US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
2016 has seen the explosion in success for British boxing as the professional US sweet science calendar struggled to keep up.
Just to premise this article first off, I’m Irish – so have no bias in this one way or another.
I, like any other boxing journalist or genuine fight fan out there, just want to see the best fights made.
After all, that’s the beauty of combat sports isn’t it? Seeing the best take on the best in the prime of their careers for world titles?
This year has been another big one for the UK boxing circuit which has seen a large number of world champions on their shores.
Traditionally speaking, there’s always been a big rivalry between these two biggest boxing markets in the world but after speaking to some of my US colleagues recently, even they are now admitting the power shift that is going on at the moment in boxing to Britain.
But that’s not an indefinite one mind you and like the fight business itself – is one that could turn back and change in the blink of an eye.
It’s a fickle game is boxing. At the end of the day it’s a talent driven sport where like any sport, it goes through ups and downs and peaks and troughs during phases of new stars breaking through.
American boxing is certainly in that phase at the moment as is all of boxing really, as we continue to come out of the post Mayweather-Pacquiao era properly.
Things are changing in how audiences are consuming boxing and the likes of Eddie Hearn and Sky Sports in the UK have been at the forefront from a promotional sense in this regards (in recent times).
But don’t write off the Americans just yet.
On a slightly more boring but still relevant note to this argument, the US dollar continues to trade well against the British pound that took a hit this year from the whole ‘Brexit’ fallout.
This has had direct implications in boxing already, as UK promoter Eddie Hearn was unable to secure a fight for his charge Kell Brook with Top Rank’s Jessie Vargas earlier this year after the exchange rates made it unaffordable compared to the previous deal that was on the table prior to ‘Brexit’.
Economists predict that the British pound could fall as low as the equal worth of the US dollar in the next three years too, which would certainly put a minor hit at least to those in the UK trying to bring over international boxing talent for big fights.
To get around this however, you could see more international shows off the coast of Britain put on by UK promoters.
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn for example is doing this soon in Monte Carlo with his first international signing in Luis Ortiz.
But the bottom line is outside of economics, politics and promotional ability, is that the best boxers in the world need to fight each other on a more regular basis in my opinion.
Looking at November in US boxing and you have the likes of Kovalev vs Ward and Lomachenko vs Walters to look forward to.
This shows US boxing still has the ability to put on these type of compelling matchups, but it (as an industry) will have to pull it’s socks up as it were in 2017 to compete with the booming UK boxing industry.
With the return of top promoter Richard Schaefer to the sport expected to come properly next year in the States, a man in my opinion who was the brains behind the promotion of some of the biggest fights over the last fifteen years or so in the US – expect to see some more lifeblood back in the promotional realm too.
https://www.boxingnewsandviews.com/2.../16/us-boxing/
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
It is what it is. Boxing is just a niche sport in the US now. When it comes to combat sports the US millennials just prefer MMA.
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
They need to actually have some fights going on to compete. Haymon isn't making fights for half the top boxers in the States either because he's on his last legs or just about to announce some deal with a TV network so everything is on hold till then. In the meantime we've got Lomachenko (Ukraine) versus Walters (Jamaica) and Kovalev (Russia) versus Ward (America) coming from America.
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
Quote:
Originally Posted by
generalbulldog
It is what it is. Boxing is just a niche sport in the US now. When it comes to combat sports the US millennials just prefer MMA.
The big matches get made there
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
The brits may not have the best fighters but we have shown guts in taking on big opponents over the last 12 months
Fury v Klit
khan v ginger pubes
Brook v ggg
smith v ginger pubes
Frampton v sant cruz
Jazza v Rigo
Crolla v linares
Haye v ...wait forget that one
We may not have won them all and some have been big money mismatches but fair play to them for putting their chin (and in some cases their belts) on the line
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
There's a lull but I wouldn't get carried away ;D Its not like their is exclusive dominance and that's what makes the sport the awesome international clusterfook that it is. Records indicate we've taken turns on either shore being half of the 'show' event wise. The best thing that happened to Brook was the fight with Vargas falling out, come to think of it for Vargas also ;D
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
well Uk has produced top fighters of the world but they need to keep that shit up
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Primo Carnera
Quote:
Originally Posted by
El Kabong
Quote:
Originally Posted by
generalbulldog
It is what it is. Boxing is just a niche sport in the US now. When it comes to combat sports the US millennials just prefer MMA.
The big matches get made there
There are no Big matches in MMA. McGregor fought Diaz twice in "Big Matches" Diaz's record is 19-11.
If Floyd, Kovalev, Ward, or any other champion fought a guy with a 19-11 record they would be strung up alive!
Back to the "UK are so dominant" argument, the UK has 12 World Champions, the U.S. Have 11. And if all the UK Champions fought the best American , it would read something like:
AJ - Wilder
Bellew - Cunningham
Cleverly -Ward
DeGale - Anthony Dirrell
BJS - Jacobs
Brook - Thurman
Burns - Crawford
Flanagan - Easter Jr.
Frampton - Russell Jr.
Selby - Russell Jr.
McDonnell - Warren
Haskins - Warren
How many do you think the UK would win?
Hardly Global domination is it?
I like this
AJ - Wilder -- UK WINS
Bellew - Cunningham -- UK WINS
Cleverly -Ward -- US WINS
DeGale - Anthony Dirrell. -- UK WINS
BJS - Jacobs -- UK WINS
Brook - Thurman -- UK WINS
Burns - Crawford -- US WINS
Flanagan - Easter Jr. -- UK WINS
Frampton - Russell Jr. -- UK WINS
Selby - Russell Jr. -- US WINS
McDonnell - Warren -- UK WINS
Haskins - Warren -- US WINS
8-4, Looks pretty dominant over the US at least :)
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
the only one that is debateable is BJS Jacobs
thinking any of the rest would go the other way and youre out of youre fucking mind
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
Thurman would beat Brook but that fight will not happen as Kell has run off to light middle.
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Master
Thurman would beat Brook but that fight will not happen as Kell has run off to light middle.
absolutely no chance
that a gimme one in the back of the US net
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Primo Carnera
Quote:
Originally Posted by
erics44
the only one that is debateable is BJS Jacobs
thinking any of the rest would go the other way and youre out of youre fucking mind
Do you think Frampton beats Selby?
Yep, u?
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Primo Carnera
Quote:
Originally Posted by
erics44
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Primo Carnera
Quote:
Originally Posted by
erics44
the only one that is debateable is BJS Jacobs
thinking any of the rest would go the other way and youre out of youre fucking mind
Do you think Frampton beats Selby?
Yep, u?
Nope
I think its a very close fight. Selby vey hit and miss. Has looked great but not recently. Would expect him to up his game v Frampton though.
Russel Jr v Frampton was one that was put as a UK win. Wouldnt be too sure on that. Russel Jr is class and only lost in a close fight with Loma. Id pick Russel Jr to beat Frampton. Id have prob been 6-6 or maybe 7-5 US in the potential fights listed here.
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
Re: US Boxing needs to up it's game to compete with the UK Boxing Boom
I've been saying this on my home board TTR for awhile now.... I think part of the reason is the "entitlement" mentality that many US boxers have today and are just following the FMJ playbook of "low risk/high reward" protocols.... While UK boxers are willing to settle things in the ring w/ their fists as to who's actually the best at their weight... They know money will come after you challenge yourself to the max... UK boxers like Carl Frampton comes to mind and guys like him should set the standard for boxers in future.... One of the other reasons I think UK boxing is leading the way is their fans that fill stadiums and create an electric atmosphere rooting for their guy with all their might and traveling the globe in order to make that happen....
