As a fellow Canadian (which I assume you are since you mentioned TSN) I must agree that it is an absolute bitch to try a watch a fight as it happens. Most big fights are shown on TSN within a month of their occurance. The biggest problem I find, like you said, is the unavailibility of HBO and Showcase up here. The only time I've been able to find a bar showing a live fight was the PBF-ODH fight, which cost $15 just to walk through the door.
MMA is in no way responsible for the demise of boxing, I'll agree with you there as well. It merely filled a niche for the sports fan that boxing had long since alienated through a variety of means.