Mike Tyson: UFC has surpass boxing and its more entertaining

An excerpt of the article, and he doesn't even know who the hell are Donaire and Montiel, 2 top 10 p4p fighters.

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But when the Donaire-Montiel bout is mentioned, Tyson is puzzled.

“Are they good?” he asks. “Excuse me for asking, but I’m not familiar with them. Is it going to be a good fight?”

Tyson is still a fixture at fights in Las Vegas, but says he believes the Ultimate Fighting Championship has surpassed boxing because of the way it promotes and stages its events.

“It’s just more entertaining than going to a boxing match now,” Tyson says of going to a UFC card. “When you go to a boxing match, once the fight is over, you’re waiting for another match and there is nothing going on. We’re just sitting there with an empty ring and nothing is happening. We might as well stand up, because the audience is the show there. If you go to UFC, ‘Boom, boom, da, da, da, da,’ it’s like we’re in a club, we’re partying. Everybody’s passing their drinks and it’s a party.

“When the fighters come out, there’s more music and they build a story up about the fighters and then there is the fight. The fights are awesome – they’re awesome, really – and then, ‘Boom,’ the fight is over and then there is more music. It’s a party and a fight at the same time. I know it sounds crazy, but that’s what it is.”

He chuckles and explains what he’d do if he were a promoter. He clearly has been paying attention, because everything he says makes sense.

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Tyson finds peace from unusual source - Boxing - Yahoo! Sports

You know boxing is in deep shit when 1 of it's most exciting and recognizable past champion doesn't even know who Montiel and Donaire is and thinks another combat sport is more exciting.

Its personal opinion. Honestly, I disagree. He clearly wishes boxing was more like WWE. Because if you want music, more build up and story to it, then you're looking for WWE and one of the reasons I'm not as big a UFC fan is it comes off like pro wrestling. Rogan & Goldberg constantly shouting, the pre-video build up packages, Bruce Buffer sounding like an amateur announcer...they even signed Brock Lesnar to attract those kind of fans.

I'm not trying to shit on MMA, but Boxing has a much more professional feel to it. You just feel there is more to it, its more real. I say this as a fan of both (although I much prefer Strikeforce to UFC, just becomes Strikeforce come off more like a Boxing Event in alot of cases, and I think alot of this is down to Showtime's presentation), but Boxing will always be my sport.

Opinions opinions......

I have a colleague at work who would probably fight me to the death over whether UFC/MMA is more popular, more entertaining or generally better than boxing.

He's bang wrong, IMO.....

There is space for both, these are 2 different produces, really. The only thing is that boxing received a few black eyes from the inside (I am thinking about SUlaiman, among other things) and has yet to recover from that and way to make the whole thing more exciting, the super 6 tournament was in my opinion a great idea and it is a pity that everything that shouldn't have happened finally occured. The sport is slowly getting out of his slumber I feel though and though the road is still long, I've seen a few nice initiatives that gives back a bit of luster to something that definitely needs something shiny.

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

An excerpt of the article, and he doesn't even know who the hell are Donaire and Montiel, 2 top 10 p4p fighters.

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You dont have to know who every fighter is to know and like boxing

people can have a passing interest in sports and enjoy a match and still have an opinion

I havent read all what he has said and what context it is in but if he means UFC is more entertaining outside the ring (or octagon) he might be right, if he means its more entertaining inside then he is very wrong

I'm not sure what opinion to have on this? :-\

Part of me recognizes that we are in more of a 'crash-bang-wallop' type era with Youtube and Facebook and iPhones and everything is so now now now, i kinda would like to see some changes in the format of how a Boxing show is put on.

For starters, an undercard always looks shite because no one is watching it... No fucker turns up until 3 or 4 fights in. That's unacceptable imo, it makes for a terrible atmosphere both on TV and in the arena and thus makes the fight look better... Which would be a lot easier if the match up's were consistently even... Which they're not... Which again is unacceptable.

