Will boxing be permanently affected by the coronavirus pandemic?

[Enlightened-One]

I was wondering about the short and long-term ramifications the coronavirus pandemic will have on the sport of boxing.

There’s going to be a world-wide recession.

And I expect some of the sporting content providers either going out-of-business or abandoning boxing due to having to prioritise their limited revenue on more popular sports.

I was thinking this could apply to the likes of Showtime and DAZN, which will have a knock-on effect for the PBC, GBP & Matchroom. And perhaps ESPN may be forced to follow suit, which will of course affect Top Rank.

Some fighters will be forced to take pay cuts, compelling journeymen or novice prospects to permanently leave the sport and get nine-to-five regular day jobs.

There’ll be a decline in subscription, gate receipt and PPV revenue, perhaps resulting in fewer events being staged.

We could see overpaid marquee names being released from their exclusive contracts and becoming free agents.

I feel that the loss-making DAZN could be one of the first commercial casualties of the current COVID-19 pandemic, since they’re in a particularly vulnerable situation.

Before the pandemic, they were seeking to raise $500m in borrowing to fund its expansion. And they were also (allegedly) planning to raise additional funds (as much as $3bn) through flotation. I really doubt that DAZN will now be capable of raising the same sums at this point in time.

I don’t want to sound all doom-and-gloom, but it does seem very likely that the sport of boxing is going to suffer greatly for at least the next few years.

Thoughts?

[fanman]

You could be right, interesting points.

On the other hand, when it comes back there could be pent up demand, resulting in more successful shows.

[margaret thatcher]

Whatever the impact, it will be felt a while after the pandemic stops

Maybe the Saudis will come to the rescue

[Thomastearns]

Difficult to say. This is far far bigger than boxing.

This feels like a war situation and as we know sometimes there can be a boom period in the rebuild aftermath as optimism returns.

Right now it's not even clear when this will end or what will happen regarding China's accountability afterwards.

Who'd have thought possibly one undercooked bat could have cost trillions and trillions of dollars?

[Enlightened-One]

Difficult to say. This is far far bigger than boxing.

I agree.

This feels like a war situation and as we know sometimes there can be a boom period in the rebuild aftermath as optimism returns.

I agree, but it will take a very long time before we’ll see a booming global market economy – possibly decades (based on what occurred during the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis).

Many governments are spending hundreds of billions (each), with the US spending $2 trillion, to address the current situation, accruing massive debt that has to be repaid, with many established businesses falling by the wayside, resulting in mass unemployment.

The global economy will eventually recover from the today’s recession and businesses will have to increase output at some point to satisfy increased market demand, but it may take a couple of decades before reaching pre COVID-19 levels.

Right now it's not even clear when this will end or what will happen regarding China's accountability afterwards.

Even if it could be proven that China was responsible in some way, such as non-disclosure, for the coronavirus pandemic, who’s going to force them to compensate governments and victims of those that were somehow adversely affected?

The current financial crisis could cost the global market economy ten to fifteen trillion dollars, as well as tens of thousands of lives have been lost, coupled with the fact that China has recently become more aggressive militarily.

Who'd have thought possibly one undercooked bat could have cost trillions and trillions of dollars?

I know, it’s shocking right?

[gilgamesh]

One of the most fascinating times in the sports history took place during The Great Depression. I think the sport of Boxing will be ok.

[Ruthless-RKO]

One of the most fascinating times in the sports history took place during The Great Depression. I think the sport of Boxing will be ok.

Didn’t Archie Moore fight Max Schmeling during the World War?

[Stuarty]

One of the most fascinating times in the sports history took place during The Great Depression. I think the sport of Boxing will be ok.

Didn’t Archie Moore fight Max Schmeling during the World War?

Wasn't that Joe Louis?

[Thomastearns]

One of the most fascinating times in the sports history took place during The Great Depression. I think the sport of Boxing will be ok.

Yes, boxing and economic hardship are almost made for each other.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Didn’t Archie Moore fight Max Schmeling during the World War?

Wasn't that Joe Louis?

Sorry yeh. Joe Louis. It was. USA vs. Germany.

[keirw]

Whatever the impact, it will be felt a while after the pandemic stops

Maybe the Saudis will come to the rescue

Oil prices have gone through the floor, Saudis are getting very worried.
They have been lobbying Russia to lower their output to try to raise prices.

Russia seem open to the idea, but Putin isn't a man to do someone a favour lightly. He will be exerting even more influence over the region over the coming years.

What long term effect that will have is impossible to say at the moment.