Boxing has changed. Whether we like the changes or not is something else.

[Primo Carnera]

I agree with all the sentiments of the posts in this thread.

Free boxing is now rare and a very poor standard on Channel 5. Gone are the days we saw Mike Tyson on ITV or Benn v Eubanks v Watson. Sky took the boxing away and it has then further dispersed through BT, FITE and DAZN. No way a fan of the sport could follow that legally.

The PPV are too regular, overpriced and very poor.

The top boxers are too well paid so now they do not box regularly and avoid the dangerous fighters unless they have no other option and is their last resort. It was frustrating that Fury did not fight Usyk and is now really taking on an exhibition fight when he should be undisputed champion.

The young boxers coming up like Ben Whitaker have to work even harder to get some exposure. They do not have a free to air TV channels where you can watch them grow and develop to learn their trade as we saw with Bruno/Herol Graham/Barry McGuigan on BBC.

Minor celebrities and fighters from other disciplines are earning vast amounts of money and receiving exposure that real boxers are becoming side lined. Teo v Josh Taylor was in a small part of MSG instead You tubers get bigger crowds boxing non-boxers. That is truly wrong.

We are hardcore fans of boxing on this site and if we have a hard time following it then the casuals have no idea what is happening to the sport.

Boxing has made itself a minority sport chasing the money at all costs and throwing away it's values and principles.

To add to this, even when the dangerous fights will guarantee big money they still don't fight. Wilder vs Joshua should have happened years ago when both were still undefeated and now the hype and excitement is gone with multiple losses for both.

That sentence is correct. But this is the problem in Boxing, the fight is worth way more now than it ever was when they were undefeated champions. And THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

[TitoFan]

I agree with all the sentiments of the posts in this thread.

Free boxing is now rare and a very poor standard on Channel 5. Gone are the days we saw Mike Tyson on ITV or Benn v Eubanks v Watson. Sky took the boxing away and it has then further dispersed through BT, FITE and DAZN. No way a fan of the sport could follow that legally.

The PPV are too regular, overpriced and very poor.

The top boxers are too well paid so now they do not box regularly and avoid the dangerous fighters unless they have no other option and is their last resort. It was frustrating that Fury did not fight Usyk and is now really taking on an exhibition fight when he should be undisputed champion.

The young boxers coming up like Ben Whitaker have to work even harder to get some exposure. They do not have a free to air TV channels where you can watch them grow and develop to learn their trade as we saw with Bruno/Herol Graham/Barry McGuigan on BBC.

Minor celebrities and fighters from other disciplines are earning vast amounts of money and receiving exposure that real boxers are becoming side lined. Teo v Josh Taylor was in a small part of MSG instead You tubers get bigger crowds boxing non-boxers. That is truly wrong.

We are hardcore fans of boxing on this site and if we have a hard time following it then the casuals have no idea what is happening to the sport.

Boxing has made itself a minority sport chasing the money at all costs and throwing away it's values and principles.

To add to this, even when the dangerous fights will guarantee big money they still don't fight. Wilder vs Joshua should have happened years ago when both were still undefeated and now the hype and excitement is gone with multiple losses for both.

That sentence is correct. But this is the problem in Boxing, the fight is worth way more now than it ever was when they were undefeated champions. And THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

That's an indictment of fans more than it is of anything else.

[Joseph L.]

boxing became more global, so there is now less interest by the local public.

[Master]

boxing became more global, so there is now less interest by the local public.

Waiting for your spam post.

[Spicoli]

It's odd right now. Showtime bowing out of boxing in 2024 is pretty much a done deal. And with that PBC is sent adrift like a band of nomads seeking another refuge. But that where the problem in big picture...so many see it a PBC problem or even a 'good' thing because well, it's PBC. But it's boxing that'll take the hit regardless. Simply in basic fight coverage. We're so steeped in anti-promoter this and ripping other platforms that. Constant tribalism on the politricks of boxing rather than "hey, who's fighting next". They'll go to another streaming service and app as so many now. Really was just a matter of time. Definitely not Dazn who can hardly manage a consistent high quality product and production. At least this year, it's been pretty bad. Maybe Paramount + or now talk of Prime video in talks with pbc. Half their guys are pre spoiled on the enormous money per fight, but I can easily see more inactivity with one less consistent long existing platform for monthly exposure. So ultimately after all these decades, the one that was always ridiculed as "just espn fights" is ironically the sole survivor on cable tv . Boxing fans we're definitely in a big ol transition.

[Spicoli]

Sooooo, where are we now after Saturday's giant circus tent implosion? Love him or hate him...clearly it feels the atlas has shifted a bit. I hear the question every couple of hours, did Fury embarrass himself or did he embarrass boxing on whole. I'm going with the latter. But as I've said too many times boxing and fans also have themselves to blame. I mean the enablers and the gullible. Sellers, buyers and promoters of the obvious clear farce prior to the opening bell. Now apparently Ngannou has Hearn mentioning AJ for a "fight" and a half concussed Deontay Wilder trying to get him some 0-1 Francis . Jebus. What have we thrown the door open for. Maybe it'll remain a divisional thing regarding the heavyweights. Or drip drip into other crossover cash grab dribble matches.

Know what I see...nothing but more than a few actual up n comers, contenders and top 10 fighters being passed up. It's happening right now and has been. Boxing feels like it has lost much of its developmental ground and gradual process. What is the motivation for any top guy who has dedicated 5,10,12 years to a boxing niche, rank and looking for just 1 single crack at the "big" stage and payoff when the boxing establishment...for the most part...drops its pants, breaks out its clown nose and big red shoes and makes what should have been a toss away exhibition with a total novice into a now lineal championship affair. Boxing is in a rough spot, if ever there was a time when it desperately needed to know what it wants to be when it grows up, it's now! Stop enabling clowns.

[TitoFan]

Sooooo, where are we now after Saturday's giant circus tent implosion? Love him or hate him...clearly it feels the atlas has shifted a bit. I hear the question every couple of hours, did Fury embarrass himself or did he embarrass boxing on whole. I'm going with the latter. But as I've said too many times boxing and fans also have themselves to blame. I mean the enablers and the gullible. Sellers, buyers and promoters of the obvious clear farce prior to the opening bell. Now apparently Ngannou has Hearn mentioning AJ for a "fight" and a half concussed Deontay Wilder trying to get him some 0-1 Francis . Jebus. What have we thrown the door open for. Maybe it'll remain a divisional thing regarding the heavyweights. Or drip drip into other crossover cash grab dribble matches.

Know what I see...nothing but more than a few actual up n comers, contenders and top 10 fighters being passed up. It's happening right now and has been. Boxing feels like it has lost much of its developmental ground and gradual process. What is the motivation for any top guy who has dedicated 5,10,12 years to a boxing niche, rank and looking for just 1 single crack at the "big" stage and payoff when the boxing establishment...for the most part...drops its pants, breaks out its clown nose and big red shoes and makes what should have been a toss away exhibition with a total novice into a now lineal championship affair. Boxing is in a rough spot, if ever there was a time when it desperately needed to know what it wants to be when it grows up, it's now! Stop enabling clowns.

I hear ya. It's 95% the heavyweights, IMO. You just don't see this type of shet in all the divisions below it.

Problem is... HW's have always been, and will always be, the most visible division in boxing. At least to the eyes of the casual fan.

So they're seeing this circus play out... and some of them even think this is what boxing's supposed to be like.