Boxing's Global Shift

[TitoFan]

I hear ya regarding Saudi Arabia. This is where I part company with those who call themselves boxing fans, but seem more like accountants going over the dollars and cents of boxing.

The Saudis may be able to pour money on top of money to basically force the issue of holding big events there. But the Saudi fan base will never be the fervent fan base of a Madison Square Garden, a Vegas venue, or some of the British boxing sites. For starters, the Saudis have zero presence in world class boxing circles, and about as much history. Something I've loved about world title fights in the aforementioned venues, especially between rival countries, is the electric atmosphere money can't buy.

Still... the gist of the article is true in the sense that boxing is shifting its epicenter a bit, away from the U.S. That, again is my opinion, is due to the drop in U.S. dominance, especially in the heavyweight division.

But I was surprised how the author ignored the other powers on this side of the pond, namely Puerto Rico and Mexico, with the latter being mentioned only a couple of times, and the former none.

Why the fuck would it name Puerto Rico? They don't even have any current champions. They are no longer a Boxing power. Far from it.

I'm sure you're gonna mention Oscar Collazo. But nobody cares about the strawweight division. And if I remembered correctly he was born in New Jersey.

Every once in awhile that rock budges slightly, and you ooze out from under it.

Been awhile.... put on some sunblock, it's bright out there.

[Denilson3.0]

The Saudi's are spending a lot of their oil money to diversify their economy because they know the oil will eventually dry up. Based on current known oil reserves and if consumption remains the same we have about 47 years of oil left. So they are throwing money at the problem, it's why Qatar also got the world cup and got the world athletics championships. These oil countries see sporting events as a way to create tourism with the hope people who come first for the sport will return in following years.

The goal isn't to ever make money from boxing it's to change how people view the country and turn it into a tourist hot spot by bringing big events like this to the country and draw in tourists. It's bit like the "Rumble in the Jungle" with Ali Vs Foreman in Africa -Zaire or the "Thriller in Manila" with Ali Vs Frazier and the Philippines. Terrible despotic leaders trying to rehab their image without changing anything other than throwing a few big events. Difference being the Saudi's have deeper pockets than Mobutu Sese Seko and Ferdinand Marcos.

Before the Saudis we had

• Too many fake champion's.
• Too many shitty rematches.
• Too many generations didn't get hooked on it.
• Too many boxing gyms shut down.
• Too many absorbent prices for shitty pay per views.
• Too many networks bailed out.
• Too many times we didn't get the matches we wanted to see
• Too little talent.

And all at a time when it has to compete with MMA.