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But boxing is bigger than one country's fans. That's the reason why boxing is dying- we focus on the fanbase in America and Britain too often.
We need to take the sport beyond Western Europe and North America. Even the Canadian market is a little slaggy, and the Mexican market, which produces more than their fair share of talent, does not get the look-see for premium fights.
It's true Anthony Joshua I mean little Tony-Tone should probably start fighting in China and stuff. Two more fights and he won't even be on the map in the Western Hemisphere
"Most" of the best fighters and all the best promoters and biggest tv platforms are in the US and UK.
It's that simple really.
Look at the depth of UK fighters alone and how much it's improved in the last 10 years,
When was the last time a Heavyweight Champion pulled in over 300,000 paying fans all in huge Stadiums in his last 4 fights?
I bet you'd have to go way back to the days of Dempsey & Jack Johnson to rival those stats.
AJ is a commercial powerhouse with huge appeal.
I was in a pub on Saturday and it was RAMMED full of people all there to watch AJ.
I'd say only 20% proper fight fans too and Loads of women and casual fans enjoying it. Why would he want to fight anywhere else?
It's up to other countries to develop their fighters and compete.
We've got an amazing Amateur set up in Sheffield here in the UK with great trainers and facilities which is churning out great young fighters every year.
there is no questioning that in the last 10 years the UK boxing scene has really exploded and it has really added some great Dynamics and a good counterbalance to the Monopoly that the United States had on it for so long.
It's made the US promoters and networks have to seriously up their game which you can see by all the crazy amounts of $$$ being pumped into US boxing recently (Showtime/Fox for example).
Hearn trying to gatecrash the US with his DAZN/Matchroom deal started a domino effect which led to the US powerhouse networks saying "Fuck You" and firing back massively to counter the move.
All brilliant news for fight fans.
The only people really taking Boxing around the planet are the WBSS but even the Winner of that Usyk jumped straight in bed with Eddie Hearn because like him or hate him he's a top top promoter who delivers huge fights.
I'm always going to ask for fights to be made in England, Crawford v Spence? I'll take that in England, its just easier for me, I don't care where the fighters are from.Quote:
Originally Posted by ykdadamaja
Having said that Groves v Smith is 2 Brits and that is being fought in Saudi Arabia, I can't remember the last time that 2 people from the same country took a fight somewhere like that.
Tyson v Douglas in Tokyo or Ali v Foreman in Zaire are the only 2 that instantly come to mind.
Definitely a weird choice having the Groves fight in Saudi Arabia.
Ali v Foreman was before I was born and I think I was 4 or 5 for Tyson v Douglas.Quote:
Originally Posted by smashup
Thinking Superman v General Zod (both Krypton born) in New York City which was a classic 80s war.
Ali Foreman was before you were born??!
😱😱😱😱😱
1 year before I was born but I was force fed that fight by my older brother and his mates as a kid and was forced to 'reinact it with them many times with gloves on in the garden 👊🏻
Only by 11 yearsQuote:
Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust
Were you supposed to be Foreman or Ali?Quote:
Originally Posted by smashup
Quote:
Originally Posted by smashup
Best promoters? Probably. Biggest TV platforms? Absolutely.
Most of the best fighters? Meh.
Conveniently ignores the vast number of "best fighters" from outside those two areas.
Japan, Mexico, Eastern Europe, Puerto Rico.......
Wishful thinking, but far from reality.
Japan has some cracking fighters