After 27 years of boxing, i am throwing in the towel

[damianhucker1]

Not sure any real boxing fan , like many of us on here , which includes you mark , can ever really stop watching the sport .

You might say it but dont be surprised if you find that difficult mate .

[Matt W]

"the sport has been dying for sometime and Boxing is too arrogant to want to do anything about it."

Sadly I think the problem is that the sport is governed by the greed of the few and they are still making millions so will not see the need to change. I do empathise with a lot of what you say and it does seem that so many of the discussions about boxing noawadays are about the negatives.

[Gazmac81]

yea Dave Darts got me with that one 2
i was sitting thinking after a few rounds , this is shit but something must happen
was thinking of brutal knockdowns back and forth or Double Knockout again

i felt used after wasting a good half hour on that one

[Old bones Ian]

I think alot of it is how far removed fans are from the top sportmen nowadays, with all the media and over hype in every aspect of sport.
Boxing News was how i got alot of my results, but i can log in on the internet and get them at any time now.
I don't watch the late night/ early morning fights now, i just download them in the morning. I used to be able to tell you all the champs at the weight, but i couldn't get near now.

[Jon Saxon]

Boxing is the filthiest whore in town that (and even though we hate ourselves for it) we keep sticking our dicks into time and time again.

Chin up big guy

[fasteddie]

people are acting like this is a new thing? its been happening for years larry holmes vs spinks,they didnt let him beat marciano's record,marciano he didnt face a man in his prime when he was champ. jack johnson payed to take a dive in the early 1900's we are noe in 2012 its not a new thing this,like dana white says dont leave it in the judges hands. at least with ufc its under one umbrella and the best fight the best boxing has the hearns ,fw, maloney, and a few small time promotors/managers thats just in uk then you got the us promotors this is what makes it corrupt cause its no secret that wbc are good friends with don king and so on and so on. i dont like whats going on but i just cant turn my back on the best sport in the world imo.

[Hagler2002]

I also find myself watching less and less and last month cancelled my Sky Sports & allegedly subscriptions. I cannot justify paying top dollar for a sport that just shits on paying fans every week.

Boxing at present is more bent than horse racing, the Pakistan cricket team, Juventus & Will Young put together.

[Quixall]

As you have stated Mark, i too have written a similar article a few weeks back. The fact that i still read on these pages occasionally is testament to the fact that i haven't cut my nose off to spite my face and as you put it " am watching from a distance.....". I would say that the only fighters i would tune into watch are Mayweather, Haye, Khan, Froch, Fury, Brook and Galahad. I would also say Rhodes, but after his defeat, a fight i didn't watch incidently, i think he is not far off retirement now. I am not interested in any other fighters, whether they are at international or domestic level, which indicates how low my interest in the sport has dropped. I will certainly not be stopping up late to watch a trans-atlantic fight or any of the undercards, so i will perhaps tune in to watch ten fights per year maximum.

As DamienHucker said, when you have loved the sport, i don't think you can give it up entirely, just go into semi-retirement and i can totally understand where you are coming from, as you highlight, with your four friends who have visited recently. I do not read any boxing magazines and rarely read boxing columns or articles, unless something excites me about a fight or it's a fighter i would follow. The recent story about Larry being banned for four years also highlights what a state boxing is in and as you state, it's a sport that is dying, that is watched by decreasing numbers of people. You will hear a lot of people say " It's always gone on........" and yes it has, but to what degree was it going on before and fans are more likely to turn a blind eye if there are quality fighters around and their own enthusiam is high because of thise quality fighters.

It has to be said that whilst you do have one or two real quality fighters around, they are diminishing year on year and essentially are not being replaced by the new generation of fighters. You can name the real quailty fighters who are coming up on one hand, the likes of Broner, Alverez and Gamboa, but gone are the days of Lewis, Holyfield, Tyson, Toney, Jones, Mosley, Whitaker, De La Hoya, Camacho etc, they will be replaced to some degree, but not of that quality and not in the same numbers. The Americans aren't producing amateur fighters in anything like the same numbers and they way the amateur system has changed, via the points system, isn't a good way of developing a fighting style that can be progressed into the professional ranks. The old school trainers are fast dissapearing, taking with them a vast expanse of knowledge that can't be replaced easily and now we seem a Mayweather as supreme, when he should be seen more as the norm.

