Boxing = Dead?

[Broward83 0]

So with Mayweather/De La Hoya upon us in a few days... I was wondering: Can boxing regain the popularity it once had?

 

I mean, much like chicks dig the long ball.. guys seem to dig the Heavyweights. I've been reading up a bit on the May 5th fight and I see all these things about boxing dying a slow death after this fight. Even on here, guys debate rather or not this is going to happen.. so I figured I'd open it up to y'all.

 

Also, if boxing unified all the "ABC" groups.. the IBC's, WBO's, WBA's and the like, would that save boxing as it'd allow people to have a single champion, rather than have multiple "champions" that might not ever face off against each other..

 

 

Discuss.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

I think the biggest reason for its decline is pay-per-view. I know it's been in existence for over 20 years in boxing, but the effect was slow.

 

I've never seen a live important boxing fight in my life, and I likely never will. And that's probably the same for many people in my generation. How can you promote the best boxers in the world if nobody sees them?

[MrRant 0]

It's just not promoted very well and like Leena said, it's always on PPV. Why not give the audience a bone and put one of these things on a network like ABC/NBC/CBS and have them promote the hell out of it? A big fight with a title on the line, draw in some people and then put the rematch on PPV. Do this at least once every 3-4 months.

[migoli 0]

As bad as boxing has got ill say this, id rather watch some Boxing over the abortion that is the NBA

[Mike wanna be 0]

People watch boxing for the knockouts. All boxing needs is another charismatic knockout machine like Tyson, and it'll be fine. There's gotta be some nutjob with C4 fists somewhere.

[Ripper 0]

There are plenty of those, but then the ones today suck so they get like 5 incredible knockouts, get some buzz, then get KTFO by some journeyman and the buzz is over.

 

Tyson was actually GOOD along with being a nutjob.

 

I think it is true. Freakish Athletes like Tyson are now playing football or any other sport that is not boxing when growing up, so now we have a pretty much horrible group of boxers. ANd not to mention the most famous boxer EVER is a trembling incoherant old man now. Ali is the face of boxing still even if people don't want to admit it. And at the end of the day, fucked up bearded Bill Russell or bitter Hank Aaron is a much better alternative than shakey Ali to most people.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Ripper makes a good point. College and high school football and basketball have claimed a great deal of the promising young athletes. As sports become more widely available and organized, boxing becomes a less attractive option. It will always survive at lower weights however. A 126 lb. kid doesn't have the same options.

[bob_barron 0]

Bill Simmons basically said the same thing in his column.

 

I mean really, who wants to be a boxer?

[Guest]

Boxing just needs a draw. Someone that knocks motherfuckers out or some unbeatable, not to be fucked with white guy.

 

The sport is definitely not dead though. Definitely NOT.

[Coffin Surfer 0]

This should probably read is Boxing dead in America?

 

Boxing does seem to be past it's heyday in this country though it's history is one of ups and downs, but there is still plenty of talent out there putting on exciting fights. This is true in the lighter weights especially. The heavyweight division has been in rapid decline in both quality and popularity since the terribly disappointing Lewis/Holyfield matches, Lewis/Tyson at least being the last major successful PPV draw. Still, I believe there is finally life in the division with interesting talent and Wlad/Brewster II if marketed right could be a decent PPV draw...though I don't see it happening.

 

The biggest problem is too many interest groups with everybody doing what's best for themselves instead of the sport. King is but one of many. Though I doubt it will ever become a single promotion, at least not in the near future. Too much money to be lost by individual groups for that to happen.

 

 

And Oscar/Floyd will no doubt disappoint many as I see this being a defensive fight with neither guy getting in serious trouble. All this attention will most likely cause a huge backlash, but hopefully I'm wrong.

[snuffbox 0]

While Oscar-PBF turning out to be boring/disappointing is a possibility there is something that will work in the fans' favor. Oscar is the promoter so he will have business somewhere in his mind and he knows as well as anyone how damaging a 'boring' superfight (re: vs. Tito Trindad) can be for publicity.

 

I see Oscar, if not PBF so much, really working to make it exciting in some fashion.

 

This fight will draw no less than 1.5 million buys. It could be a resurgency for boxing; I'm not sure if the upcoming crop of star fighters (Duddy, Cotto, Hatton, etc) will be able to sustain 1 million+ buys but 500,000+ will remain a staple for a long time.

 

We do need a return to network boxing, though. And too many boxing 'fans' just ignore cable boxing since the main events aren't comprised of two superstar draws.

