Why is MMA a threat to boxing?

[0james0]

When did this thread become so good!

I've never really thought of MMA bring a threat to boxing. Then I read this.

Now I'm still on the fence. If you read each post neutrally, each is not wrong and is a compelling argument.

Hmmm. I'm still unsure.

[SEB]

Yes I understand your point, I don't forget that Brock made 450.000$ the last time he fought which is ridiculous compared to Mayweather or Pacquiao.

nonetheless, I agree with you that if Dana doesn't increase the salary of the fighters, the show won't attract the next "athletes" of tomorrow.

May I just draw your attention to the fact that it IS the case with boxing. Boxing doesn't have the best athletes, they go in NFL or NBA period.

[rjj tszyu]

Yes I understand your point, I don't forget that Brock made 450.000$ the last time he fought which is ridiculous compared to Mayweather or Pacquiao.

nonetheless, I agree with you that if Dana doesn't increase the salary of the fighters, the show won't attract the next "athletes" of tomorrow.

May I just draw your attention to the fact that it IS the case with boxing. Boxing doesn't have the best athletes, they go in NFL or NBA period.

As far as I am concerned the UFC is what is making MMA so popular, but also IMO they will be what breaks MMA in the longrun. They can't afford to pay huge wages and have stacked cards, so at the minute they are getting away with low wages (in comparison to elite boxers) but having very stacked cards. But ODLH has already shown interest in putting MMA cards on and if promoters like that start dishing out boxing money then the UFC will lose the stars.

Another thing that will be a downfall for the UFC is all this "you must work exclusively for the UFC" that Dana insists on. They could have signed Fedor last year if they had just let him continue his Sambo career outside of MMA but they wouldn't and in turn missed out on what would be the biggest HW fight in MMA history between him and Lesnar. Now that Fedor has lost too it will not have the same appeal even though I think he would destroy Werdum in a rematch.

I think in the longrun boxing will make a comeback and become the sport it was in the 90's again although it may never be the force of the 70's. It is back as the second most watched sport in the world again believe it or not too just not in the U.S or the U.K.

In an ideal world the likes of Mayweather and co could do with losing some of the greed for the good of their sport. I heard reports that there was the potential for Mayweather and Pac to make £60 million each if they fought this november. Now why not just accept a mere £25 million each and leave the extra £70 million to having an extra 7 world title bouts on the card? Hell, there is certainly enough world titles in boxing to have that capability.

As for the best athletes being in the NBA and NFL, I know nothing about either but I believe you probably right. Why would they come to boxing at the moment? The HW division is a mess and if you do beat the top men right now you've only done it in a "weak era". And then there is the fact that stepping into a boxing ring you are risking your life whereas in Basketball and football it would take a freak accident for someone to die and that could happen with any job.

I do feel that boxing will comeback though, it will just take a young, hungry, in shape and probably American HW to get the juices flowing again like Tyson did in the mid 80's after the dire early 80's and then the likes of the Evanders, Lennox's and Bowes will follow. We just need that fuel injection of excitement in the HW division and then the rest will follow.

[0james0]

I've come to the conclusion that boxing is just very special, very different from any other sport. No other sport could get away with what boxing does.

From the facts people have quoted, wrestling is the most popular pastime and people get bought up with it, yet boxing still outshines MMA, in both money made and the number of fans.

The money in boxing is simply incredible and the more exclusive it becomes, the more money there will be. Vegas will always love boxing and sponsors will always love to spend a fortune on it.

MMA won't overtake boxing and even if it did in terms of fan numbers, it still wouldn't be a threat to boxing as they could operate side by side.

[SEB]

Yes, we share the same hope...