Why is MMA a threat to boxing?

[generalbulldog]

its not a threat at all.

its just like rugby, American football or soccer. similar but has their own set of fans.

you could be right, i keep on seeing lots of times on this forum comments like "no wonder mma is taking over", so i thought id ask why?

I made such a comment and my reason being is that at least in MMA, whether it be the now defunct Pride or UFC, they manage to appease their fanbase more than boxing, and I have to say that they do a much better and thorough job attracting new fans than boxing.

In boxing you have 4+ champions in 17 weight divisions that don't fight the best half the time. Way too many divisions and way too many belts along with way too much bullshit politics. MMA doesn't have that problem, well except for Fedor not fighting the best, but he's the only 1 I can think of. Another thing I respect about MMA is at least if there is a shoddy decision, there's usually a rematch on the way like Machida-Shogun. In boxing 1 guy doesn't want a rematch and probably runs off fighting other guys or goes to another division. Then in boxing you have hyped up shitty fighters that picks and chooses their fights way too much and are manufactured, Amir Khan is a prime example.

[generalbulldog]

And about attracting new fans. Boxing in the old days was on regular network tv like NBC, ABC, and CBS. It's completely disappear in today's time in the USA. Back then my dad watched a young Muhammad Ali rose up through the ranks and challenge Liston for the title, he saw a young Duran, Leonard, Hearns, Hagler rise up in the same way, hell as a little kid I still remember watching a young Pernell Whitaker, Holyfield, Taylor, rising up through regular network tv in the 80s. Nowadays to watch those young prospects you better have a subscription to premium cable channels like HBO or Showtime. IMO and it has been documented by boxing historians, that the move from regular network tv to premium cable has severely hurt boxing and limited their exposure to a whole new generation.

You guys know why the NFL, NBA, and MLB are so popular in the US? It's on free regular network tv including the playoffs. They don't limit their exposure. Sure the NFL can go to a PPV for the superbowl or moving their games to premium cable and it will make boatloads of cash, but in the long run it hurts the sport.

Boxing shot itself in the foot by these decisions. In the 80s boxing was still a mainstream sport in the USA, what happened? Moving to premium cable where an entire generation wasn't that exposed to it. sure in the internet age you can catch a stream or watch it on youtube, but limiting your exposure on free network tv hinders the sport from growing.

I still love boxing, and always will, but boxing has a lot of problems.

[El Kabong]

I think eventually MMA and Boxing can have a Bo Jackson/Deon Sanders type of two sport star....but to be honest I think it'll be a lot easier for that to happen if the guy is a boxer first and MMA fighter second because you're going from strict rules to not so strict rules.

[rjj tszyu]

I think eventually MMA and Boxing can have a Bo Jackson/Deon Sanders type of two sport star....but to be honest I think it'll be a lot easier for that to happen if the guy is a boxer first and MMA fighter second because you're going from strict rules to not so strict rules.

I completely agree with this. I think Mercer is a prime example of this too. Don't get me wrong I know he'll never be UFC HW champ, but he showed that boxing has a serious chance in MMA when he KO'd the former UFC champ Tim Sylvia in 8 seconds in a cage. And that is a man who is something like 15-16 years younger than him.

[El Kabong]

I completely agree with this. I think Mercer is a prime example of this too. Don't get me wrong I know he'll never be UFC HW champ, but he showed that boxing has a serious chance in MMA when he KO'd the former UFC champ Tim Sylvia in 8 seconds in a cage. And that is a man who is something like 15-16 years younger than him.

I truthfully think that the best way to stop a boxer isn't so much with wrestling and submissions because as long as a boxer can keep his hands free he can do damage, it's vs a kicker that takes away leg strength, the ability to sit down on punches, and reach.

Look at Carwin-Lesnar and tell me had a power punching heavyweight in boxing landed on Brock he couldn't have starched him out....I wouldn't want someone that had snap on their punches to land ANYTHING on my face or body with 4 oz gloves.

[rjj tszyu]

I completely agree with this. I think Mercer is a prime example of this too. Don't get me wrong I know he'll never be UFC HW champ, but he showed that boxing has a serious chance in MMA when he KO'd the former UFC champ Tim Sylvia in 8 seconds in a cage. And that is a man who is something like 15-16 years younger than him.

I truthfully think that the best way to stop a boxer isn't so much with wrestling and submissions because as long as a boxer can keep his hands free he can do damage, it's vs a kicker that takes away leg strength, the ability to sit down on punches, and reach.

Look at Carwin-Lesnar and tell me had a power punching heavyweight in boxing landed on Brock he couldn't have starched him out....I wouldn't want someone that had snap on their punches to land ANYTHING on my face or body with 4 oz gloves.

This is something I can totally agree with you on Lyle.

