Boxing is not the same..

[outspoken]

Anyone else feel this way? Sure we got some stars but it's just not what it used to be IMHO. I think MMA took some chunk of boxing fans while at the same time recruiting would be boxing fans to their fight game. I grew up watching boxing and I myself find that I watch more MMA now.

I'm not arguing that mma is better because there's nothing like a high profile boxing ppv imo. But we don't have those DLH vs Tito type of fights anymore. Canelo vs GGG would be good but outside of that the game seems dry.

I'll give another example I remember years back this site was way more active now I can scroll down and see threads from daaays back on the main forum. Shit is just not the same, the mma forum no need to say names but wow that site had hundreds of thousands on there.

Kind of sad man. What do you guys think?

[outspoken]

I been a member of this site for 12 years almost and I remember how it used to be guys. I hope this doesn't come off like me shitting on our sport I will always love boxing but the game is simply not what it used to be.

[J_Undisputed]

I wouldn't say mma took as much as boxing gave away...

Boxing lost some of it star power and got desperate... and because of that started rewarding asinine behavior.

This is just my opinion, but when we started letting boxers write their own checks and make their own weight classes and pre fight stipulations. The fabric of the boxing game began to unravel. We always called for some kind of oversight or commission ...

The ufc was its own commission. The fighters make less money, but...
- dont make weight, pay the price.
- act like a dumbass, pay the price. "Mcgregor: i'm back on the PPV, UFC: no youre not"
- Substance abuse bans and penalize fights for stupid things outside the sport
- they regularly clean house and cut loose the do nothing guys
- The reebok contract where they took the sponsor money away helps them remind the fighters where the loyalty lies.
- They have bigger audiences now... but i think they may be on the slide too

[Britkid]

I think every boxing fan has 'their era' and compared to the current product, it makes boxing look bad. But my era (80s/90s) have at least 17 years hindsight to it. All the fighters in this era have been defined. Fighters today are making their reputations, they do not have hindsight to help them, but twenty years down the line they will and people will bemoaning the 2036 product and championing this era.

[p4pking]

It's a tough call. For instance and your example, DLH and Tito was a huge fight as much because of the drawing power and mainstream recognition each had, as much as it was due to the ability or credibility of both. There are certainly fights like that to be made in the hardcore fans eyes today, but the fact that they aren't happening might lend to your point, I really don't know. The fact that Floyd was never really an exciting fighter with big adversaries and still shattered all the PPV numbers certainly doesn't.

[Spicoli]

Like many on here and as a guy who remembers calling 800 numbers and clipping newspapers just to get fight night results I'll never see boxing as falling off or not as popular with as much instant access we have now. Before places like this you watched boxing like a fookin lone nomad and what was easily or locally provided to you. Otherwise you had to work to follow or keep up with this sport I definitely agree with the era aspect also and not many things are as large and resonating as when you experienced it first, we all have that era where we lived it live and it is a bit of a measuring stick to what we have now. We like many sports fans get stuck in our tribes. Tito v Oscar were two very centered superstars who benefited from constant exposure when there was any exposure..how else do you get away with cruiserweights and Butterbean fighting on your undercard ..and today we may very well have some quantity vs quality going on if anything. Oh and divas creating there own divisions. That can be a turn off. I've said it a hundred times regarding mma also, it's a babe in the woods compared to longevity of boxing. It is massive and yes near everywhere you look but it too will and has run into its blackeyes, corruption, fan cynicism and general card to card let downs. Personally I now watch both as I enjoy the atmosphere of individual sport and don't confuse the two but I mean shit..the number one female fighter was just flattened by a former boxing champ and one of the biggest "faces" in mma is running away from his first professional loss to go pose and talk up a potential circus stunt match with our newest retired diva in Mayweather A few things will survive the apocalypse. Bitter exes, humidity in the South, cockroaches and boxing! We'll be fine.

[Dia bando]

I will still make a effort to get up in the middle of the night to watch boxing.
But I would not walk to the bottom of my garden to watch MMA, it holds NO interest the same goes for women's boxing.
You like what you like.

[SlimTrae]

Valid points..
1. Boxing in America as we know use to be public television. Only the top tier fought closed circuit & today cable/PPV.

2. Said many times: too many belts.

3. Too many self promoters. Every Saturday night there is boxing across the globe. End result too many watered down cards.

Yet Floyd and Pac proved. If promoted right... fans will flock. To bad they didnt deliver.

As far as the Holly fight ..I sincerely believe Christy Martin layed the foundation for women's boxing.
Laila. Ali had the name, the looks and developed skill. But she has that shitty ass modern day attitude of (I) will determine what the other fighter gets.
Ann Wolfe was her George Forman who had won titles from MW to HW.
I blame Laila 100% for not giving that fight to the world.
Dana White doesn't allow that high n mighty mind set to exist.
True boxing isnt the same... but it's not dead yet.

[denilson200]

Anyone else feel this way? Sure we got some stars but it's just not what it used to be IMHO. I think MMA took some chunk of boxing fans while at the same time recruiting would be boxing fans to their fight game. I grew up watching boxing and I myself find that I watch more MMA now.

I'm not arguing that mma is better because there's nothing like a high profile boxing ppv imo. But we don't have those DLH vs Tito type of fights anymore. Canelo vs GGG would be good but outside of that the game seems dry.