Kinda makes for a vicious circle does it not? ^-^

But maybe the introduction of in-between fight entertainment (of some description) would help stimulate the crown into believing that every second of the bill was an event. Being as they have paid good money, that would be fair right?

German promoters are on the right track. But it could be better.

Good points from Iron Mike . UFC has marketed itself far cooler than boxing these days, which with it's bow ties and black suits looks makes the presenters look more like they are about to host a ballroom dancing show than a brutal, pugilistic tear up.

Boxing has somehow managed to make violence look stuffy and conservative. MMA and UFC in particular have targeted their demographic far more effectively imo.

When you think of boxing and MMA these days, boxing has the reputation of being what your dad likes, whereas UFC is for the younger generations who want more excitement, danger and rawness.

Boxing needs to adapt imo because being seen as traditional and respectable isn't necessarilly good in a combat action sport.

i still lke boxing better. whenever there is a boxing match, say i just tune in and i see an empty ring and the announcers are saying so and so is making his ring entrance and the lights are dimmed, i say to myself "i dunno who the fuck these boxers are going to be, but i almost dont even care, its just great to know in a few seconds to maybe 2 minutes they will both be in the ring with robes on jumping around and the lights will go on and i can hear the introductions, and i know whoever they are it will be the marquis ofd queensbury and i can't wait to see if its a competitive fight or not".........thats what i say to myself.

I like UFC but boxing is on another level in my book. UFC is just as exciting and entertaining to watch but the fights just don't have the same intense atmosphere as boxing to me. I think boxing has a bigger heart whereas UFC needs to show more of theirs. As Mike said, it feels like a party not a fight.

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

I'm not sure what opinion to have on this? :-\

Part of me recognizes that we are in more of a 'crash-bang-wallop' type era with Youtube and Facebook and iPhones and everything is so now now now, i kinda would like to see some changes in the format of how a Boxing show is put on.

For starters, an undercard always looks shite because no one is watching it... No fucker turns up until 3 or 4 fights in. That's unacceptable imo, it makes for a terrible atmosphere both on TV and in the arena and thus makes the fight look better... Which would be a lot easier if the match up's were consistently even... Which they're not... Which again is unacceptable.

Kinda makes for a vicious circle does it not? ^-^

But maybe the introduction of in-between fight entertainment (of some description) would help stimulate the crown into believing that every second of the bill was an event. Being as they have paid good money, that would be fair right?

German promoters are on the right track. But it could be better.

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It is bullshit that half the crowd or more like 3/4 of the crowd misses most of the undercard.

The two times that I have gone to see World Title fights (Ponce De Leon vs. Batista and Ward vs. Bika), I have gotten there early to see all of the undercard fights I could.

I mean it costs 75-150 bucks for good seats, A LOT more than that in some cases, so I'm damn sure going to get my money's worth and watch as much LIVE boxing as possible.

I read the Tyson artical very quickly but what he seems to be saying is that ufc is better promoted rather than what happens in the ring/octagon.

To be honest I totaly agree.

The morden day boxing ppv format is boring and jaded apart from the main event.But the ufc is fresh and exciting and the whole ppv is exciting.

I think that that boxing is giving away to MMA/UFC becouse of the non educated publik/comentators. If you don't udnerstand what the boxers are trying to do it's not interesting. The non educated public don't aprciate the professionalism of the boxers.
To watch MMA you don't need to understand what is going on. There is always movement and at the end someone is KOed.
Before a week i was in Munich and there were alot of american tourists. It made me impression that when 2 amercans are speaking to each oder there is aways alot of BOOM BAAM alot of movement and at the end nothing. They just love this! UFC/WWE suits more to our main sponsor :D

Very true, I for one think its easier for the uneducated fan to follow MMA because no rules = no styles = no thinking. Boxing is and always has been "the sweet science", there are different styles, different ways to achieve victory and I (as a boxing fan) know and love that about the sport, I am a fan of Willie Pep and Joe Louis, Pernell Whittaker and Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko and Arturo Gatti....the sport is great and it will never fail.

