If Hatton vs Pacquiao doesn't do Big PPV numbers does it mean MMA is bigger?

[Moono]

MMA PPV's are CHEAPER than boxing PPV's....Boxers make a ton more money than MMA fighters.

not really MMA ppv is pretty good price it used to be 29 bucks 5 years ago now its 44 bucks.

and Boxers make more money but only the stars.

[El Kabong]

Boxers on the whole make more than MMA fighters...the stars of boxing make more than the stars of MMA and the average boxer makes more than the average MMA fighter....Boxing is economically better for the fighter AND the fan.

[Rocky Balboa]

Totally right about the history thing. Boxing has been around as an actual sport for more than a century. You can't beat that kind of history. Boxing will never surpass MMA. I think its like a fad. Everyone thinks its cool to like MMA. It won't last, or at least I hope. I can't even stand watching MMA. A bunch of guys rolling on each other? No thanks. I also know what its like to actually fight and it doesn't compare to boxing. MMA is, or at least I hope, a fad and people will come back to boxing.

Now boxing needs some serious upgrades. There needs to be one system. Not these multitudes of belts stuff. When they say he's the heavyweight champion of the world it should be THE not "one of them". There should be one and one only. Officials need to stop being money greedy and plan for the good of the sport. Boxing is dying, face it. And we need a Muhammad Ali (a guy just as popular outside the ring as inside) to rise up and carry boxing. And I'm sure there will be a guy like that someday. A superstar, a guy that people (even non-boxing fans) love. Love him or not, Muhammad Ali was a popular guy. But that's just chance. That the right guy will come (yes, it's the right time). Now what I hope... is its myself

[Spicoli]

"Bigger" is not always better and in this case its like trying to compare the ill fated XFL leauge to the Long standing NFL.But at least up till now MMA has Vince McMahon beat in longevity

[El Kabong]

"Bigger" is not always better and in this case its like trying to compare the ill fated XFL leauge to the Long standing NFL.But at least up till now MMA has Vince McMahon beat in longevity

OK what about Donald Trump and the USFL

[Hunter]

MMA has a way to go before it can come close to matching boxing.....

One of the biggest problems with MMA is the minute you fall in love with a fighter he gets his asked kicked...there is not much room for errror so it is VERY HARD to build up super stars... and super stars are what draws the fans......

I follow boxing and MMA closely but still prefer boxing.....

[Heavy D]

I'll preface by saying that I'm from the MMA board, before anyone even asks:

I can't believe all the unfounded MMA hatred on here. It's 2009 guys, not 1993. This isn't the same "no holds barred bloodfest" it used to be. These guys are world class athletes, and like the sport or not, at least give them that respect.

MMAs biggest problem is that it is still a foundling sport in the sanctioned sports arena. It's still working out it's kinks, from unifying rules to clearing itself of it's image from it's earlier days. But what it comes down to (in my opinion) is that both sports are two men, set against each other in combat, with only one man to emerge the victor. MMA gives the combatants more options than boxers and gives rise to so many different scenarios. I started a boxing fan, and it holds a great place in my heart, but to me the struggle is that much better when the fighters are given more options to get their victory.

That whole rant aside, MMA is a long ways away from overtaking boxing. A few bad shows or some shady publicity will kill a MMA organization (EliteXC and Pride, as respective examples), but boxing has always overcome such problems. However, as the UFC steadily gains more and more fans, more and more boxers will be compelled to try their hand at MMA instead of straight boxing (which is why, for the record, MMA is so full of grapplers: where else can they ply that trade and make cash?), and I expect that is when boxing fans should start to "worry."

Edit: I dunno...I'm having trouble following my own post, so if you can't, I apologize :P