Is boxing dying in the US?

[El Kabong]

......you people forget that FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. couldn't fill up Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI, USA (his hometown) in 2003.


Certain boxers, even ones that are great can't draw crowds......but let me ask you where the MMA Arturo Gatti is?



Where's the guy who is just an average blue collar fighter but can sell out pretty much any arena at anytime?

[smashup]

Thing is though mate,it's every fight now,one after the other of pure boredom.
He's the Champ and needs to start fighting like one.

[chuckyboy481]

Everyone on this post has made some pretty good points. I wouldn't mind seeing some younger commentators in boxing. Larry Merchant takes about 3 days to finish a sentence. As for promoters and things like that, I've thought for a while that someone ought to bring all of these belts and what not under one banner. Possible get the govt. involved? I don't know how to solve it but something has to change. One of you guys hit the nail on the head when you said that a huge fight comes along about every 5 years or so. There is so much potential for some great fights right now but everyone is scared of losing their "0". UFC fighters for the most part don't have a choice. You have to fight the best one out there if you're the champ. I think that's one of the reasons it's gaining so much popularity.

[Kev]

......you people forget that FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. couldn't fill up Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI, USA (his hometown) in 2003.


Certain boxers, even ones that are great can't draw crowds......but let me ask you where the MMA Arturo Gatti is?



Where's the guy who is just an average blue collar fighter but can sell out pretty much any arena at anytime?

Randy Couture has lost more times than Gatti and has probably generated more PPV buys.

I think the big difference with MMA though is that they sell a show, a complete entertainment package whereas boxing just sells one fight and if that fight isn't up to scratch the card sucks.

Also, and I think shamelessly HBO charge more for the big fights than they do regular fights, a display of greed that leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

UFC PPV's are generally cheaper and virtually always offer far better value for money with usually 8 fights televised on one PPV contrasted with HBO's usual two.

It's not that the actuall fights are better in MMA, although the judging and reffing nearly always is, it's just they put together a far more entertaining show than the likes of HBO, Showtime etc.

Pride especially just rocked, nothing like it in boxing, the crazy commentator women, the flashing lights and pyrotecknics, the awesome victory music, the ticker tape and confetti rained down on the winners it's just a soooooooooooo much better spectacle than your usual HBO fare even for a big mega fight.

[MPhelan]

No one knows who the hell anyone is in boxing, except for the absolutely biggest fighters (DLH, Hopkins, etc.) and the Contender guys. The problem with the Contender fighters is they kind of disappear after the show. I didn't even know Stevie Forbes was fighting D. Hopkins until the day before when a friend said, "your local boy is fighting on the Marquez card"

I think the "Contender Challenge" might help with this, but thing that will ultimately determine the viability of boxing for the long term is one title-giving organization and a ranking system that works. Barring this pipe dream, encouraging fighters to unify titles would be great. I'm sick of big name fighters fighting meaningless matchups. Using Klitschko as an example, who the hell was Ray Austin to vie for his title?

Whatever any of you think about the UFC, the top ranked fighters generally fight the other top ranked fighters and the champion is always defending his title against game opponents. People know who the champions are, and at least a few of their challengers. Few people in MMA have inflated records. That's what is so exciting, there's generally only one or two fights on a given UFC card that reek of mismatch, but boxing is full of them.

I think boxing promoters would be wise to figure out ways to capture all the new fight fans that joined because of MMA. Mixed-event cards would be a good start. Partner up with the ring based MMA promotions (or if the UFC ever decides to get rid of that ridiculous cage) and put some 4 and 6 round fights on a card. Introduce MMA fans to boxing and pique their interest. Events like this are common in some of the leading kickboxing countries: Holland, Japan, and Brazil. I think it would be a good device to spread boxing in the States.

[Kev]

No one knows who the hell anyone is in boxing, except for the absolutely biggest fighters (DLH, Hopkins, etc.) and the Contender guys. The problem with the Contender fighters is they kind of disappear after the show. I didn't even know Stevie Forbes was fighting D. Hopkins until the day before when a friend said, "your local boy is fighting on the Marquez card"

I think the "Contender Challenge" might help with this, but thing that will ultimately determine the viability of boxing for the long term is one title-giving organization and a ranking system that works. Barring this pipe dream, encouraging fighters to unify titles would be great. I'm sick of big name fighters fighting meaningless matchups. Using Klitschko as an example, who the hell was Ray Austin to vie for his title?