[El Kabong]

I completely agree with this. I think Mercer is a prime example of this too. Don't get me wrong I know he'll never be UFC HW champ, but he showed that boxing has a serious chance in MMA when he KO'd the former UFC champ Tim Sylvia in 8 seconds in a cage. And that is a man who is something like 15-16 years younger than him.

I truthfully think that the best way to stop a boxer isn't so much with wrestling and submissions because as long as a boxer can keep his hands free he can do damage, it's vs a kicker that takes away leg strength, the ability to sit down on punches, and reach.

Look at Carwin-Lesnar and tell me had a power punching heavyweight in boxing landed on Brock he couldn't have starched him out....I wouldn't want someone that had snap on their punches to land ANYTHING on my face or body with 4 oz gloves.

This is something I can totally agree with you on Lyle.

...well I'm glad we found something to agree on

[0james0]

I catch the odd UFC on, there is a bit about, but most the stuff I see is old.

I was saying the other day how I think Chuck could have knocked a few people out in his day, no doubting he hit hard and he'd be hard as fuck to knock out.

They'd probably struggle to a true boxer in terms of style, a puncher they could brawl with, but a dodger with good feet would frustrate them.

I think if a boxer went to MMA they would be too vunerable to submissions, just through lack of knowledge. Certain MMA fighters prob could box and would find it easy to take punches and stalk down opponents, but I still think they'd struggle unless they could turn it into a brawl.

I'm suprised Lesnar hasn't done it, he's done just about everything else. I'm sure he'd take a few heavyweights!

[El Kabong]

I was saying the other day how I think Chuck could have knocked a few people out in his day, no doubting he hit hard and he'd be hard as fuck to knock out.

I'm suprised Lesnar hasn't done it, he's done just about everything else. I'm sure he'd take a few heavyweights!

I don't think so, Chuck Liddell would have been found out early in boxing. You CANNOT just drop your jab by your side like that and live to tell the tale vs guys who know what they are doing. He would be a dangerous puncher, but he would have been sparked early and often given how he threw his punches and what he did after throwing a punch

Lesnar is just a wrestler....he can't box. The style that he has success with is wrestling and getting opponents on the ground...you can't do either of those in boxing. Shane Carwin can punch, but I HIGHLY doubt he'd be a decent heavyweight even given the state of the division right now.

I think the guy that would have done the best in boxing is Arlovski before his chin went.

[rjj tszyu]

I was saying the other day how I think Chuck could have knocked a few people out in his day, no doubting he hit hard and he'd be hard as fuck to knock out.

I'm suprised Lesnar hasn't done it, he's done just about everything else. I'm sure he'd take a few heavyweights!

I don't think so, Chuck Liddell would have been found out early in boxing. You CANNOT just drop your jab by your side like that and live to tell the tale vs guys who know what they are doing. He would be a dangerous puncher, but he would have been sparked early and often given how he threw his punches and what he did after throwing a punch

Lesnar is just a wrestler....he can't box. The style that he has success with is wrestling and getting opponents on the ground...you can't do either of those in boxing. Shane Carwin can punch, but I HIGHLY doubt he'd be a decent heavyweight even given the state of the division right now.

I think the guy that would have done the best in boxing is Arlovski before his chin went.

Apparently Arlovski is going to be giving boxing a go soon. Golden Boy have signed him up.

As for Liddell, I totally agree again. Could you imagine him trying the "Superman Punch" against a top class boxer?? He would seriously be risking losing his head trying that shit out.

[El Kabong]

Look how Rampage stopped Chuck....that's boxing 101 right there!



That Left hook never came back to the guard position and like every other MMA fighter his chin was up in the air unprotected.

I think Rampage could have done ok in boxing had he trained in it his whole life. Apparently Freddy Roach had been training Arlovski.

[0james0]

I think against the right fighters, Rampage and Chuck could have won a few fights before being found out.

Would Chuck had been KO'd though with bigger gloves and a rule to stop you smashing his face in when he's on the floor?

What do they weigh out of interest?

[El Kabong]

I think against the right fighters, Rampage and Chuck could have won a few fights before being found out.

Would Chuck had been KO'd though with bigger gloves and a rule to stop you smashing his face in when he's on the floor?

What do they weigh out of interest?

They would both be cruiserweights 205 is light heavyweight in UFC

Yes Chuck would have been KO'd because unlike MMA you HAVE to get up by 10 and then come to scratch...if he got up, he'd still be shakey and easy to pick off.

[El Kabong]

I'm more than willing to wear a tux...I wouldn't be caught dead in an Affliction t-shirt.

There's "classy" and then there's "classless" and I prefer boxing to be classy.

[Drago]

I'm more than willing to wear a tux...I wouldn't be caught dead in an Affliction t-shirt.

There's "classy" and then there's "classless" and I prefer boxing to be classy.

i would rather be caught in an affliction shirt than a liverpool shirt (i couldnt resist that lyle ha ha)