arlovski wrote:dbf wrote:Eddie Hearn can deliver as many world title shots 'for life changing money' as he likes but the fact is very few of his guys will win and defend a title. Can't believe Smith is that high in the WBO and his best years are well behind him. It feels like he's been around forever. Should still be a middleweight if you ask me just looks small at 168lbs.
Crolla's another one. Beating a battle worn, inactive John Murray and before that a past it Steve Foster (ok a replacement) and Rees, its hardly worthy of a title. Eddies recycling guys now.
"We've got Cambell, Callum Smith, Yafai, Warrington and John Ryder on the undercard....." yada yada yada.
The monopoly is not good. Sky are doing the fans a disservice and its a laughing stock really. I can't bare to tune into ringside any more and outside of Froch v Groves 2, what decent cards has he got to look forward too? Bellew v Cleverly 2? Come on, both were found out at world level - its kinda like a watered down and less exciting Chisora v Fury.
Boxing is in dire straits at the moment, a no amount of fluff can hide it.
Eddie should be looking at quality and not quantity. One thing this last 18 months on sky has re-affirmed for me is that sadly the general public are mugs. Go on twitter and you've got guys tweeting eddie like they are mates yet they barely know anything about the guys who are fighting on the card they are buying tickets for.
good post
I am not sure boxing is in dire straights. It has a good fan base and also catches the casual fans imagination. People have been saying this for years. I remember the Duff/lawless cartel and some of their matches where also pretty dire and people complaining then. There is also a good spread of regional and small hall shows still going on and the number of pros in the country seems to stay fairly consistent. Also a really good crop of young pros coming through.
Remember Bruno knocking over that guy in Spain and the headlines full of boxing cant take these matches, the game will die with matches like this etc etc roll forward 25 years Joshua v Leg and no problems selling it to Joe Public.
You can knock the WBO/IBF etc but the reality is the average guy in the street knows nothing and will happily fork out for a ringside seat at a "world" title fight. look at Hatton-selling ut venues for a WBU title not so long ago. I bet people who went to those fights had a really good time. We have a lot of white collar shows round here-standard is dire-but always packed and people often think they are seeing genuine british or world title fights and have a great night
Boxing isnt in dire straights it is thriving-it might not be in the way the real die hard fan wants it to be-but it is changing and adapting and doing ok.