode To The Sweet Science

To state the obvious, the history of boxing is an especially rich one. Perhaps more than any other sport, its past enriches the present. Serious enthusiasts of “The Sweet Science” devote untold hours comparing champions from different eras, debating the question of who could beat who, which boxers of today possess the skills to compete with the masters of the past. And for those with such an abiding passion for boxing, one video in particular from esteemed analyst and video auteur Lee Wylie will always be especially fascinating.

This past October Vasiliy Anatoliyovych Lomachenko suffered the second defeat of his pro career to the rather large lightweight named Teofimo Lopez. And such is the fickle nature of boxing fans that the man who had been widely regarded as, pound-for-pound, the best in the sport, saw his reputation and standing suffer a sudden and steep decline. But with his dominant victory this past weekend over Masayoshi Nakatani, no doubt some who had written off the Ukrainian ring wizard were reminded of his talent and overall brilliance. Which makes Lee Wylie’s “Ode To The Sweet Science” only more illuminating, not to mention essential viewing.

In what could be regarded as a “love letter” in video form to the ancient art of pugilism, as well as a video masterpiece, Wylie takes inspiration from the extraordinary talent of the fighter they call “Hi-Tech” to create an epic portrait – with a vast, all-star cast – of boxing at its highest level, a veritable catalogue of the endless array of tactics, maneuvers and stratagems deployed by the true experts of prizefighting, from years past to the present day. Get your popcorn and settle in, fight freaks. This is one ardent “ode” to which you will want to give your full attention. Not to mention repeated viewings. Check it out: