IS BOXING FINISHED

[ILikeBeer]

No.

We have allegedly, Sky Sports, (and on occasion Spike, ITV & CH5) showing boxing, the coverage might not be as extensive as some would like on free-to-air channels to attract the casual fans but the fights are at least being shown if you're prepared to pay to watch them.

Boxing is a niche sport however, the example used for Boxing coverage in the 1950's was a different era when there were wasn't so many channels showing such a wide variety of sports compared with nowadays. The fact that boxing gets as much coverage as it does is impressive really.

MMA might have grown & for a time hurt boxing, although most recent PPV buyrate for the UFC shows that those numbers aren't as strong as they once were.

The fact remains that casuals have interest in the sport, every time there's a BIG boxing fight it absolutely crushes whatever the UFC is doing. Plus the competition forced boxing to improve, now we are getting more meaningful fights, not saying there's no room for further improvement but a lot of fights that people want to see are getting made.

We've got some big fights coming up involving domestic fighters that are going to attract media attention, plus we have a good crop of younger fighters on the fringe or thereabouts of world level, its exciting times to be a boxing fan.

I actually think despite criticising some of their presentation, Spike TV are beginning to look committed to boxing. Whenever there is Hennessy boxing on Channel 5, the coverage gets extended onto Spike so we can see more of the under card. On Saturday they are showing boxing from America for the second time. And Hobson bills seem to be getting the Spike treatment also.

It's not perfect. For example quite often a fight gets shown in it's entirety on Spike, then gets shown again on Channel 5 two hours later. (Usually involving Hughie Fury.) They need to work a way around that, I'd rather see two fights than the same one twice. Also, the punditry for the Ross Burkinshaw fight was so bad that I'd be embarrassed to show it to a first time viewer in case they never watched boxing again.

But they do seem to be showing as much freeview boxing as possible, which can only be a good thing. Hopefully they'll begin to iron out some of the kinks.

[Ezzard]

All I’ve ever heard is how boxing is in decline. This was in the so-called silver-era of the early 1980s.

The man on the street loves boxing.

I think all sports come a distant second to football these days. But boxing could get the number 2 spot back (it won’t). McGuigan and Bruno were loved and adored not just by fans and casuals but by moms and nans too. As successful as Ricky Hatton was and as adored as he was, most people don’t know who he is. That wasn’t the same for Bruno or McGuigan or Benn or Eubank.

Amir Khan is much more well-known because of the Olympics. And his racial identity made him more interesting to the population.

SKY simply cannot make a fighter as popular as BBC and ITV could.

I honestly believe that the potential fan base for boxing in this country is still huge.

[Boxerbeetle]

Matchroom just helped out a boxing club in Liverpool with new premises didn't they?

They are supposedly setting up some foundation, but to be honest it seemed more like Hearn was trying to keep Anthony Fowler happy, he'll be after signing him once the Olympics are done and spending a few quid on his amateur club won't do any harm to his chances of getting him.

I don't doubt there was some self interest by Matchroom but if they are investing in the future of the sport then I'm happy with that. It's also providing a positive social outlet for a the kids who won't do anything in the sport long term but love to be in the gym and out of mischief.

Yeah, really that's the sort of thing that all big promotional outfits should be doing - almost the equivalent of a Premier League club setting up a youth academy.

[mickey1975]

Now we've got Killer Kes Ashfaq through to the European semis, Yorkshire takeover...

[Bodyshot3]

All I’ve ever heard is how boxing is in decline. This was in the so-called silver-era of the early 1980s.

The man on the street loves boxing.

I think all sports come a distant second to football these days. But boxing could get the number 2 spot back (it won’t). McGuigan and Bruno were loved and adored not just by fans and casuals but by moms and nans too. As successful as Ricky Hatton was and as adored as he was, most people don’t know who he is. That wasn’t the same for Bruno or McGuigan or Benn or Eubank.

Amir Khan is much more well-known because of the Olympics. And his racial identity made him more interesting to the population.

SKY simply cannot make a fighter as popular as BBC and ITV could.

I honestly believe that the potential fan base for boxing in this country is still huge.

All very true Ezzard...ITV and the BBC used to be prepared to put boxing front and centre stage and got massive audiences. Eubank and Benn just signing up for their fight and being interviewed was a colossal deal given airtime and getting people talking. It was an event.

[reggaereggae]

Boxing has several advantages (at this stage) over its nearest rival for attention; MMA.

- history. It has a long legacy and importance in sports and culture
- Olympics - it's an Olympic sport which raises its profile
- mainstream press. Although the Sun and Star both have a regular MMA column, the sport is largely ignored in mainstream media. MMA is not covered extensively as a bona fide sport
- everyone understands it. Everyone knows what a simple fistfight looks like. Someone who had never watched boxing can understand the flow of a fight to a reasonable degree
- an exciting, good boxing fight is the most exciting sporting event there is

Er..... That's it. Having said that the main problem with boxing is the best match ups are rarely made; though this is changeable

[brilo33]

All I’ve ever heard is how boxing is in decline. This was in the so-called silver-era of the early 1980s.

