Is Tyson's World Tour a promising idea for old champs?

[Cortez The Killer]

George Foreman didn't need a world tour and he was an old champ. He did it the REAL way.

I always have had a soft spot for Tyson, but I would be very disappointed if "world tours" after a boxer's career is over became the norm. And, not many fighters, and arguably NO heaveyweights were more exciting than Tyson..so i think it's the exception that he's able to do one successfully (If it's even considered successful, I havent followed it at all). I think for many ex-champs having a "world tour" would bomb and be a failure. Only very few elite fighters would be able to attract an audience for such a thing.

I agree that no boxers should have a PPV world tour but live exhibition events featuring our favourite hero's from the past I think would be a great idea.

Forget about it being real boxing, the question I'm asking is whether a boxer's appreciation lies solely in his being able to compete at a world level, or if like musicians, actors and other entertainers their true appeal lies within the man himself?

So for example a Benn Eubank exhibition fight would certainly not be a real event and I wouldn#t want it to be so. But to see them in the ring again, just sparring even, brings back some nostalgic feelings which allow for a very entertaining evening.

Don't get me wrong I don't want to see PPV world tours popping up but imagine if Benn and Eubank did a national UK tour fighting a 4 round exhibition in cities throughout the country, and not just big venues but little cities like Southampton, Plymouth, Leicester etc couldn't that be an interesting event?

Just for the opportunity to see them both in the ring together again, and this time without the hostility of real fighting would result in a nice enjoyable feel good night out I think.

I guess it ultimately depends on whether you regard your boxing hero's as 'entertainers' or not.

Personally though I'd rather watch Roberto Duran punch a heavybag for 20 minutes in his current condition than go to a pop concert. I'm talking as a live event here, obviously I wouldnt download a video of Duran punching a heavybag but you know what I mean!

If Duran was fighting a 4 round exhibition with Tommy Hearns in my home town next weekend I would want tickets, and that's what I'm talking about, not a television event , rather attending a live event.

I think such live exhibitions could prove popular as say an alternative to a night out a comedy club for example.

Hahaha, can't wait to see that on PPV: Duran punching Heavybag for 20 minutes...LIVE from Duran's basement!

Forget about it being real boxing, the question I'm asking is whether a boxer's appreciation lies solely in his being able to compete at a world level, or if like musicians, actors and other entertainers their true appeal lies within the man himself?

I know what you mean and that sentence of yours put it well. I guess it really depends on the fans, the fighter, and why the fans liked the fighter. It's hard to compare a sport like boxing with musicians, actors, etc. Though there are fighters who I feel fond of, it's mostly the intangibles of the sport I like: heart, the competition, the need to perform at such a high level, etc. I think a lot of people feel the same way..if you are going to pay to see someone fight....you want to see them FIGHT. Or at least I do. I can think of a few exceptions, but they would all be considered legends and all of which I would just be happy to meet. I'd be more interested in meeting a lot of ex-fighters than seeing them give a performance that isn't going to compare to what they used to do. I don't think "World Tour" type events would work at all. Maybe if there were legends involved...like your example of Duran, or Leonard than I think it would be worth seeing as well. It's the kind of thing I would only be interested in seeing in person, certainly not PPV.

Still, like I said I dont think it would be a good idea. I think overall such a thing would be very unsuccessful for 99.9 % of former champs..and a lot of people might just see it as a money making scheme. But boxing fans are used to that.

I really think that Tyson was the one fighter that a world-tour could have/did work for. People are going to be fascinated with him for a long time.


You made some good points for it bilbo and had me giving it more consideration than I thought I wouldve, but I think most of the public would view it as a scam and even legends like Duran would have trouble selling tickets for such a thing (other than certain areas). I think the idea of hacing the world tour on ppv is pushing it; but like I think it was you who said a few weeks ago about Tyson's world tour: it gives people a chance to see him perform who never would have been able to otherwise and I'm sure it's more than worth the money to them.