Whatever any of you think about the UFC, the top ranked fighters generally fight the other top ranked fighters and the champion is always defending his title against game opponents. People know who the champions are, and at least a few of their challengers. Few people in MMA have inflated records. That's what is so exciting, there's generally only one or two fights on a given UFC card that reek of mismatch, but boxing is full of them.

I think boxing promoters would be wise to figure out ways to capture all the new fight fans that joined because of MMA. Mixed-event cards would be a good start. Partner up with the ring based MMA promotions (or if the UFC ever decides to get rid of that ridiculous cage) and put some 4 and 6 round fights on a card. Introduce MMA fans to boxing and pique their interest. Events like this are common in some of the leading kickboxing countries: Holland, Japan, and Brazil. I think it would be a good device to spread boxing in the States.

They are putting on a dual boxing MMA production in the summer I think. Gary Shaw is actively promoting MMA now with his Elite XC Destiny shows.

I think certainly his productions will in the future combine MMA and boxing cards possibly.

But it must be pointed out that the UFC itself won't be wanting to support any HBO or Showtime cards, from a commerical point of view they are the enemy. And with Dana White and his team buying out Pride last month they have a virtual monoply on the MMA talent pool.

Honestly, and ironically it could be women's MMA that serves to support future boxing cards and that's not actually as bad as that sounds.

If anyone saw Gina Carrano fight on the Elite XC card a few months ago you will know it was probably the fight of the night.; Plus she's hot. Really really really hot in fact.

Putting her on a prefight boxing card would certainly be an 'attraction' if nothing else. I'd actually love to see some really fit MMA birds wrestle and ground and pound each other on the floor before we the boxers come out for the main event. Hell I'd even like to have them covered in foam, lol!

[El Kabong]

Randy Couture has lost more times than Gatti and has probably generated more PPV buys.

That's PPV not arenas sold out.....Arturo Gatti could do jumping jacks in Atlantic City and draw a bigger crowd than a Couture fight

[Kev]

Randy Couture has lost more times than Gatti and has probably generated more PPV buys.

That's PPV not arenas sold out.....Arturo Gatti could do jumping jacks in Atlantic City and draw a bigger crowd than a Couture fight

Yes but apart from De La Hoya Gatti can draw bigger crowds than virtually anybody. Some people just have a huge fanbase.

I'd say the natural successor to him in boxing will be John Duddy, hugely popular with American Irish for reasons that are frankly beyond me.

[BoxingGorilla]

I'd say the natural successor to him in boxing will be John Duddy, hugely popular with American Irish for reasons that are frankly beyond me.
- Bilbo

I can tell you why my g/f likes John Duddy. "He has a sexy voice."

She is going to watch the Duddy fight on MSG tonight at 6:00pm. So, I agree with you 101% on this one, Bilbo. I think he will be a cash cow.

[Kev]

I'd say the natural successor to him in boxing will be John Duddy, hugely popular with American Irish for reasons that are frankly beyond me.
- Bilbo

I can tell you why my g/f likes John Duddy. "He has a sexy voice."

She is going to watch the Duddy fight on MSG tonight at 6:00pm. So, I agree with you 101% on this one, Bilbo. I think he will be a cash cow.

He's sold out Maddison Square garden fighting Antony Bonsante ( ), he already IS a cash cow

[BoxingGorilla]

I like Duddy as well. Still, the first time he gets KTFO I will stick my face an inch from her ear and whisper... pummeled.

Then I will poke her in the ribs with my "saw finger" and laugh.

The pointer finger on my right hand is the "saw finger" and she is deathly afraid of it. I do my best Bruce Lee imppersionation, say "Saaaaaaaaaw" and jab her in the side with it.

[No Contest]

Dont hate Duddy because your girls got the hots for him, Watch "The Great White Hype" I wouldnt be surprised if Duddy isnt even Irish, just putting on an accent

[El Kabong]

....Andy Lee is going to be the man to watch though....he's freaking good


IMO Manny might leave Jermain sometime

[youtube=425,350]mn4pTT3WkHo[/youtube]

You shouldn't have to beg your fighter to FIGHT

[southakron314]

Thats who Edision Miranda should fight in a rebound match.Irish John Duddy and Edison Miranda. If he can beat him then he should look for a rematch in Las Vegas or somewhere in the states with Abraham. Im a big Pavlik fan but I has respect for Miranda too.

[Punisher136]

Lex Luthor has been burying it for months but aparently he doesn't have a big enough shovel to get the job done. Bilbo of course there smore mma fights on a card than on a boxing card because most of those fights are over in under 3 minutes. And saying that something takes alot more skill when upsets happen alot more readily just doesn't pan out.