The man on the street loves boxing.

I think all sports come a distant second to football these days. But boxing could get the number 2 spot back (it won’t). McGuigan and Bruno were loved and adored not just by fans and casuals but by moms and nans too. As successful as Ricky Hatton was and as adored as he was, most people don’t know who he is. That wasn’t the same for Bruno or McGuigan or Benn or Eubank.

Amir Khan is much more well-known because of the Olympics. And his racial identity made him more interesting to the population.

SKY simply cannot make a fighter as popular as BBC and ITV could.

I honestly believe that the potential fan base for boxing in this country is still huge.

i agree ezzard. i personally don't like all this Olympic golden boy stuff shovelled down are necks. luke Campbell,fought a boxer who came back from cancer ,scott moises and scott got booed. i mean come on. i like luke seems like a good lad and a great exciting boxer, same with aj. just don't like the way they put it on us. dont agree about hatton though his fan base is something that wont be matched.best boxing fans bar none in my opinion

[jonnyyorkshu]

On spike tv it is

[mickey1975]

Most people don't know who Ricky is?

[crusader]

Do most Brits really not know who Ricky Hatton is? I was under the impression that he was a mainstream star over there.....

edit: Mickey beat me to it

[banjo]

Most people don't know who Ricky is?

Most people? No. In fact I did a little test a few weeks ago over a few days asking about 20 random friends and family members to name a British boxer off the top of their heads and not one of them said Hatton, most of them said Bruno the others said Khan, Haye, Lewis and Hamed. No Hatton, no Calzaghe, no Froch, no Benn or Eubank or Conteh.

Quite sad that 3 of the ones mentioned haven't fought for over a decade and one of them is practically retired and more famous for reality TV.

[magwitch]

All I’ve ever heard is how boxing is in decline. This was in the so-called silver-era of the early 1980s.

The man on the street loves boxing.

I think all sports come a distant second to football these days. But boxing could get the number 2 spot back (it won’t). McGuigan and Bruno were loved and adored not just by fans and casuals but by moms and nans too. As successful as Ricky Hatton was and as adored as he was, most people don’t know who he is. That wasn’t the same for Bruno or McGuigan or Benn or Eubank.

Amir Khan is much more well-known because of the Olympics. And his racial identity made him more interesting to the population.

SKY simply cannot make a fighter as popular as BBC and ITV could.

I honestly believe that the potential fan base for boxing in this country is still huge.

There a lot of Big Brother House-type man-ginas out there these days. But in general, I agree, boxing is still popular with a lot of men.

[magwitch]

Most people don't know who Ricky is?

Most people? No. In fact I did a little test a few weeks ago over a few days asking about 20 random friends and family members to name a British boxer off the top of their heads and not one of them said Hatton, most of them said Bruno the others said Khan, Haye, Lewis and Hamed. No Hatton, no Calzaghe, no Froch, no Benn or Eubank or Conteh.

Quite sad that 3 of the ones mentioned haven't fought for over a decade and one of them is practically retired and more famous for reality TV.

Wouldn't exactly say 20 constitutes a massive survey. When L'oreal do those 95% of women say this shampoo gives them a stronger orgasm, even they're normally referring to 95% of 53 women.

Two factors - both of which have been alluded to already by Ezzard above: Sky may be able to build a fighter but they cannot showcase one like ITV or the BBC could (still can if they want to), and two - footie sucks in a lot of money for sports coverage. Not a level playing field really.......a footballer player can play every week - a boxer can't box every week. Around a football pitch you can get thousands, easily. Around a boxing ring, it's harder to do so. Football traditions are more ingrained, more constant. Football clubs stay the same, boxers come and go. Football can be very aesthetically pleasing - it's a talking point, people will even watch it when it's rubbish. So basically, it will always have an "X-factor" that it can generate far more regularly than boxing. I have no particular problem with the televised side of it. It's just the way it is.

[banjo]

Most people don't know who Ricky is?

Most people? No. In fact I did a little test a few weeks ago over a few days asking about 20 random friends and family members to name a British boxer off the top of their heads and not one of them said Hatton, most of them said Bruno the others said Khan, Haye, Lewis and Hamed. No Hatton, no Calzaghe, no Froch, no Benn or Eubank or Conteh.

Quite sad that 3 of the ones mentioned haven't fought for over a decade and one of them is practically retired and more famous for reality TV.

Wouldn't exactly say 20 constitutes a massive survey. When L'oreal do those 95% of women say this shampoo gives them a stronger orgasm, even they're normally referring to 95% of 53 women.