I think the final straw for me, was the bad decisions that have been getting more regular of late, the silly multi-championship titles within the same organisation, not to mention the alphabet titles on offer from the various governing bodies, confusing and diluting the title of "world champion", so that your average guy in the street can't name any. The miss-matches, the doping scandals, top ranked fighters not fighting each other, the tedious promotor wars, the legal actions, the hype and bullshit, not to mention the cost of watching or attending a fight. I think it hits those of us harder that have watched the sport with such intnsity over the years, it's as if bad decisions etc go deeper and whilst not being naive, we are looking for a more pure version of the sport. I will keep my head in from time to time and come on here occasionally and watch the odd fight that appeals and i hope you do the same.

Cheers Buddy,

Quix

[allahsnackbar]

There is no doubt the sport is dying.

Mayweather and Pac not fighting was a big blow to the sport. The bad decisions involving Pac recently have hit boxing hard.

The likes of David Haye and his performance against Wlad.

Audley Harrison.

Ian John Lewis and his shit refereeing and scorecards (especially that prizefighter one)

Even last week the ref in the Towers fight was attrocious.

I could go on. So much disappointment. Just the other day Olubamiwo gets done for 6 years of steroid use and then comes on saying everyone else is doing it so don't be too hard on me.

I've pretty much stopped following boxing to be honest. I think it will begin to slowly lose more and more fans.

[Londonirish]

Mark i'v just started to follow Boxing in the last 2-3 years. Before that the only time i'd go to shows, watch fights etc if it was one of my mates that was Boxing BUT i can see where your coming from without a doubt

Mark was it you that done a bit of filming in the TKO gym in Teneriffe in 2005?

[JDC]

Commissions need to claw back the power they have lost to promoters. They need more legal power and also more accountability. I do see a move towards this in the not too distant future. Chin up lads.

[jessi]

Listen to yourselfs, you may not follow boxing with the passion you once did but your never let it go completely, there's always a new crop coming through and every so often someone will catch your eye and your fall back in love again I promise !

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

I have been like this for three or four years now. Do not care about world title fights anymore - a complete fraud.

[exittored]

Those that say boxing is dying will one day die themselves whilst boxing will carry on living and living.

Boxing isn't dying, infact it's going through a renaissance at the moment all around the world.

Boxing is the best sport in the world but it's also the worst run as well so you have to expect the incompetence and craziness that goes with watching it.

I was super pissed off with boxing after Pac-Bradley and took a one week exile from anything to do with boxing but came back to watch CHAVEZ-LEE which was a superb fight and BOOM i was back in love with boxing again.

We have some good fights coming up next few weeks so you throw in the towel but i'm just gonna enjoy the fights thanks :)

June 20
Kazuto Ioka vs. Akira Yaegashi, 12 rounds, WBC/WBA strawweight unification
"Prizefighter Heavyweights"

June 23
Humberto Soto, 12 rounds, WBC junior welterweight eliminator

July 7
Kell Brook vs. Carson Jones

July 14
Amir Khan vs. Danny Garcia, 12 rounds, junior welterweights
Dereck Chisora vs. David Haye, 12 rounds, heavyweights

[Bricks]

Quixall recently did a thread after the Bradley - Pacman fight about having enough with boxing after another dodgy decision, which seemed was just one too many for him. Well i have been watching the sport for 27 years and now feel the same.

i used to stay up to all hours to watch fights or even follow just RBR threads but now the results arent even the first thing i check the day after a fight. The recent Pacman fight i forgot about and it wasnt until sunday afternoon that i turned on the radio that i caught the result where as 3 years ago i would of stayed up through the night.

I still take Boxing Monthly but now rarely finish reading it and i think the magazine is better than ever but the sport just doesnt capture my attention anymore.

the sport has been dying for sometime and Boxing is too arrogant to want to do anything about it. Yes we still have the odd big fight that captures the publics imagination but in general it gets little coverage as fights are not televised or are hidden away on strange tv channels. We have god knows how many mismatches these days and fights that are bad stoppages which just turns the viewers off

Yes bad decisions have always been part of the sport but when the sport is turning to more of a minority sport and the average fan feels why bother and your fair weather sports fan doesnt watch. Take the recent Pacman fight stuck away on a PPV channel in the middle of the night which ended in a joke result, why would anyone stay up for that or pay for that next time.

