Quote Originally Posted by 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.
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!