Quote Originally Posted by VanChilds
I'm a Sergeant in an Infantry company. So I work closely with 120+ guys between the ages of 18-38. I can say this most of them could name the UFC's belt holders easier then any particular 5 boxing champs. They buy the PPVs and watch freebies much more so than boxing. We also train in Army combatives which is a toned down version of MMA. A number of guys have started to compete as well. Now I know that Infantry soldiers aren't a perfect microcosm but we do come from all walks of life and they are much more interested in MMA than boxing. I personally grew up on boxing but have been turned off over the last several years. I enjoy training in MMA and respect the fighters as great atheletes and technical fighters. I like having one champion, I like having most of the fights that I want to see actually happen, I like how the fight cards usually have multiple fights I'm interested in, I like that MMA fights usually dont end in controversial decisions. For me I feel like I get more for my money as a fan of MMA. To me boxing is losing its fanbase not only through the crappy alphabets and promoters but more importantly at its ground base. My hometown of College Station, Tx is close to 200,000 people. It has one boxing gym that barely stays in business and is tucked away in downtown and if you didn't know where it was you'd walk right by it. The dissapearance of boxing gyms is taking more and more of boxings future fans than anything else
You are totally right about too many belts. That is one thing that has put boxing in such a resesion. That and the promoters need to take on the roll as a more of a agent than a pimp. I trhink Golden boy and Bob Arum are the only two I would trust.But that is weird how your town has only one gym. In Akron 330,000 population has i think 8 or nine. Goodshepards is the cutthroat kind. I was their from 1992-1995. Boxing is huge in my neck of the woods.Cleveland right up the street has over 13.But it seems Youngstown gets all the credit they have produced world champs and now a new glimmer of hope to try to mask its bullet ridden past in Kelly the Ghost Pavlik. I guess it could be a geography thing too. Both these citys are about 40 minutes away from me. Sad thing is Youngstown makes Cleveland look like Beverly Hills.