Boxing in 2016, Are You Satisfied?

[caldo2025]

With the cancellation of the rescheduled fight between Fury and Wlad, that leaves just the Ward vs. Kovalev megafight as the last big fight of 2016 barring any unexpected announcements for year end. Assuming that Ward/Kovalev turns out to be as good as expected, what are your thoughts on the year in Boxing? As a fan of the sport, are you satisfied with the product that we've been purchased with our money and time? Of course, we'd all love to see the best fighting the best but there's no point in arguing that again. Boxing will never be the sport we all wish it would be.

With that in mind, please let me know what you think of the year in Boxing.

[Freedom2013]

The ducking and avoiding has been especially bad the past few years, including this year.

[Enlightened-One]

Boxing in 2016, Are You Satisfied?

Simply put: NO! but if you want a detailed explanation of my thoughts, then continue reading...

HBO's boxing division started the year with a drastically-reduced budget, which had a detrimental effect on the quality of the shows they televised.

It seems that the PBC's previously infinite pot of money has run dry. So they can't afford to stage marquee bouts... at least for the time being.

You also had the Top Rank/GBP lawsuits against Haymon that prevented the possibility of many fights taking place.

The sport is also suffering from a bit of a Mayweather-Pacquiao hangover, because people have become outraged by Oscar De La Hoya's efforts at doing his job, as a promoter, to build-up the GGG-Canelo potential mega-event... and also fight fans are getting annoyed by fighters protecting their own interests, by declining fights that aren't in line with their personal objectives (i.e. Wilder-Povetkin-Kovalev-Stevenson-Fury-Haye-Ward-Golovkin etc.).

Boxers now seem to be inspired by Mayweather's money-oriented approach to the sport... and promoters are looking at last year's Pacquiao-Money May situation as the blueprint to promote a commercially successful $100m+ super-fight.

It seems to me that the business side of boxing has ruined the sporting side, which is the only aspect the fans are interested in.

[Tanzio]

No, but there have been quite a number of really excellent fights, including Crolla v Linares a couple of days ago.

[Tanzio]

Boxing in 2016, Are You Satisfied?

Simply put: NO! but if you want a detailed explanation of my thoughts, then continue reading...

HBO's boxing division started the year with a drastically-reduced budget, which had a detrimental effect on the quality of the shows they televised.

It seems that the PBC's previously infinite pot of money has run dry. So they can't afford to stage marquee bouts... at least for the time being.

You also had the Top Rank/GBP lawsuits against Haymon that prevented the possibility of many fights taking place.

The sport is also suffering from a bit of a Mayweather-Pacquiao hangover, because people have become outraged by Oscar De La Hoya's efforts at doing his job, as a promoter, to build-up the GGG-Canelo potential mega-event... and also fight fans are getting annoyed by fighters protecting their own interests, by declining fights that aren't in line with their personal objectives (i.e. Wilder-Povetkin-Kovalev-Stevenson-Fury-Haye-Ward-Golovkin etc.).

Boxers now seem to be inspired by Mayweather's money-oriented approach to the sport... and promoters are looking at last year's Pacquiao-Money May situation as the blueprint to promote a commercially successful $100m+ super-fight.

It seems to me that the business side of boxing has ruined the sporting side, which is the only aspect the fans are interested in.

Good post.

[Lackeos]

I'm pretty thankful for Linares - Crolla, Barthelemy - Bey, Crawford - Postol, Gonzalez - Cuadras, Frampton - LSC, Frampton - Quigg, Usyk - Glowacki, Charlo - Trout, Sosa - Fortuna, Lara - Martirosyan, Pulev - Chisora, Parker - Takam, Thurman - Porter. I guess that's a pretty solid year. Not a bunch of super fights involving the hype trains -- Mayweather, Pacquiao, Fury, Klitschko, Wilder, Alvarez, Golovkin, Kovalev, Ward, Stevenson, Rigondeaux, Lomanchenko, etc.. But the year offered plenty of real boxing matches for real boxing fans, clarifying the top ranks of many divisions.

[Tanzio]

I'm pretty thankful for Linares - Crolla, Barthelemy - Bey, Crawford - Postol, Gonzalez - Cuadras, Frampton - LSC, Frampton - Quigg, Usyk - Glowacki, Charlo - Trout, Sosa - Fortuna, Lara - Martirosyan, Pulev - Chisora, Parker - Takam, Thurman - Porter. I guess that's a pretty solid year. Not a bunch of super fights involving the hype trains -- Mayweather, Pacquiao, Fury, Klitschko, Wilder, Alvarez, Golovkin, Kovalev, Ward, Stevenson, Rigondeaux, Lomanchenko, etc.. But the year offered plenty of real boxing matches for real boxing fans, clarifying the top ranks of many divisions.

X2

[asdfjkl]

I'd have to say, a footballfan get's better pleased. Also, with so many champions and so many weightclasses, yes, I'm pretty disappointed. No matter how good you are, it will take you at least 2 years before you reach the top. Look at Luis Ortiz, he's at least top 6, possibly rank 1 even at some point, but will most likely never get the chance to proof it.

[gilgamesh]

Worst year of Boxing I've ever seen

[davie]

I'm pretty thankful for Linares - Crolla, Barthelemy - Bey, Crawford - Postol, Gonzalez - Cuadras, Frampton - LSC, Frampton - Quigg, Usyk - Glowacki, Charlo - Trout, Sosa - Fortuna, Lara - Martirosyan, Pulev - Chisora, Parker - Takam, Thurman - Porter. I guess that's a pretty solid year. Not a bunch of super fights involving the hype trains -- Mayweather, Pacquiao, Fury, Klitschko, Wilder, Alvarez, Golovkin, Kovalev, Ward, Stevenson, Rigondeaux, Lomanchenko, etc.. But the year offered plenty of real boxing matches for real boxing fans, clarifying the top ranks of many divisions.

Presumably you mean the last 5 rounds of Frampton vs Quigg

Other than that, good list. Not been a horrible year really.

[tigermoth87]

There's been some good fights but it's been tainted by supposed world class boxers cherry picking weak opponents and a hell of a lot of ducking. Like the entire Middleweight division avoiding GGG.

[Tony1244]

It's impossible to be satisfied especially if you're a HW fan.

Tyson & Hughie Fury, Wilder, Povetkin, and Browne, Ruiz, and Haye all have mental, physical, health and/or drug testing problems.

The risk factor such as Napoles moving up to take on Monzon or SRL moving up to take on Hagler is no more.

We've become so jaded that no one believes GGG vs Mayweather could ever happen, and we're correct. As I pointed out above, it used to happen. Sad.

[asdfjkl]

As a heavyweight fan, I'm pretty disappointed, I expected all kind of great and massive fights, but atm I would be happy if any top 20 boxer dares to fight Ortiz, if Tyson Fury and Klitschko would actually fight this year at all and Wilder fights anyone in the top 40 this year.

Appearantly Povetkin vs Stiverne is the best fight we can expect, and then wait all the way till may 2017 again.

[crusader]

If Loma-Walters, Kov-Ward, and GGG-Jacobs go ahead it will at least be a strong finish to the year. That's arguably three fights between the best two guys in their divisions.

[Tanzio]

If Loma-Walters, Kov-Ward, and GGG-Jacobs go ahead it will at least be a strong finish to the year. That's arguably three fights between the best two guys in their divisions.

Throw in Parker v Joshua, Ortiz v WKlit, and if Hitman Jr., Sometimes, Usyk, Postol, get busy the year could end up decent.