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Originally Posted by El Kabong

Very true, I for one think its easier for the uneducated fan to follow MMA because no rules = no styles = no thinking. Boxing is and always has been "the sweet science", there are different styles, different ways to achieve victory and I (as a boxing fan) know and love that about the sport, I am a fan of Willie Pep and Joe Louis, Pernell Whittaker and Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko and Arturo Gatti....the sport is great and it will never fail.

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Coulnd't disagree more. The ground game especially in UFC is incredibly complex.

I know you hate mixed martial arts but can you not see the illogicality of your view that adding more fight disciplines reduces complexity?

Mixed martial arts is far more complex than boxing, how could not be?

Yes boxing has all the subtleties and it's fist fighting aspect is more refinedand well honed, but there is more to learn overall in UFC unless you think 1x1 equals more than 5x1.

I like both but one thing i while say about mma is there is no padding records. Also another good thing is a loss does not mean the end of a fighter like boxing sometimes tends to do.

Making something more complex doesn't mean that it's better. When you increase the options you increase the luck factor! This is profesional sport and you must be able to depend on your skills and not waiting to get lucky. If you add pocking, hitting in the groins, some knives and guns it will get much more complex, but first is this a sport event and how one can get profisiant in all aspects of it?

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Originally Posted by Bilbo

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Originally Posted by El Kabong

Very true, I for one think its easier for the uneducated fan to follow MMA because no rules = no styles = no thinking. Boxing is and always has been "the sweet science", there are different styles, different ways to achieve victory and I (as a boxing fan) know and love that about the sport, I am a fan of Willie Pep and Joe Louis, Pernell Whittaker and Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko and Arturo Gatti....the sport is great and it will never fail.

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Coulnd't disagree more. The ground game especially in UFC is incredibly complex.

I know you hate mixed martial arts but can you not see the illogicality of your view that adding more fight disciplines reduces complexity?

Mixed martial arts is far more complex than boxing, how could not be?

Yes boxing has all the subtleties and it's fist fighting aspect is more refinedand well honed, but there is more to learn overall in UFC unless you think 1x1 equals more than 5x1.

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Completely agree with Bilbo here. Lyle, I should also point out that what you say about MMA having no rules is now completely untrue. This used to be the case, but the sport has involved in order to fall in line with commissions and avoided being banned. So now, there is plenty to learn, and plenty to understand, and as a result has made it a little more complex than boxing.

Has nothing to do with personal opinion. He's bang on the money. UFC is LIGHTYEARS ahead of boxing in terms of how they promote and the quality of product. Its not even compeditive.

And for those of you who say its too "WWE"... boxing has ALWAYS borrowed pro wrestling-like theatrics. The greatest HW of all time modeled his public persona and mannerisms after pro wrestlers like Gorgeous George. If there is a story or angle behind a fight, it makes people care more about the fight. Thats a fact. Do you guys think so many people would have bought the DLH/PBF fight if there wasn't so much hype and story behind it? If Floyd didn't play the villain and antagonize DLH and the fans?

For boxing to thrive, you need the "characters", stories and theatrics. Just as long as the action in the ring is genuine.

..... this is the same tyson who eats children and bites ears. So seeing him like ufc is no surprise.