Add this to all the drug talk today and yesterday i have finally had it so will know longer be following the sport as before. Yes i will tune into the odd big fight but gone are the days of watching undercards on Youtube and downloading big fights to watch and score.

this weekend i met up with 4 friends from London who came to visit me in Spain and 10 years ago it was common practice for us to all meet up for a allnighter or a big Uk fight, but now not one of them now watched the sport or even followed it (none of them saw the Froch fight and 2 had never heard of him)

Boxing, you have lost me and i wont let the door hit me on the way out as i have already gone

I think its the right decision big man. Personally I have not liked boxing the same since Tyson left the scene, I had brief hopes that Mayorga could be a big star, but as the legends like jones jnr , toney, trinidad, ODLH have faded off the scene i no longer have boxing as anywhere near one of my favourite sports. guys like froch, pacman,all the lower weight mexicans do it for me, so i follow the sport somewhat but frankly the lac of HW and MW stars is just dire.

[exittored]

Quixall recently did a thread after the Bradley - Pacman fight about having enough with boxing after another dodgy decision, which seemed was just one too many for him. Well i have been watching the sport for 27 years and now feel the same.

i used to stay up to all hours to watch fights or even follow just RBR threads but now the results arent even the first thing i check the day after a fight. The recent Pacman fight i forgot about and it wasnt until sunday afternoon that i turned on the radio that i caught the result where as 3 years ago i would of stayed up through the night.

I still take Boxing Monthly but now rarely finish reading it and i think the magazine is better than ever but the sport just doesnt capture my attention anymore.

the sport has been dying for sometime and Boxing is too arrogant to want to do anything about it. Yes we still have the odd big fight that captures the publics imagination but in general it gets little coverage as fights are not televised or are hidden away on strange tv channels. We have god knows how many mismatches these days and fights that are bad stoppages which just turns the viewers off

Yes bad decisions have always been part of the sport but when the sport is turning to more of a minority sport and the average fan feels why bother and your fair weather sports fan doesnt watch. Take the recent Pacman fight stuck away on a PPV channel in the middle of the night which ended in a joke result, why would anyone stay up for that or pay for that next time.

Add this to all the drug talk today and yesterday i have finally had it so will know longer be following the sport as before. Yes i will tune into the odd big fight but gone are the days of watching undercards on Youtube and downloading big fights to watch and score.

this weekend i met up with 4 friends from London who came to visit me in Spain and 10 years ago it was common practice for us to all meet up for a allnighter or a big Uk fight, but now not one of them now watched the sport or even followed it (none of them saw the Froch fight and 2 had never heard of him)

Boxing, you have lost me and i wont let the door hit me on the way out as i have already gone

I think its the right decision big man. Personally I have not liked boxing the same since Tyson left the scene, I had brief hopes that Mayorga could be a big star, but as the legends like jones jnr , toney, trinidad, ODLH have faded off the scene i no longer have boxing as anywhere near one of my favourite sports. guys like froch, pacman,all the lower weight mexicans do it for me, so i follow the sport somewhat but frankly the lac of HW and MW stars is just dire.

Mayorga haha you're a funny person.

We have amazing middleweight fights coming up, Martinez-Chavez, Geale-Sturm and Pirog-Golovkin.

If you don't like boxing any more why don't you just fornicate off and stop posting on here FFS.

Tired of all the fornicating moaners on here.....Boxing has never had this so called 'GOLDEN YEARS', it's always been fucked up and is what it is.

[JDC]

Those that say boxing is dying will one day die themselves whilst boxing will carry on living and living.

[Jeff Thomas]

I must admit as a fan my interest is waning. It needs to change... I'd much rather watch UFC at the moment. Good fights, enjoyable events, all come to win... It's great.

[exittored]

I must admit as a fan my interest is waning. It needs to change... I'd much rather watch UFC at the moment. Good fights, enjoyable events, all come to win... It's great.

After all the love and help the boxing community has given you lately i find your comment disgusting.

[Quixall]

Quixall recently did a thread after the Bradley - Pacman fight about having enough with boxing after another dodgy decision, which seemed was just one too many for him. Well i have been watching the sport for 27 years and now feel the same.

i used to stay up to all hours to watch fights or even follow just RBR threads but now the results arent even the first thing i check the day after a fight. The recent Pacman fight i forgot about and it wasnt until sunday afternoon that i turned on the radio that i caught the result where as 3 years ago i would of stayed up through the night.

I still take Boxing Monthly but now rarely finish reading it and i think the magazine is better than ever but the sport just doesnt capture my attention anymore.

the sport has been dying for sometime and Boxing is too arrogant to want to do anything about it. Yes we still have the odd big fight that captures the publics imagination but in general it gets little coverage as fights are not televised or are hidden away on strange tv channels. We have god knows how many mismatches these days and fights that are bad stoppages which just turns the viewers off

Yes bad decisions have always been part of the sport but when the sport is turning to more of a minority sport and the average fan feels why bother and your fair weather sports fan doesnt watch. Take the recent Pacman fight stuck away on a PPV channel in the middle of the night which ended in a joke result, why would anyone stay up for that or pay for that next time.

