Groves v Smith to be held in Saudi Arabia

[Beanz]

Boxing is bigger than drunk and deluded Brit fans. The reason why boxing is doing poorly around the world is because the sport has turned into a Brit/German/North American affair for the most part- in that, at the very least, if you don't fight in either country no one knows you. But, the downside is no one else gets to know and show how much they love the sport.

The sport is even bigger in Mexico, but you would never fully appreciate how big because everyone wants to come across the border and fight in Vegas or Cali, or even Texas, just to make a name.

I have long since held the belief that markets like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Nigeria now, and South-East and Central Asia/Eurasia are HUGE markets for boxing PLUS "money" is on the table- These countries are not poor. Plus, it is good promotions for these countries.

Exactly how is boxing doing Poorly around the world? Those 'Drunk and Deluded Brit fans' turn up in their thousands and put their money where their mouth is, supporting boxing. Daft. People are just not going to turn up in the same numbers to a Saudi Event in which two Brits are the finalists. FACT. It was an international tournament, the Brits fought and got to the final and now they are in effect preventing their fans watching it live in order to try and open up the Saudi/Arab market. It's jut not there. They have tried and failed many times for a reason. Fans at the event help make the event. It is entertainment not just sport,art, prize fighting and they are a big part of that. Holding it in Saudi hurts that. Hurts the event. Hurts the tournament and boxing.

If the larger markets like Western Europe and America did not have MEGA TELEVISION PROMOTIONS and INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS behind them, the market for boxing- despite the fan base- would not be able to carry the sport. Also, since the social and developmental amenities have largely been based in these markets, particularly telecommunications and primarily telecommunications, you don't have as much avenues to PROMOTE and keep promotions SUSTAINED. But this is changing.....

With the advent of much better broadcasting equipment- for God's sake, you can record and broadcast in HIGH DEFINITION from a damn Iphone- the monopoly on VENUES need not be held to Western Europe or North America alone.

As said, boxing is much bigger than drunken and deluded Brit fans, and for that matter, bigger than snooty Germans and also much bigger than the boxing Mafia in the USA.

Population wise in Saudi Arabia, I am sure you can get 5 to 10 thousand people to fill a stadium for a world class title fight and get them to shell out $150 USD for even a nosebleed seat. They are good for that. May not be good for that every week. But every 2 or 3 months or so, they can pull it off.

Nobody but yourself is talking about a monopoly on anything. The Venues you are talking about have established a proven track record of hosting and putting on successful events for many, many years. Just like Boxing itself has it's roots here and the codification of it and the oldest belt is here not because others are stopped from developing a market but because that market is already established here. If it was so easy to fill stadiums for boxing matches in Saudi they would have already done it.

The entire reason that Britain, Germany and America have the media behind them is because it sells. It is prize fighting as a spectacle, entertainment, much more than just a sport or art form. Boxing works best when people can support a local fighter. That is as true in small hall shows int the UK, Europe and America as anywhere else. The fighter literally has to sell tickets. This is how boxing works. I know that promoters I work with and for will put fighters on a card because they can sell tickets. When you go up the levels it is still the same. Records and matchmaking aside it is the fighters ability to put bums on seats that will dictate how much the promoters, broadcasters and management are going to invest in supporting that fighter and showcasing him in challenges for belts and/or scalps/names in his climb up the ladder.

Without a high profile Saudi fighter they may well be able to pull off an occasional fight but they do not have a hope in hell of sustaining and growing that without a network of clubs, gyms, venues, fighters and paying punters used to regularly supporting shows.

Boxing has been said to be on its last legs for about 100 years. The reason boxing does well here is that success breeds success. Even before the 2012 games and the medal wins of that team Boxing has never really been off the TV or out of the papers it is in our consciousness. With multiple world champs ( more now then ever) the British public have an appetite for it and will put their hands in their pockets again and again. I am pretty sure the Saudis can never replicate that..ever.