Boxers like Jones Jr missing the point of MMA

[El Kabong]

I think right now boxing lacks a number of things and BOXING is at fault for MMA becoming big.

1. Boxing is rarely on cable tv much less on network tv when it used to have a sweetheart of a deal much like the NFL does these days.

2. Guys have gotten lazy around the sport, fewer prospects are groomed properly in the sport, just look at American heavyweights for fuck's sake...I still think Evander Holyfield or even John Ruiz are still among the best American heavyweights, it hurts me to say that. There are lazy fighters, lazy trainers, and lazy fans...it's pathetic.

3. You have to SEARCH to find a young talent these days when they used to just fall right out of the amateurs onto tv and win over the crowd and build a fanbase and now it's increasingly hard to do.

4. This isn't boxing's fault, but MMA can draw from various pools of talent: wrestling, karate, judo, ju jitsu, tkd, etc etc etc...boxing just has boxing to draw from

Eventually if we keep on this path MMA will surpass boxing, they will steal our sponsors, they will steal our air time, and they will steal our fans. Sure I respect MMA, I still think boxing is the top...I DO think a boxer would beat Brock Lesnar in an MMA bout, but I think that sport has marketed itself in such a manner where it is ready to gain ground whenever boxing slips up.

The things we do have going for us are...
1. The Amateur system, it hasn't been run right recently but it's there and ready to groom talent whenever it comes through again.

2. Boxing will ALWAYS be an Olympic sport ergo we'll always have some class athletes.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

MMA was great at first because it included lots of styles, however MMA is almost a style in itself these days.

Fact.

I also disagree with Bilbo's premise that boxing is a martial art - bare knuckle stuff maybe at a push but boxing is a sport - you punch anyone with a bare fist the way you would with a wrapped gloved hand chances are you're going to bust it. I've known people do it...by the same point I've seen ex-boxers end a scuffle with a couple of jabs.

Muay thai taught as a sport is different than what they teach you as self defence.

All that kicky flashy TKD shit you see is sport & not what I'd consider as a MA.
Point and semi-contact fighting is sport not MA.

[BoxingGorilla]

Jones Jr. would get smashed by Silva in the same way a home gets swallowed up by a mud slide. There is no skill involved its just unyeilding force.


Many mixed martial artists hide poor technique behind 300 pounds of brawn. Honestly, besides being hulking monsters, I'm not impressed by anything they do.

When Jet Li and Jackie Chan face off against Donnie Yen and Gordon Lui I'll buy a front row seat.