Add this to all the drug talk today and yesterday i have finally had it so will know longer be following the sport as before. Yes i will tune into the odd big fight but gone are the days of watching undercards on Youtube and downloading big fights to watch and score.

this weekend i met up with 4 friends from London who came to visit me in Spain and 10 years ago it was common practice for us to all meet up for a allnighter or a big Uk fight, but now not one of them now watched the sport or even followed it (none of them saw the Froch fight and 2 had never heard of him)

Boxing, you have lost me and i wont let the door hit me on the way out as i have already gone

I think its the right decision big man. Personally I have not liked boxing the same since Tyson left the scene, I had brief hopes that Mayorga could be a big star, but as the legends like jones jnr , toney, trinidad, ODLH have faded off the scene i no longer have boxing as anywhere near one of my favourite sports. guys like froch, pacman,all the lower weight mexicans do it for me, so i follow the sport somewhat but frankly the lac of HW and MW stars is just dire.

Mayorga haha you're a funny person.

We have amazing middleweight fights coming up, Martinez-Chavez, Geale-Sturm and Pirog-Golovkin.

If you don't like boxing any more why don't you just eff off and stop posting on here FFS.

Tired of all the effing moaners on here.....Boxing has never had this so called 'GOLDEN YEARS', it's always been fucked up and is what it is.

C Minus.........Could do better.

[Quixall]

I must admit as a fan my interest is waning. It needs to change... I'd much rather watch UFC at the moment. Good fights, enjoyable events, all come to win... It's great.

After all the love and help the boxing community has given you lately i find your comment disgusting.

I'm sure that Jeff would tell you to do the same as you just have to Mugabi

[gasman]

Not sure any real boxing fan , like many of us on here , which includes you mark , can ever really stop watching the sport .

You might say it but dont be surprised if you find that difficult mate .

YES, i will follow from a distance but i am not wasting my time anymore like a used to. Last saturday the Towers fight summed up how i felt as Dave Darts hyped the $hit out of what was in store, then i got a fight which was like watching 2 drunks at a wedding with ref giving the hometown fighter a lot of slack in a country where refs are all to eager to jump in.*

* no disrespect meant to fighters involved

I relate a lot to your opening post and also what you say about the Towers fight. The Towers fight was biggest load of rubbish I have seen in ages.The referee was beyond a joke, he repeatedly pushed Gregory off Towers for no reason whatsoever when he should have been stopping the fight. I was furious watching that. I have spoke to a few people (casuals) who have said they are getting sick of all of the bullshit with boxing, it is turning them off.

The Pac-Marq and Pac-Bradley decisions, premature stoppages, ridiculous scorecards, robberies, allegations of non-payment from numerous boxers, PEDs - it is all horrible. I am so glad I do not have to earn a living from boxing, I feel sorry for the boxers and the genuine small hall promoters, trainers etc. But, the thing is, I will always watch boxing, but I am getting more and more cynical and disgusted with elements it, especially officials, certain promoters and touchy, mouthpiece propaganda pundits.

[ShadrachSimmo]

People get disillusioned with all sports even curling (maybe) but you'll always go back to it cos let's face it most other sports are total pish.

[Jeff Thomas]

I must admit as a fan my interest is waning. It needs to change... I'd much rather watch UFC at the moment. Good fights, enjoyable events, all come to win... It's great.

After all the love and help the boxing community has given you lately i find your comment disgusting.

I'm sorry... Bradleygate, munroegate and now olumbawogate has done my head in- that said I'm still sat here watching prizefighter. Being serious (don't think you were) boxing is in my heart forever ... It will always be something I wish I was better at, and I'll always watch it... But someone needs to take control of it- it's a mess.

[Eddy]

I agree with you Mark 100%. Sick to death with the politics and mis- matchs, bad decisions ect ect. Where in any other sport would you get the best not playing against the best. In boxing when the best do eventualy "get it on" it's usually years past its sell by date (Tyson v Lewis). Manny Pac v Money has lost its appeal now. In a years time no one will care. Even a domestic fight between Mitchell v Burns hasn't happened. They'll just feed 'em bums or burnt out greats thinking we're stupid. I won't ever spend my money on PPV again. And this is from an ex am-boxer and fan who's been following the sport for 22 years.