Are PPVs ruining boxing?

[generalbulldog]

2 reasons why boxing became a niche sport in the U.S. The 1st major reason was that boxing was taken out of high schools and college in the mid 1950s, what this did was limit the sport to future participants. The 2nd major reason for its decline was that top level fighters urged by their promoters began gravitating towards fighting on HBO and Showtime exclusively instead, which are 2 premium networks with a small subscription compared to the big boys like ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS, which is free network tv. And that's how boxing is in the state it is in now, hardly any future participants in the U.S. and hardly shown to the casual viewer or sports fan.

American football and baseball are the top 2 most participated sport and the 2 most watched in the U.S. The 2 sports are supported at every level, especially during high school, plus they are shown on network tv, where the casual viewer and casual sports fan can watch without paying a dime.

Another example, compare boxing to MMA, where the basics of the sport which is wrestling is participated at the high school and college level, plus MMA is actually free on network tv for most of its fights, minus the big PPVs. MMA would be in the same state as boxing if wrestling was taken out of the high schools and colleges and if MMA went strictly to HBO and Showtime, but Dana White is too smart for that. Yes, many boxing fans may hate him, but the man ain't stupid.

No sport can survive without replenishing its fan base and future participants. Boxing within 60 years, coming from being the no. 2 sport behind baseball at the time in the U.S. in terms of popularity and participation to its current state as a niche sport. It is what it is.

[Silkeyjoe]

No they are not. What is ruining boxing is rival promoters not willing to do business and corrupt organisations fixing rankings and hiring corrupt judges. Thats all thats ruining boxing.

In MMA the best fight the best. Why isnt it the same in boxing?

[IamInuit]

Maybe eroding. I do think boxing will look quite different within the next decade. If boxing was a plant PPV would be its root and the symbiotic relationship between promoters and broadcasters the over watering gardener.

They are now overcompensating in damage control for the exit of Floyd and Manny by increasing the dose.

Lots of light in the tunnel though with great fighters coming up around the world. Be good to get rid of these guys to be honest(in relationship to the ppv ?) and people ought not expect replacements. He could make 20 million fighting a ring tailed lemur and that's part of the problem. Guys like Floyd come around once in a generation with few exceptions.

You always hear about that 1% theory in our western economic systems where a small group have all the wealth well its kind of been that way with boxing over this past decade and personified by PPV. The world seems or seemed to revolve around 6 to 8 fighters. That is a pretty constricted market place in this new globally connected world and one that has to collapse on the weight of itself. I think the exit of Manny and especially Floyd might just start boxing back to re-potting itself and establishing a new root base. A few years of short term pain I suspect and ppv numbers start to dwindle and with that boxers salaries. They may try to revamp it but I truly believe its days are numbered and that pun was not intended.

[Beanflicker]

You guys have to realize that with Manny and Floyd gone, you're also taking about a ton of revenue also leaving with them.

Boxing needs it's superstars, it's always been an "attraction" sport. And I just don't see anyone on the horizon that can carry the torch.

Especially now with MMA gaining so much popularity and replacing boxing as the world's premier combat sport.

Boxing is in rough shape.

[holmcall]

Given the puke-provoking undercards, I do indeed.

[fan johnny]

Aren't PPV an extension of the live gate? Live TV needs sponsors to air, Sponsors need the audiance viewership for value to be there. For most non-title fights, people just don't have much intrest in watching. PPV makes it easier for the fighter to get a fair cut of the gate. I think a better model would be to go to POD Casts. I would definately stream Martinez vs Cotto or Provodnikov vs Algieri but would have a hard time buying the PPV. If there were a POD Cast @$5-10 bucks, I would buy it in a heart beat. It's not the PPV that hurts boxing, it's the promoter.

[generalbulldog]

When Floyd and Pacqiao retires, they both will take a lot of revenues and whatever little interest that is in boxing with them. I can't wait for that day. Boxing has to really hit rock bottom for a lot of reformation to take place. It has to get really worse before it gets better. Problem is will boxing rebound with MMA now being the top combat sport in terms of participation and viewership?

[cyclone]

You guys have to realize that with Manny and Floyd gone, you're also taking about a ton of revenue also leaving with them.

Boxing needs it's superstars, it's always been an "attraction" sport. And I just don't see anyone on the horizon that can carry the torch.

Especially now with MMA gaining so much popularity and replacing boxing as the world's premier combat sport.

Boxing is in rough shape.

MMA is in rough shape..save your tears for that shit.

[Beanflicker]

Boxing is in rough shape.

MMA is in rough shape..save your tears for that shit.[/QUOTE]

Yeah? Are they really?

[cyclone]

No they are not. What is ruining boxing is rival promoters not willing to do business and corrupt organisations fixing rankings and hiring corrupt judges. Thats all thats ruining boxing.

In MMA the best fight the best. Why isnt it the same in boxing?

MMA doesn't have many top fighters.

The best fighting the best is more like trash fighting trash....for PEANUTS.

[Mark TKO]

I'd be more likely to pay for double header ppvs

There was a time they'd schedule a UK fight eg Naz, Benn, Eubank etc to be on same night as Holyfield, Tyson, Lewis fight etc...

One payment to get both - I didn't mind that