So Tyson likes the thump of club atmosphere, bright lights, drinks flowing and women in short shorts? Surprise. I like watching his early explosive bouts too. Better then his late stuff. All this talk about mma surpassing boxing as a whole etc. Give me a break. Its an INFANT in the promotion arena and as a well known in the spotlight sport. When it chalks up 100 yrs, then thump your chest. Its benefiting and fully utilizing technologies NOW because its what it knows...'loud' draws attention. Boxing had to evolve and is rooted in crusty, dusty B&W film reels from days none of us can relate to with names no one, save for Bert Sugar, has actually seen live in the ring. Its brought the Country to a stand still along racial and world war fronts. Sold out major sports venues early on and exploded with the birth of television and multiple networks and has continued ahead into the cyber world we know now. mma is not some flash in the pan and will be around a long time but perspective is key, it is in fact riding a wave of being the 'Flavor of the month'....and frankly rides boxings coat tails quite a bit. Grab the ear of an old timer if your lucky enough, talk to them how the presentation of the sport has grown and where it is today as opposed to its first, second, or sixth decade of existence.

That's a fucked up thing to say Mike.

I was a big boxing fan for years and while I still follow the sport it has been overtaken by MMA as my favorite combat sport for two reasons. 1. Whether it was Pride, UFC or Strikeforce, they made the fights I wanted to see for the most part and in a timely manner. Outside of competing orgs I can't think of many times where a fight needed/should happen and didn't. 2. I know entertainment is subjective and obviously I am going to lean to MMA b/c I train in submission grappling but I feel I get more bang for my $50 when I buy a MMA PPV versus a boxing. It is a minimum of 5 televised fights and I am usually very interested in more than half of them where with boxing I feel pretty lucky if I am interested in anything other than the main event.

Mike is one of those guys who pays most of his attention to the heavyweights. Yeah if you go by heavyweights boxing is boring as fuck right now. UFC is alright, they are making the fights people want to see. Boxing seems more like a bunch of protected trash talkers who would rather say they are the best than go out and prove it. I dont know if its just the promoters or what, but I would like to see more of the best fighting the best. I am also sick of seeing guys win close decisions or bad decisions then taking forever to rematch. Also the judging in ufc seems alot more impartial. These homecooked decisions are really killing boxing. UFC has way less weight classes, and you dont see them bitching about a few pounds here or there. I still like boxing by far, but it needs to get back to its roots.

Why would Tyson or any non-hardcore boxing fan know who Montiel and Donaire are? Neither are superstar names outside the hardcore. They sold 3000 tickets and split $600,000 (Donaire $350,000, Montiel $250,000).

Absloute peanuts compared with many a LESSER fighter in the sport. The smaller men have never been big news (with a few exeptions of course).

If Tyson said he didn't know who Mayweather or Pacquiao were, then boxing would have a problem.

Basically Tyson said he enjoys the UFC over boxing because of the VIP treatment he gets. Dana is obviously a good host. That's it.

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Why would Tyson or any non-hardcore boxing fan know who Montiel and Donaire are? Neither are superstar names outside the hardcore. They sold 3000 tickets and split $600,000 (Donaire $350,000, Montiel $250,000).

Absloute peanuts compared with many a LESSER fighter in the sport. The smaller men have never been big news (with a few exeptions of course).

If Tyson said he didn't know who Mayweather or Pacquiao were, then boxing would have a problem.

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It's not just the smaller fighters. I remember in '09 after Haye just become "world" HW champion after beating Valuev and your own British network BBC or something like that asked him what he thought of Haye, he said he doesn't know who he was.;)

Of course just a few months ago when he sat down with Johnny Nelson he gave his own opionion if Haye could beat the Klits or not. So now he knows.

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Why would Tyson or any non-hardcore boxing fan know who Montiel and Donaire are? Neither are superstar names outside the hardcore. They sold 3000 tickets and split $600,000 (Donaire $350,000, Montiel $250,000).

Absloute peanuts compared with many a LESSER fighter in the sport. The smaller men have never been big news (with a few exeptions of course).

If Tyson said he didn't know who Mayweather or Pacquiao were, then boxing would have a problem.

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It's not just the smaller fighters. I remember in '09 after Haye just become "world" HW champion after beating Valuev and your own British network BBC or something like that asked him what he thought of Haye, he said he doesn't know who he was.;)

Of course just a few months ago when he sat down with Johnny Nelson he gave his own opionion if Haye could beat the Klits or not. So now he knows.

