Thread: Oscar, and the future of boxing

As much as I can’t stand Oscar and his hype, I also feel that Oscar’s role is key in the future of boxing. Whether I like it or not, Oscar has become a very recognizable face both in and out of boxing. The reasons why… I tend to disagree with most of Oscar’s devoted fan base. But the fact is that he IS. And that’s where I find myself hoping that Oscar the promoter will lend his face and name to try to make boxing more marketable with the average fan in the street. And while boxing is a truly international sport, it is an inescapable fact that publicity begins and ends in the U.S. and its powerful press.

Us boxing fans are a distinct minority. And with the advent of MMA, UFC, ad nauseaum, it’s getting even more so. These “spinoffs” are diluting the boxing fan base even more. Boxing is a grand old sport, with roots that go back over a century. It would be a shame to see it die a slow death. Periodically, the boxing “haters” come out demanding an abolishment of the sport, particularly when a boxer dies in the ring. But you hear no such outcries when an NFL player gets paralyzed in the field, or worse. (Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE American football also).

So getting back to Oscar… boxing needs a fresh, recognizable face to help its cause. And I think Oscar’s just the man for the job. He’s completely bilingual, thus popular with both the English AND Spanish-speaking communities. He’s got the good looks, thus creating a pretty good female fan base. He’s well spoken and charismatic (at least in front of the camera). That obviously helps, too.

But one strong caution to Oscar. Don’t do anything to compromise the legitimacy of the sport. Finish fighting for good… THEN go about buying all the boxing magazines you want. Of course, you’ll just make sure you’re in all the ATG lists, probably higher than you should be. But what the hell.

But use your power and influence to change the things that need to be changed in boxing and implementing the improvements that need to be made. Fix the problem with inept judges. Fix the problem with the alphabet soups that turn off most fans. Fix the problem with the rankings that leave a lot of people scratching their heads. Do more to promote the sport. Make sure the best possible matches in boxing are made. Discourage outright ducking and dodging (like you used to do when you were trying to cement your legacy with outrageously smaller fighters). Do all the things you can do to make sure boxing survives well into the 21st century. Make it safer, so the incidence of deaths in the ring drops off. Influence the networks to air more classic fights that just Ali and Tyson fights. (You’d think that’s all there is to boxing).

So while I always loathed Oscar the over-hyped boxer, I’ll be rooting for him to use his considerable influence to increase the popularity of our beloved sport.

Well thought out post, and I have to agree I think that everyone should be hopeful that Oscar does his part to make sure the sport is headed in the right direction and root for him. I think it helps that he has been in the ring himself and completely understands what it is to be a fighter through good and bad. Ahmet Oner is another young guy who is becoming a big time promoter, and was a fighter himself. Boxing needs guys like this to bring interest in the sport, fighters helping fighters for the right reasons. The more sucessful fighters career are, the more sucessful boxing is.

Good points TitoFan but if many boxing fans don't respect his accomplishments (which I find hard for anybody at the moment to even get close) in and out of the ring I wonder if they would appreciate ODLH doing those things you mentioned. Even when he gave a fight for free, people still bitched and groaned, so imagine.

Nice One! Oscar has already done a lot for the sport, I think we can count on him to continue on. The guy is still "prime", as a promoter!