Boxing's biggest problem is that it's on HBO/Showtime and not on regular tv

[Spicoli]

Its synonymous with the decline of the major three networks and them competing with mass cable and media web now though. Back when you had basic cable finances were more readily available and they had much ore pull. Not to mention it doesn't help that peak weekend time slots are obese on 1001 college and bowl games of every sort. The last fight I remember seeing on ABC(?) was Nate Campbell vs Tiger smalls, or Darling Jimenez

You know what really hurt? ESPN watering down its yearly schedule and losing a USA Tuesday night fights so they could air more wrestling Those were prime developing grounds for many quality guys.

[Master]

I long for the day when boxing goes back to free tv and we can watch the likes of Benn v Eubank, Bruno, McGugan live. The equivalent is now Groves v Gegale, Froch and Khan who would be huge in terms of commercial value and long term success. They should do it and come to ITV and the BBC.

[JazMerkin]

I long for the day when boxing goes back to free tv and we can watch the likes of Benn v Eubank, Bruno, McGugan live. The equivalent is now Groves v Gegale, Froch and Khan who would be huge in terms of commercial value and long term success. They should do it and come to ITV and the BBC.

Those channels are not willing to match what they're worth financially in Khan's case, or provide a regular platform for their promoters (Warren, Fat Mick, Hayemaker) to justify putting them on there. They're not willing to do that, so why should the fighters be sold short. ITV wouldn't even show Froch/Taylor live or as live ffs.

[greynotsoold]

Fights on regular tv are good when they are good fights; they get good ratings and are fun to watch. But they are expensive for the network to put on, because a good fight requires good fighters and you have to pay them. Also, managers aren't willing to risk their prospects on national tv so you get a lot of Star vs. Victim matchups. ESPN, in the 80s, used to have great fights with guys like Tommy Cordoba and Rocky Lopez, among others, but really, today that is almost a career killer. The thinking seems to be that if a guy isn't 28-0, all by KO, that somehow he sucks. That he is limited, or has been exposed, not that he's been in with good opposition, learned and improved.
The biggest thing hurting boxing is the lack of fights for up and coming fighters. There aren't enough places where a guy can fight 4 or 6 rounds every two weeks and learn his trade, without getting fed to some amateur super-star on short notice because he doesn't have money behind him. Think about it...How many guys are considered world champs and veterans at 25 fights and less than 200 rounds? So you get 'top-level' guys with ear muff defense, leaping in with their chin in the air, showing toughness and strength but no "class"...It gets hard to watch.
That's my pet peeve, guys that can't fight and there is no system to change that.

[Rantcatrat]

I just want to point out that Pacquiao v. Mosley, while being aired on Showtime PPV, is getting press on CBS.

I agree completely with the thread, but mainstream tv requires viewers. Does boxing have enough viewers to be on mainstream tv?

Boxing as a sport needs to rebrand itself if it wants to become more mainstream. Europeans are doing a good job with it in a way by having superstar introductions and the video footage of the matches being high quality. For example, watch the Vitali Klitschko's Ali coming out video. Something like revamping the look of the ring so that it is more appealing to tv audiences including making it more high tech. Figuring a way to make the ring walks more electrifying. Having big musical acts at the beginning of the main attraction. Things like that. Boxing needs to somehow gain the hype back.

[greynotsoold]

I don't think I agree with that. Boxing has dignity; it doesn't need to be cartoonish, with 15 minute ring walks. A fighter should be focusing on the guy he'll be fighting, not shaking his ass like Britney Spears or wearing a Darth Vader mask. If I ever trained a fighter and he expressed a desire to perform some elaborate ring walk, I'd sucker punch him.
Same thing with spectacular kos...It is almost like decision don't count any more, that devising a fight plan, executing it, and sticking to it is wrong unless you 'go for the ko.' Put two good fighters in the ring, guys with class and skill, that hit and don't get it, both of them in there to win, you'll have a good fight and people will watch it.
If the idea is to "improve" boxing by appealing the crowd that only wants blood, gore, flying teeth and 'brutal' kos (which is a part of the thing), then you are heading in the wrong direction and it would be best to just let it die.

[Spicoli]

Remember when HBO did that with "Ko Nation" and Ed lover, dancers and singers escorting each fighter to ring. Was a train wreck. Showtime is on the right track when it launched second series concentrating on up and comers. HBO is wayyyyy to self absorbed and internalized. Frankly fans are to blame as well when most of the clamor is focused on a hand full of fighters....and fighters who refuse to fight.