Two factors - both of which have been alluded to already by Ezzard above: Sky may be able to build a fighter but they cannot showcase one like ITV or the BBC could (still can if they want to), and two - footie sucks in a lot of money for sports coverage. Not a level playing field really.......a footballer player can play every week - a boxer can't box every week. Around a football pitch you can get thousands, easily. Around a boxing ring, it's harder to do so. Football traditions are more ingrained, more constant. Football clubs stay the same, boxers come and go. Football can be very aesthetically pleasing - it's a talking point, people will even watch it when it's rubbish. So basically, it will always have an "X-factor" that it can generate far more regularly than boxing. I have no particular problem with the televised side of it. It's just the way it is.

No but they could box a hell of a lot more than they do, barring injuries it isn't unreasonable to say they can't box once a month. People say footballers and other sportsmen are overpaid for what they do and you can say the same about boxing, Floyd Mayweather made more for the Pacquiao fight than Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi will make in the entire year combined.

[magwitch]

Wouldn't exactly say 20 constitutes a massive survey. When L'oreal do those 95% of women say this shampoo gives them a stronger orgasm, even they're normally referring to 95% of 53 women.

Two factors - both of which have been alluded to already by Ezzard above: Sky may be able to build a fighter but they cannot showcase one like ITV or the BBC could (still can if they want to), and two - footie sucks in a lot of money for sports coverage. Not a level playing field really.......a footballer player can play every week - a boxer can't box every week. Around a football pitch you can get thousands, easily. Around a boxing ring, it's harder to do so. Football traditions are more ingrained, more constant. Football clubs stay the same, boxers come and go. Football can be very aesthetically pleasing - it's a talking point, people will even watch it when it's rubbish. So basically, it will always have an "X-factor" that it can generate far more regularly than boxing. I have no particular problem with the televised side of it. It's just the way it is.

No but they could box a hell of a lot more than they do, barring injuries it isn't unreasonable to say they can't box once a month. People say footballers and other sportsmen are overpaid for what they do and you can say the same about boxing, Floyd Mayweather made more for the Pacquiao fight than Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi will make in the entire year combined.

Disagree strongly with this point mate. Footballers are at it as a group. They can try hard one week, or shirk it if they want. "I've played sh*t and not brought anything to the table but not to worry, JT's gone and nodded one in so it's ok".........The boxer is on his own, essentially. There's also the build up to the fight, then the come down from the fight. Your theory also pretty much doesn't take account for wars of attrition or heavy defeats either. Then there's the period of success/ or the come down - which are more intense in boxing, because a footballer might play 5, 6, 7 hundred games in a career. But a boxer might have 40 or 50 fights. Or double it if you want them to box more often, treble it - but still each of his fights would be more poignant and have a greater effect on his career than for the footballer. And don't forget - every August the footballer gets his slate wiped clean for him, unlike for the fighter.

[mickey1975]

Ricky absolutely sh it's on Haye as a name. Bruno was a celeb, but only half filled Wembley. Hatton would have sold it out in a day.

[Ezzard]

All I’ve ever heard is how boxing is in decline. This was in the so-called silver-era of the early 1980s.

The man on the street loves boxing.

I think all sports come a distant second to football these days. But boxing could get the number 2 spot back (it won’t). McGuigan and Bruno were loved and adored not just by fans and casuals but by moms and nans too. As successful as Ricky Hatton was and as adored as he was, most people don’t know who he is. That wasn’t the same for Bruno or McGuigan or Benn or Eubank.

Amir Khan is much more well-known because of the Olympics. And his racial identity made him more interesting to the population.

SKY simply cannot make a fighter as popular as BBC and ITV could.

I honestly believe that the potential fan base for boxing in this country is still huge.

i agree ezzard. i personally don't like all this Olympic golden boy stuff shovelled down are necks. luke Campbell,fought a boxer who came back from cancer ,scott moises and scott got booed. i mean come on. i like luke seems like a good lad and a great exciting boxer, same with aj. just don't like the way they put it on us. dont agree about hatton though his fan base is something that wont be matched.best boxing fans bar none in my opinion

Hatton's fan base was deep. He was hugely popular. But I don't think he was as well known as Bruno/McGuigan etc...

[banjo]

Disagree strongly with this point mate. Footballers are at it as a group. They can try hard one week, or shirk it if they want. "I've played sh*t and not brought anything to the table but not to worry, JT's gone and nodded one in so it's ok".........The boxer is on his own, essentially. There's also the build up to the fight, then the come down from the fight. Your theory also pretty much doesn't take account for wars of attrition or heavy defeats either. Then there's the period of success/ or the come down - which are more intense in boxing, because a footballer might play 5, 6, 7 hundred games in a career. But a boxer might have 40 or 50 fights. Or double it if you want them to box more often, treble it - but still each of his fights would be more poignant and have a greater effect on his career than for the footballer. And don't forget - every August the footballer gets his slate wiped clean for him, unlike for the fighter.

