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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
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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
Actually I should rephrase that.
Should have said most of the big money fighters fight in the US & UK
Well.... money follows the big promoters and the big venues and TV platforms so yeah.... that's a better rephrase.
I don't get it. Why wouldn't they???. We had the market lock stock and barrel there for a few decades when it came to mass media exposure and an assumed fan base appeal. Honestly until the mid 90's you didn't simply point and click to watch majority of Brits in a huge fight..you read about it in a boxing rag, traded for tapes or hoped above all they and other top fighters from Japan would came Stateside and make the 'big' networks. There was an entire segment of the sport that was delayed or just unseen, at least where I was ;D. Love it or not boxing is a global sport and U.S promoters certainly should not shy away from affiliating with new markets. It's better this way and technology caught up. And then there's the fact that we frankly are not churning out top talent Amatuer boxing wise. Why do we think Floyds face keeps popping up every couple of years. I have neighbors who get rowdy and root for big stage Joshua more than a near local 'champ' in Wilder. It's really bizarre all things considered.
Actually, Brits have every reason to brag about their fans.
Exhibit A for me was when legions of Hatton fans flew trans-Atlantic and then cross-country to watch his ill-fated attempt to beat Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas. The man had no business being in the ring with Floyd, but that didn't stop the fans from singing songs about him and having a good ol' time in Vegas. That in itself is impressive.
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Originally Posted by TitoFan
I wonder if they bumped into Brocktonblockbuster while they were out there?
http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxingfor...tid=4527&stc=1
That would certainly explain why there may never be a British turnout like that in America again.Quote:
Originally Posted by XQuote:
Originally Posted by TitoFan
I wonder if they bumped into Brocktonblockbuster while they were out there?
http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxingfor...tid=4527&stc=1
What a load of bollocks you lot in this Country we Fill stadiums 80 or 90 thousand fans need I say more.
Simply guys the USA is NO longer the dogs bollocks in boxing we surpass Vagas were most fighters get robbed.
What is it most American fighters never leave their back yard very much double standards guys.
I think the Brits have always been big boxing fans. Look at the popularity that people like Bruno, Cooper etc achieved - arguably greater than their talent deserved and I doubt that they would have been even noticed had they been American.
The US was the centre of the boxing world for over a hundred years, mainly because their much larger population generated more money. Boxing was THE mainstream sport for a while and all their best athletes became boxers.
However, the growth of other sports, particularly basketball, has had a big effect. Most of the best US athletes now do not become boxers. The preponderance of PPV has meant fights are not mainstream anymore which is a vicious circle in terms of fan numbers. The blatant corruption in the sport hasn't helped.
I don't know this factually, but I would surmise that boxing fans as a percentage of the population will have fallen in the US, and risen in the U.K.
Of course, us two don't have the monopoly on good fans who will support the sport and spend money. The Mexicans, Russians, Filipinos, Thais and Puerto Ricans are very devoted fans too.
They haven't got much money, but Cubans are very knowledgeable and fanatic about boxing too.
I think right now in terms of boxing FANS, you'd have to give the nod to both the UK and Mexico. They're the only places I know where stadiums get filled for boxing. No way you'll see a stadium filled in the States as you'd see in either the UK or Mexico. Personally, I've never seen a boxing match in a stadium nor would I care to. It's not the type of sporting event that lends itself well to stadiums.
Number one I do not have that much hair and number two I would never ever grow a beard.
From a British point of view why would you want to fight elsewhere? British boxing at top end is booming.
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Originally Posted by ykdadamaja
Ykdada has ~nailed~ it good