stujones wrote:Too be honest, I think we should be quite greatful for 4 regular articles/pages in weekly's. Not many other sports get that. Especially with the lacklusture bills........ and its not all the boxing/promoters fault. Sky feels "lacklusture" when it comes to their presentation, the leisure centres are not filling. As I repeatedly say, Hatton's promotions have brought some very exciting bills - but Sky's hyping of them has been crap, and its not just Hatton promotions - Cook vs Daws was intriguing as has Rendall Munroe's story.
Things are not that much different to the glory days...... not domestically anyway. Well I know older generation would mention the glory days as the 60's.... but we also talk about the Early 90's as a glory days. How much space would British nationals to say.... Gary Mason, owner of the Lonsdale belt in that period - not much, and all of it was relating to "star" names - like Tyson and Bruno. How much was given to Gary Jacobs at that time, I would argue even less than has been given to his 2010 counterpart - Kell Brook.
Its individual fighters that editors think the British public is interested. Hatton vs Khan would make front and back pages - Haye vs Harrison would be the same. Just like in the glory days - Ian Botham would attract more media attention than 99% of our boxers during this period, but - stories about Bruno and Tyson would be picked over Botham..... why, cause they were stars - why don't we have the stars now....... cause we don't have it on terrestial TV, and I aint talking just about British stars. Who was the most talked about Boxer of that generation in the UK..... Mike Tyson. Why? Cause he was exciting but he was also shown on ITV and hyped on the channel. I mean, Leonard vs Hagler (a delayed) showing was the front cover of the TV times... that means it was the most talked about TV programme in the UK for the week. Could Pacquiao vs Mayweather reach the same hype? probably a bit too late cause Terrestial TV has missed their previous fights, but I think the potential was there.
So I actually think in relation to the TV coverage... Boxing is doing well in the press.
Good points Stu and a good post. Boxing works on many levels but it could be put into two categories for me.
At the top are the elite fighters and fights. Look at the coverage Haye/ Valuev got in the UK and Globally. The fight and build up dominated front and back pages alike.
Then there is everything else as far as the media is concerned.
Problem is boxing fans know and understand that fighters such as Froch are better than 'everything else' and should be treated as such with more media coverage and recognition than most others.
At the end of the day boxing is more business than sport in my opinion, but that is another debate/ discussion.
Nice report Ian btw, good little venue the City hall ballroom.