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You've got that mixed-up. Tyson was on a speaking tour in Britain around the time Haye fought Valuev and was asked numerous times about the fight, giving Haye advice on beating a giant and stuff.

However, I too remember Tyson saying he doesn't know who Haye was at one time. Which is perfectly understandable. The cruiser division has never been a glamour divison. So why would any non-hardcore American fan know a Britsh cruiserweight operating in Europe? Or a young British heavyweight?

Same thing as Donaire/Montiel. It doesn't matter how highly regarded you are as a boxer, If you are not in multi-million dollar matches, packing out Vegas casinos with famous celebs littered all over ringside, you wont be known outside the American hardcore. And just because Tyson is a former fighter it doesn't mean he still follows the sport.

Tyson now collects pidgeons. Seriously.

I read an article recently about how he loves them and they are his prized possesions. I think the guy is losing the plot a little.

Tyson has famously been into pigeons since he was a kid. He once beat up a load of big kids for messing with his pigeons.. so the story goes

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Tyson has famously been into pigeons since he was a kid. He once beat up a load of big kids for messing with his pigeons.. so the story goes

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The bastards ripped the heads off his pigeons. That's when he turned bad. So the story goes. I think he turned green and ripped his shirt too - not sure though.

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Originally Posted by Fenster

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Why would Tyson or any non-hardcore boxing fan know who Montiel and Donaire are? Neither are superstar names outside the hardcore. They sold 3000 tickets and split $600,000 (Donaire $350,000, Montiel $250,000).

Absloute peanuts compared with many a LESSER fighter in the sport. The smaller men have never been big news (with a few exeptions of course).

If Tyson said he didn't know who Mayweather or Pacquiao were, then boxing would have a problem.

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It's not just the smaller fighters. I remember in '09 after Haye just become "world" HW champion after beating Valuev and your own British network BBC or something like that asked him what he thought of Haye, he said he doesn't know who he was.;)

Of course just a few months ago when he sat down with Johnny Nelson he gave his own opionion if Haye could beat the Klits or not. So now he knows.

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You've got that mixed-up. Tyson was on a speaking tour in Britain around the time Haye fought Valuev and was asked numerous times about the fight, giving Haye advice on beating a giant and stuff.

However, I too remember Tyson saying he doesn't know who Haye was at one time. Which is perfectly understandable. The cruiser division has never been a glamour divison. So why would any non-hardcore American fan know a Britsh cruiserweight operating in Europe? Or a young British heavyweight?

Same thing as Donaire/Montiel. It doesn't matter how highly regarded you are as a boxer, If you are not in multi-million dollar matches, packing out Vegas casinos with famous celebs littered all over ringside, you wont be known outside the American hardcore. And just because Tyson is a former fighter it doesn't mean he still follows the sport.

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Really? Tyson was on a tour in Britain giving Haye advice on how to beat Valuev? It's kind of funny that in this clip at the 1:02 mark he doesn't know who Haye is? 3 or 4 days before Haye fought Valuev. So if he doesn't know who Haye is, how can he give advice to him to beat Valuev?:confused:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH3wY...eature=related


Come on now, for years I've been hearing from his fans and his countrymen that this guy is the next ATG HW legend that will restore not only the HW division but the sport to it's great past. You know Jack Dempsey/Joe Louis/Muhammad Ali kind of popularity and glory.

It's kind of strange that a past HW great hasn't even heard of the guy 3 or 4 days before he fights for the WBA HW title? :confused:

It's ludacris and preposterous, that Mike would be so magnanimous toward the proprietors of UFC. I find his statements to be truculant towards the pugilistic endeavors of his colleagues. Maybe Mike should just fade into bolivian.

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Originally Posted by No Contest

It's ludacris and preposterous, that Mike would be so magnanimous toward the proprietors of UFC. I find his statements to be truculant towards the pugilistic endeavors of his colleagues. Maybe Mike should just fade into bolivian.

