I'm A Lover, Not A Fighter

By Keith Boykin, in sports
Wednesday, August 30 2006, 4:42PM

Boxers kiss

I don't expect to see this commercial on American TV anytime soon. It shows two boxers preparing to slug it out. But one of the boxers wants to get a little closer to the other. At the end of the commercial, you're not sure if the boxers are going to fight or, what's that other F-word? One boxer sits in the other boxer's lap, puts his arm around him and then, BAM! It all builds up the last climatic moment and it's hot. Well, see for yourself.

It seems to be part of a mini trend involving kissing boxers I've seen lately. First there was the video that showed an American boxer knocking out his Japanese opponent because the Japanese boxer kissed him. That came out on YouTube at the beginning of the year (watch the video for that one below the jump). Then there was another image of two different boxers kissing a few weeks ago. I can't seem to locate that one now, but if I do I'll post it here as well. And now there's this.

Homoeroticism in Boxing

Boxing definitely has a homoerotic orientation to it. As one comedian put it, boxing is the only sport where two guys in satin robes and knee-high boots strip down to their underwear and fight for a purse. But it's also a sport about male-male domination in which two half-naked men engage in close physical contact to battle for power. As a gay wrestler, I understand the appeal that boxing has to some gay men. But high-level boxers are professional athletes and they should be expected to conduct themselves as such.

Don't Kiss Me; I'm Close To The Edge

Boxers kiss

Take for example the image on the right. It comes from a video in which an American boxer knocked out his opponent during the staredown that takes place while the referee gives instructions before the bout. He knocked out his opponent because the Japanese boxer kissed him, a violation of the rules and apparently an unforgivable sin in the hypermasculine world of professional boxing. I understand the violation of personal space felt by the kissed boxer, but I can't help thinking he completely overreacted to the gesture.

After complaining that his Japanese opponent had committed an "illegal act," the English-speaking boxer explained his actions. "He tried to kiss me on the lips like a homosexual. I'm not gay. I'm not gay," he said. Listen to the reaction from the Japanese commentators when he complains he's not gay. It's almost as if they don't believe him.

What do you think? Watch the video below and see for yourself.

Thanks to OutSports for the tip. The breath mint commercial was posted on YouTube in April, although I am not sure where it was broadcast.

Comments (16) reveal

Comments conceal

Chet
August 30 2006, 10:35PM

I really like the boxer(s)! Boxers are special people and I wouldn't be at all surprised to someday see this advertisment here in these United States.

Karen S.
August 30 2006, 10:51PM

Anyone know where the breath mint commerical is from? It sounded island to me, which is the funniest thing of all, given the predominance of island homophobia. I don't think you're gonna see it on American t.v. anytime soon, though.

cmoney
August 30 2006, 11:11PM

The Black boxers are hot! I need to know where to get those mints if thay have that effect! The Japanese boxer might not be gay, but he's definitely a drama queen. He wasn't hit that hard, if at all, to be laid out like that. Maybe he was hoping for some mouth to mouth resuscitation.

cmoney
August 31 2006, 12:00AM

The Polo Power Mint Ad with the Black boxers was run in INDIA. They might not admit it, but they know a sexy brother when they see one.

Steve
August 31 2006, 1:13AM

The American boxer reacted as we would expect, culturally. However, in the Japanese model his reaction may not have been as expected. The giggles of the commentator at the end imply to me that they think the American boxer's defense of his reaction is laughable. And as all of us know, someone running around screaming "I'm not gay! I'm not gay!" most likely is, or they wouldn't feel the need to declaim it.

Luddite
August 31 2006, 9:16AM

(Big Sigh). Everytime I watch a boxing match or a UFC match I find myself wishing the two men were having sex rather than fighting.

Great commercial! Zero chance of that ever being aired in the USA.

C. Baptiste-Williams
August 31 2006, 9:30AM

Great commercial... however I think boxing has to be one of the dumbest sports in the world. Having your brains banged around until you end up speaking like Evander Holyfield makes no sense to me.

AdamJK
August 31 2006, 3:47PM

I've always said that we live in a bizarre society when many straight people love to watch two men beat each other bloody, but react violently to the thought of two men making love to each other. Yikes. Reminds me of when in the movie Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Cornelius is taken to see a boxing match. When asked what he thought of it, he replied "Beastly".
We got a long way to go but maybe these commercials are a step in the right direction.

Cincinnati NAMjA
August 31 2006, 4:37PM

The anouncers are speaking Korean. Is the boxer Korean or Japenese?

havin_my_say
August 31 2006, 5:04PM

nah, it doesn't look like the white boxer hit him that hard for him to fall out like that... givin a show

Delroy
September 1 2006, 12:46AM

That's Heath Herring from Texas against Yoshi Nakao from Japan. It wasnt actually a boxing match, it was a mixed martial arts match.

Its hilarious to me (yeah I'm straight) they both were dumb for doing what they did, but Nakao is a very very boring fighter so instead of having to watch a 20 minute fight of that, I'll gladly take that anytime.

keverix
September 2 2006, 3:56PM

This is so hot

Alex
September 5 2006, 12:10AM

I thought the japanese boxer kissing that guy was hot! He did overreact but that was a bad move by the kissing boxer.

The mint commercial was cute, but come on! I know I've seen hetero smooches on mint commercials why not let the guys actually do it. (The one sitting boxer actually looked scared?)

kwasii[TypeKey Profile Page]
September 23 2006, 11:38PM

Cincinnati NAMjA is right. the announcers are speaking Korean.

Tassle
December 7 2006, 9:02AM

Heys, I'm not sure if the other two different boxers kissing scene you were talking about are these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h-85s3lc9E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iizLrzQ9rbo

zayn
February 25 2007, 7:07PM

where is that other video, of the boxers kissing and laughing?