[LukeH]

I don't think I agree with that. Boxing has dignity; it doesn't need to be cartoonish, with 15 minute ring walks. A fighter should be focusing on the guy he'll be fighting, not shaking his ass like Britney Spears or wearing a Darth Vader mask. If I ever trained a fighter and he expressed a desire to perform some elaborate ring walk, I'd sucker punch him.
Same thing with spectacular kos...It is almost like decision don't count any more, that devising a fight plan, executing it, and sticking to it is wrong unless you 'go for the ko.' Put two good fighters in the ring, guys with class and skill, that hit and don't get it, both of them in there to win, you'll have a good fight and people will watch it.
If the idea is to "improve" boxing by appealing the crowd that only wants blood, gore, flying teeth and 'brutal' kos (which is a part of the thing), then you are heading in the wrong direction and it would be best to just let it die.

The thing is what what you have said last is thats what alot of fans are clammering for now. With the rise off MMA as 'competition' people are looking for more in the same in boxing. Besides his out of ring antics most people hate on Mayweather because he's 'boring' and doesnt knock everyone out within 8 rounds, it seems the majority dont regard hitting on not getting hit as a quality worth watching.

[LukeH]

As for the title, I dont know about in the US but in the UK national networks aren't willing to pay enough money to air the fights. Top boxer's demand more money nowadays than they did in the past, the same as every sport, only the networks dont think they will recoup the money they pay out.

Even though I thought the few fights they did show over the past few years did pretty good numbers with little to no promotion . Maybe it wasn't enough for them to feel it was worth while to line their pockets.

[J_Undisputed]

The biggest problem is society. Growing up, there used to be a fight on every Saturday afternoon. Nbc's wide world of sports. CBS, etc. Now a days.. you have all these hyper sensitive parents that complain that putting something like boxing on TV, teaches their kids to be violent. For parents that let the TV raise their kids, it could be. Whatevers on, needs to receive a push from the media networks and being able to net a lot of money per showing and gain the interest of the women of the house. If they had a "boxing with the stars" show everyone and their mom would be tuning into see betty white kick hilary clintons @$$ people would warm up to the sport without even knowing it.
The ufc is on primetime, because with an arsenal of techniques at their disposal, everyone stands a chance of beating everyone else. Also the tap out aspect, gives people the impression that its less barbaric. Professional wrestling manged to throw people through 3 tables and hit them with garbage cans... but its ok.. cuz its just an act. Is the ratio of boxers that threw in the towel vs. guys that died after a fight + the number of plaster wrap, steroid cheats stories worth the number of boring fights that can happen when 6ft 5 ukranian, jabs and sleep walks over a pudgy unheard of heavyweight? Just my two cents....

[IamInuit]

Arum Talks Showtime, HBO's Issues, Shaw, More - Boxing News

Translation = Cluster Fk.

[generalbulldog]

Arum Talks Showtime, HBO's Issues, Shaw, More - Boxing News

Translation = Cluster Fk.

I can't believe I"m saying this but I do agree with Arum, although it was him that was partially at fault for helping to move boxing to premium cable. He has a point especially on the NFL. I was thinking the NFL could make a killing money wise if it was on premium cable and it's playoff games and SB was on PPV, but it would fuck the sport in the long term.

[IamInuit]

Arum Talks Showtime, HBO's Issues, Shaw, More - Boxing News

Translation = Cluster Fk.

I can't believe I"m saying this but I do agree with Arum, although it was him that was partially at fault for helping to move boxing to premium cable. He has a point especially on the NFL. I was thinking the NFL could make a killing money wise if it was on premium cable and it's playoff games and SB was on PPV, but it would fuck the sport in the long term.

From a business standpoint, I suppose it's genius. In the overall question as to why boxing has taken a back seat it is a kind of "which came first the chicken or the egg" scenario. Look, their is something wrong in pugilism when broadcaster's like HBO and Showtime are deciding who fights whom.

[fan johnny]

Arum Talks Showtime, HBO's Issues, Shaw, More - Boxing News

Translation = Cluster Fk.

I can't believe I"m saying this but I do agree with Arum, although it was him that was partially at fault for helping to move boxing to premium cable. He has a point especially on the NFL. I was thinking the NFL could make a killing money wise if it was on premium cable and it's playoff games and SB was on PPV, but it would fuck the sport in the long term.

What a bold face liar! HBO is out for HBO ratings, Arum is the one selling to HBO because it's lump sum money. You don't have to work as hard as promoter when HBO buys the fights. HBO then turns around an markets the fight. It's like outsourcing the promotion. If you have to promote the fight, You have to be the one to buy the Air time and do all kinds of shit to draw attention to sell the fight. There is a lot of fucking work to do. You might not have recognized it, but you've seen GBP do this with the news infomercials on Floyd's fights although they could just call TMZ with his schedule. In Dallas, it was Jones doing the selling. And what Arum is really after, is those free advertisements he gets from the main stream new media. With Pacquiao, it is very easy because news media follows him. That shit about the other promoters and Alexander was just setting up to get Alexander over to Top Rank. I agree, he really is a "cluster fuk".

The NFL already does PPV in the form of Sports Cable network channels. And I'd be willing to bet, it brings down the ratings but makes them more money.