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Whilst that is very funny please respect the great man. :)

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

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Originally Posted by Fenster

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Why would Tyson or any non-hardcore boxing fan know who Montiel and Donaire are? Neither are superstar names outside the hardcore. They sold 3000 tickets and split $600,000 (Donaire $350,000, Montiel $250,000).

Absloute peanuts compared with many a LESSER fighter in the sport. The smaller men have never been big news (with a few exeptions of course).

If Tyson said he didn't know who Mayweather or Pacquiao were, then boxing would have a problem.

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It's not just the smaller fighters. I remember in '09 after Haye just become "world" HW champion after beating Valuev and your own British network BBC or something like that asked him what he thought of Haye, he said he doesn't know who he was.;)

Of course just a few months ago when he sat down with Johnny Nelson he gave his own opionion if Haye could beat the Klits or not. So now he knows.

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You've got that mixed-up. Tyson was on a speaking tour in Britain around the time Haye fought Valuev and was asked numerous times about the fight, giving Haye advice on beating a giant and stuff.

However, I too remember Tyson saying he doesn't know who Haye was at one time. Which is perfectly understandable. The cruiser division has never been a glamour divison. So why would any non-hardcore American fan know a Britsh cruiserweight operating in Europe? Or a young British heavyweight?

Same thing as Donaire/Montiel. It doesn't matter how highly regarded you are as a boxer, If you are not in multi-million dollar matches, packing out Vegas casinos with famous celebs littered all over ringside, you wont be known outside the American hardcore. And just because Tyson is a former fighter it doesn't mean he still follows the sport.

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Really? Tyson was on a tour in Britain giving Haye advice on how to beat Valuev? It's kind of funny that in this clip at the 1:02 mark he doesn't know who Haye is? 3 or 4 days before Haye fought Valuev. So if he doesn't know who Haye is, how can he give advice to him to beat Valuev?:confused:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH3wY8lyjtk&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH3wY8lyjtk&feature=related


Come on now, for years I've been hearing from his fans and his countrymen that this guy is the next ATG HW legend that will restore not only the HW division but the sport to it's great past. You know Jack Dempsey/Joe Louis/Muhammad Ali kind of popularity and glory.

It's kind of strange that a past HW great hasn't even heard of the guy 3 or 4 days before he fights for the WBA HW title? :confused:

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That video proves that i'm 100% right. BEFORE Haye fought Valuev (you said AFTER) Tyson became aware of Haye. Tyson even starts giving him advice in that video. Plus he did about a million interviews with different TV and media outlets, not just SKY, so obviously got asked about Haye-Valuev a million times.

As i've already explained - there is NOTHING strange at all about Tyson not knowing who he was. The general British public were only just latching on to him.

It's funny how you KNOW so many Haye fans that claim he is so great considering the man himself admits he'll NEVER be regarded among the greats.

Here's some advice, son - stop taking notice of teenagers and wind-up merchants ;)

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Originally Posted by Fenster

Tyson has famously been into pigeons since he was a kid. He once beat up a load of big kids for messing with his pigeons.. so the story goes

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He's got a show coming out soon where he trains as a pigeon racer or something. There's also this quote from when he was a kid:

"One morning I woke up and found my favorite pigeon, Julius, had died I was devastated and was gonna use his crate as my stickball bat to honor him. I left the crate on my stoop and went in to get something and I returned to see the sanitation man put the crate into the crusher. I rushed him and caught him flush on the temple with a titanic right hand he was out cold, convulsing on the floor like a infantile retard."

Loves his pigeons wor Mike :cool:

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Originally Posted by No Contest

It's ludacris and preposterous, that Mike would be so magnanimous toward the proprietors of UFC. I find his statements to be truculant towards the pugilistic endeavors of his colleagues. Maybe Mike should just fade into bolivian.

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"By Joe I'll toast that." Well said ;D