I think boxing is probably done being a major sport in America. Pay per view, which is a great idea for big fights and was a great idea back when it started, is the downfall of boxing in America. Promoters and fighters don't care about the sport's health in the US enough to take the necessary measures to bring boxing back to the forefront in the US. Boxers and promoters are pretty much only worried about money.
Boxing won't be a mainstream sport anymore but boxing will never die. Boxing will always be somewhat popular, and whenever there's a truly big fight, it will probably be the highlight of the sports weekend and a big money making event. But it's never gonna be like it was in the 80s and early 90s unless a bunch of stuff changes.
lol an ESPN poll like the viewers of that American Channel make up the whole world
The whole world is a big place my friend and you'll suprised what some of these countries like to watch.
The most popular sport hands down is football (soccer).
Then follows Cricket, Hockey (field hockey suprisingly), tennis and I believe volleyball.
Also increibly popular are Formula One, Table Tennis, Basketball, Horse Racing, Rugby etc.
I imagine every single one of those sports has far higher viewing figures around the world than boxing, Formula One aside more people play those sports too, and most of these will gross more money annually as well.
Judo is I believe the second most popular sport in terms of participation as well.
Not exactly sure what it needs to rise from.Boxing has been back seated for some time now compared to the days gone by when it was a constant feature on the front pages and prime time matches aired by the networks.I honestly think its more of a media over population and the rise and consistency of many other major sports....NBA...NFL...MLB not to mention the never ending popularity of collegs sports and more bowl games than one guy can count than it has to do with lack of U.S talent.Boxing in the U.S is not going anywhere....and will be here prior to and after MMA has maximized its popularity blowup Imo.The last decade and a half has seen the sport become massivly global and internationalized with the internet and other technologies and to pigeon hole it might result in missing the bigger picture and the sports over all reach now compared to years gone by.
The one pet peeve and worry I have though is the emphasis and ever growing rush to make these 'mega super name event' matches for the juggernauts of the cable world.The division leaping is mind numbing.I think we loose sight of alot of 'lesser' known fighters .....actually stifle learning-discovering or bringing them to casual fans.....and fights that should happen that go by the wayside in a networks clamour to bank on a certain cash cow(s).
I would say that many newspapers choosing not to have a specific boxing beat writer is pretty indicative of the sports drop off.
Most bad government has grown out of too much government. Thomas Jefferson
Boxing can make a rise again in the USA if it can somehow entice the talent into it and it starts at the youth level. It's a damn shame as I've said that there aren't any boxing programs at the high school level. Because the American youth is being enticed into basketball, football, baseball.
Of course the hippies will say boxing is too dangerous for it to be part of the regular sports curriculum in high school, but they will ignore about football. In fact I'm pretty sure there have been more football deaths at the high school level than in amateur boxing.
Like a tired old erection, inspired by Viagra, boxing shall one day rise again!
Soccer I do agree with, it was number 1 in that poll and Soccer is number 1 around the world. Cricket, Field Hockey, Tennis, and Volleyball I can't see.
I see Cricket like Baseball it's very popular, but around the world I don't think it really is. Field Hockey I doubt because I've never even heard of it and it doesn't sound like a year around sport and some countries couldn't play it because of weather and other circumstances, same with Volleyball.
Horse Racing isn't popular like it once was, F1 is very popular around the world, but I think Boxing is more popular...F1 was 5th most popular in the poll, Rugby is like American Football here in the States...it's not really worldwide, but Rugby is more worldwide than Football though. Basketball I would say is more popular than Boxing, but in the poll Basketball was 3rd, shockingly.
If you mean in popularity, I doubt it will ever get to how it was in boxings heydey when entire countrys would tune in for fights on the radio and such. The quality of fighters from the US is still very high and more competitve than most if not all other countries. This also seems a bit like a needy thread, wasn't 2008 one of the best years of boxing recently, 2007 wasn't too shabby either....rise again...it just hit a lull.
World boxing is on the up and there have been some great fights over the last couple of years but where are the American stars?
Apart from Mayweather are there any American boxers who you would consider a superstar in there own country.
Cant think of any? (this does not make me happy,but its just a fact)
Balls
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