I'll give another example I remember years back this site was way more active now I can scroll down and see threads from daaays back on the main forum. Shit is just not the same, the mma forum no need to say names but wow that site had hundreds of thousands on there.

Kind of sad man. What do you guys think?

Get your fucking depressing ass outta here bitch.

People used said it wasn't as good as it was, even in Ali's day they used to say "It's not like it was Rocky Marciano's day" As for MMA ? If MMA is so great, then why don't they come over to boxing and make real money ?

Because they can't. You would never in million years get a top MMA boxer to beat decent fighter in the rin. But decent boxer could beat an MMA fighter in a cage. MMA have no chins. No stamina. Nothing.

[outspoken]

Anyone else feel this way? Sure we got some stars but it's just not what it used to be IMHO. I think MMA took some chunk of boxing fans while at the same time recruiting would be boxing fans to their fight game. I grew up watching boxing and I myself find that I watch more MMA now.

I'm not arguing that mma is better because there's nothing like a high profile boxing ppv imo. But we don't have those DLH vs Tito type of fights anymore. Canelo vs GGG would be good but outside of that the game seems dry.

I'll give another example I remember years back this site was way more active now I can scroll down and see threads from daaays back on the main forum. Shit is just not the same, the mma forum no need to say names but wow that site had hundreds of thousands on there.

Kind of sad man. What do you guys think?

Get your fucking depressing ass outta here bitch.

People used said it wasn't as good as it was, even in Ali's day they used to say "It's not like it was Rocky Marciano's day" As for MMA ? If MMA is so great, then why don't they come over to boxing and make real money ?

Because they can't. You would never in million years get a top MMA boxer to beat decent fighter in the rin. But decent boxer could beat an MMA fighter in a cage. MMA have no chins. No stamina. Nothing.

I was going to respond with some solid points but you're just an ignorant fuck with horrible grammar so why even bother?.. If you really think a decent boxer can beat an MMA fighter in a cage you are beyond delusional. Two different sports idiot. If you are ever in south Texas stop by armadura bjj. I'll gladly make u shit your pants.

[Master]

Boxing is not the same as it was years ago.

Boxing changes and evolves, sometimes it is better and sometimes it is worse. That is true in all sports and life.

With age and experience you also know what the new generation of fighter will do as you have seen it all before. So if I see Floyd I see a Leonard (post Hagler),

GGG is Julio Ceaser Chavez,

Floyd v Manny Pac is Tito v Oscar

Rigo is Ricardo Lopez

Personally I have been priced out of watching Boxing and do not watch it as I use to but then the attraction is not the same so I do not make the same effort.

[Batman]

I got priced out of football that was what got me so heavily into boxing

football match = £40 ticket, £20 beer, £10 food, throw in travel if you are going to an away game
boxing = £12 a month boxnation, skysports £0 (watch it all on sky go) and at worst £16 PPV
throw in a few cans which will no doubt be in my fridge anyway, and maybe a pizza

[Xwetie]

I noticed it a while ago, maybe 8-10 months ago, i watch it though but not as intresting anymore, i would never give it up, just waiting for the swede to get on top so i have someone special to observe n cheer on!

[IamInuit]

Boxing is not the same as it was years ago.

Boxing changes and evolves, sometimes it is better and sometimes it is worse. That is true in all sports and life.

With age and experience you also know what the new generation of fighter will do as you have seen it all before. So if I see Floyd I see a Leonard (post Hagler),

GGG is Julio Ceaser Chavez,

Floyd v Manny Pac is Tito v Oscar

Rigo is Ricardo Lopez

Personally I have been priced out of watching Boxing and do not watch it as I use to but then the attraction is not the same so I do not make the same effort.

You have made some great points there. It really has and for an old guy like me who started watching in 1966 its hard not to sound like a guy talking about "walking home 2 clicks after school uphill in knee high snow"

So I'll sum it up by simply saying that I have witnessed for half a century the utter destruction of the concept of risk and reward and by extension it has created a litany of other issues. I cannot use the word evolution as the cause or reason because to me its devolved.

[TitoFan]

Anyone else feel this way? Sure we got some stars but it's just not what it used to be IMHO. I think MMA took some chunk of boxing fans while at the same time recruiting would be boxing fans to their fight game. I grew up watching boxing and I myself find that I watch more MMA now.

I'm not arguing that mma is better because there's nothing like a high profile boxing ppv imo. But we don't have those DLH vs Tito type of fights anymore. Canelo vs GGG would be good but outside of that the game seems dry.

I'll give another example I remember years back this site was way more active now I can scroll down and see threads from daaays back on the main forum. Shit is just not the same, the mma forum no need to say names but wow that site had hundreds of thousands on there.

Kind of sad man. What do you guys think?

MMA's partly to blame, 'cause you just can't deny that the sport has siphoned off many ex-boxing fans. I personally don't like nor follow MMA, and boxing's still #1 in my book... but many others feel differently. Another thing is the lack of the boxing superstar personality that captures the imagination and following of millions. There were more of those back then. The number seems to have dried up a little bit. A lot of "blah" champions and contenders out there. That's another factor. There used to be more of the mega-fights before. Now it's few and far between. It also seems that between the ducking issues, the PED issues, and other things that take away from the sport, people are becoming disinterested. But you bring up very good points... good topic.