[Ripper 0]

Floyd needs to say something about Oscars mom or something. Pissed off aggressive Oscar is the fucking man.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Boxing should take the same steps UFC is taking. Get a regular TV show somewhere, and get organized so there aren't three or four different major organizations (UFC just bought Pride, for example).

 

I think UFC is the real danger to boxing at this point.

[Ripper 0]

You know what also hurts boxing. Say there is a great big name fighter. He is going to fight MAYBE twice this YEAR.

 

UFC, big namers fight like every 2 months. How can you build a buzz and fan base for a guy that fights twice a year?

[snuffbox 0]

Boxing IS on television regularly. Espn2 shows live boxing on Fridays, Wednesdays until the end of Summer, and VS will be back to every Thursday after hockey playoffs. The problem is that these shows are often ignored because they focus on up-and-coming prospects rather than already established stars.

 

And, Ripper, I have no idea where you get the idea that the top UFC guys fight every two months.

[Ripper 0]

Boxing IS on television regularly. Espn2 shows live boxing on Fridays, Wednesdays until the end of Summer, and VS will be back to every Thursday after hockey playoffs. The problem is that these shows are often ignored because they focus on up-and-coming prospects rather than already established stars.

 

And, Ripper, I have no idea where you get the idea that the top UFC guys fight every two months.

 

 

Okay, two months is pushing it big time, especially for a top guy. Barring injury though, they still fight fairly often when compared to boxing. Like Rich Franklin fought 4 times in 2004, and 3 times in 2005. Find a top flight up and coming fighter in boxing that has 7 bouts in 2 year span. That allowed franklin to get a pretty big buzz. Boxing on the other hand, that just doesn't happen. Being able to see a guy fight every 3-4 months is alot better than once every 6-8 months.

 

And another reason tha tthe Espn shows get ignored is because it features horrible boxing. What they should do is ax the live, crappy fights and tape the events and only show the interesting fights. UFC shows their biggest knockouts how often? Or before any big fight they feature the fighters best fights in a special on free TV.

 

Boxings pace of fights and marketing is all wrong. And its hard to fix because so many promoters have their hand in it.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I think its because most of the big names now are hispanic/latino or even foreign, not Americans...and this isnt a "wheres the white guy in boxing" comment either..

[snuffbox 0]

I would say boxing's three biggest upcoming superstars would be Duddy, Cotto, and Hatton. Here's their last couple years.

 

John Duddy:

Nov 05 - TKOs Bryon Mackie (25-11) in the 4th

Dec 05 - Stops Wilmer Meija (15-4-2), 4th

Feb 06 - 10 round decision over Julio Jean (7-6-1)

March 06 - 1st round ko of Shelby Pudwill (21-2-1)

June 06 - Freddy Cuevas doesnt make it out for the 8th

Sept 06 - Wins a 12 round decision over Yory Boy Campas (88-8) in the FOTY or runner-up (depends on view of this and a fight in the next record I'll show)

March 07 - Wins a technical decision over Anthony Bonsante (29-8-3) in the 9th

cheduled to fight 18-1 Dupre Strickland later this month on Espn2 and again in July

 

Miguel Cotto:

June 05 - Stops Muhhamed Abdullaev (15-1) in the 9th

Sept 05 - Kos Ricardo Torres (28-0) in the 7th

March 06 - 8th round tko of Gianluca Bronco (36-1-1)

June 06 - Beats Paulie Malinaggi (21-0) by decision in the FOTY or runner-up (depending on above opinion)

Dec 06 - Undefeated Carlos Quintana (23-0) doesnt come out for the 6th

Mar 07 - 11th round tko of Otkay Urkal (38-3)

Scheduled to fight Zab Judah in June

 

Ricky Hatton:

June 05 - Stops Kostya Tszyu (31-1) in the 11th

Nov 05 - Kos Carlos Maussa (20-2) in the 9th

May 06 - Wins decision over Luis Collazo (26-1)

Jan 07 - Decision over Juan Urango (17-0-1)

Scheduled to fight Jose Luis Castillo in June

 

So Duddy has fought 7 times since November 2005 including 4 in '06, and will have his third of '07 in July. Cotto is scheduled for his seventh of the last two years in June. Only Hatton lives up to your 2-per-year statement but it should be mentioned 9 rounds was his shortest fight and he uses a very rough style and takes a lot of punishment himself.