They used to fight more regularly, I just think it's a bit of a joke the money that can be made from any sport, obviously not every boxer makes a mint even if they become a world champion. I believe Terry Downes got £1,500 when he won the world middleweight title in 1961, £1,500! Okay that's probably 20 grand in todays terms and I don't think a house cost 3 grand back then but it kind of puts it into perspective the ridiculousness of todays purses.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Top fighters fight so rarely now, because they can afford to - they get paid much better than the old timers did, because they negotiate better deals for themselves. You think Robinson fought so many times because he loved fighting so much - he had no choice, it's the only way he could make the kind of money he wanted.

PPV TV has revolutionised the sport and how much the athletes earn.

[reggaereggae]

Top fighters fight so rarely now, because they can afford to - they get paid much better than the old timers did, because they negotiate better deals for themselves. You think Robinson fought so many times because he loved fighting so much - he had no choice, it's the only way he could make the kind of money he wanted.

PPV TV has revolutionised the sport and how much the athletes earn.

PPV Revolutionised boxing but probably ruined it too

[jamesmcdonnell]

Top fighters fight so rarely now, because they can afford to - they get paid much better than the old timers did, because they negotiate better deals for themselves. You think Robinson fought so many times because he loved fighting so much - he had no choice, it's the only way he could make the kind of money he wanted.

PPV TV has revolutionised the sport and how much the athletes earn.

PPV Revolutionised boxing but probably ruined it too

I certainly don't disagree - a revolution, but not a good one.

It's benefitted the top fighters and promoters in their ability to extract cash from the system, but definitely at the overall popularity of the sport.

I get lots of UFC for free via Virgin, who get the BT sport channel as part of a deal - generally they are well matched and competitive. There is the odd PPV (one coming up shortly featuring mighty mouse), but they are exceptions.

Nowadays any fight that they think they can get away with charging for, they will in boxing, guessing there's enough mugs to hand over their 20 quid to pay all concerned what they want.

[expe]

Top fighters fight so rarely now, because they can afford to - they get paid much better than the old timers did, because they negotiate better deals for themselves. You think Robinson fought so many times because he loved fighting so much - he had no choice, it's the only way he could make the kind of money he wanted.

PPV TV has revolutionised the sport and how much the athletes earn.

The other issue with fighting once a month is that after recovering from the last fight, it leaves a very short amount of time to prepare for the next. If the opponent's coming off a tough 10 week training camp, got himself into great shape and spent weeks sparring with fighters that match the style of their opponent, 3 weeks training isn't going to come close to that, leaving the fighter with a huge disadvantage in the ring.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Top fighters fight so rarely now, because they can afford to - they get paid much better than the old timers did, because they negotiate better deals for themselves. You think Robinson fought so many times because he loved fighting so much - he had no choice, it's the only way he could make the kind of money he wanted.

PPV TV has revolutionised the sport and how much the athletes earn.

The other issue with fighting once a month is that after recovering from the last fight, it leaves a very short amount of time to prepare for the next. If the opponent's coming off a tough 10 week training camp, got himself into great shape and spent weeks sparring with fighters that match the style of their opponent, 3 weeks training isn't going to come close to that, leaving the fighter with a huge disadvantage in the ring.

I think that issue is a minor factor compared with the money. Also, a fighter who fights that often, is going to be in fighting shape. There's really little or no possibility of getting out of shape when you're fighting twice or more a month.

I don't believe that a fighter needs that long to recover barring injury. Fighters of the past were so much tougher physically, I think modern fighters by comparison are wusses. It's not revisionism, you only have to look at the stats of old timers to see they were harder men. You still see a lot of Mexican fighters whose early careers are crammed with fights.

[handsofstone]

Mares-Santa Cruz
McDonnell-Kameda rematch
Mayweather-Berto ;;-)
Jack-Groves
Martinez-Salido rematch
Joshua-Cornish
Ryan-Hibbert 3rd fight
Yamanaka-Moreno
Chudiniov-Buglioni
Matthysse-Postol
Lee-Saunders
Flanagan-Magdaleno
Smith-Thompson
Cleverly-Fonfara
Golovkin-Lemieux
Gonzalez-Viloria
Eggington-Gavin
Klitschko-Fury
Lebedev-Kayode
Smith-Fielding
Cotto-Alvarez

Plus loads of more gems in amongst,too many to mention but between this Saturday and November thats a damn fine list of fights

[littlepug]

The uk scene is good as always, USA likewise, eastern Europe churning out quality, Japan and Thailand have a steady flow of little little guys, Canada putting on big shows, Mexico always in the mix and south America consistently produces top guys, things have gone a little quiet in Africa, and oz is going through a lean period but all in all things are looking good