BoxRec

With all the Tv coverage and funding being taken from this sport, does it really have a future?

buzz wrote:With all the Tv coverage and funding being taken from this sport, does it really have a future?

NO

Sky need to do a boxing channel like the wrestling channel.

REAL_DEAL wrote:Sky need to do a boxing channel like the wrestling channel.

Now that would be cool, I would pay for that

I have lost so much faith in this sport it is unreal....I just wish something could be done about it... :(

It will always have a diehard following. Darts was big on terrestrial TV in the 80's and survived when the politically-correct mob took it off air completely. It's now back on Sky-TV, of course.

I think it will get a lift when the heavyweight division becomes decent again. Particularly if there's a champion who can end the Tyson era. The lighter weights will always hold interest for boxing fans. Because there's so many of them, there's less chance of all of them becoming stale.

The Devil In Roy Jones wrote:I think it will get a lift when the heavyweight division becomes decent again. Particularly if there's a champion who can end the Tyson era.

Well, the Tyson era is already over and has been for a number of years. The big problem with boxing now is exposure, or the lack thereof. As I said on a thread on boxing addicts, there was hardly a word in the UK press about the Vitali-Sanders fight either before or after and that was for the lineal world title.

It's becoming a fornicating joke. I've really thought about writing to some of these national dailies offering to contribute pieces just to keep the sport in the eye of the general public. Joe and Josephine Public would probably get into some of today's fights in a big way if (1) they knew they were happening and (2) they weren't "hidden" away on Sky.

Boxing is full of top class salesmen (not to mention bent bastards) so surely they can try to sell it to the wider audience and not just the hardcore fanbase?

The only fight that Jess and Joe Public would know about in the UK, is Hatton v Witter.

I don't mean his era as a fighter tolstoy. He's been nowhere near his best since the late 80's. Even in the early 90's, just before he went to prison, you could see strong signs of the one-punch headhunter he was to become.

What I meant by his 'era' was his era as a marketable commodity. Lewis didn't even touch him in that regard. Regardless of his skills or how good/bad he was, Tyson took over the Ali franchise as a brand name for the sport. Most of my friends who don't show more than a passing interest in boxing know of greats like Holyfield and Lewis, but they cannot name any of their notable wins bar against one opponent, who happened to be....

The Devil In Roy Jones wrote:I don't mean his era as a fighter tolstoy. He's been nowhere near his best since the late 80's. Even in the early 90's, just before he went to prison, you could see strong signs of the one-punch headhunter he was to become.

What I meant by his 'era' was his era as a marketable commodity. Lewis didn't even touch him in that regard. Regardless of his skills or how good/bad he was, Tyson took over the Ali franchise as a brand name for the sport.

Fair point mate. I do agree that his shadow still looms large over the heavyweight division regardless of his fading abilities. I hate the way he's beginning to fizzle out...I'd much rather see him have a crack at a couple of top five opponents or even just get a wilcard shot at Vitali's title. He would fight anyone at his peak and it's testament to his own assessment of his current talents that he was being lined up with McBride and now Williams. They are "proves nothing" fights.

Boxing will be ok, it's always had it's highs and lows throughout its long existance.

Keep the faith guys.

Totally agree KO Joe, i think if tyson keeps on the straight road (which never happens usually) then we could milk a bit more out the Tyson era as he has what it takes to beat most heavyweights

REAL_DEAL wrote:Sky need to do a boxing channel like the wrestling channel.

Wasn't Don King supposed to be starting his own Boxing Channel?

Don King was meant to be doing a lot of things.