Boxing and it's marketing.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I've been watching a lot of mma in recent times.
Last Friday upon watching another card on DVD I asked myself, "why have I been watching so much mma when boxing is the love of my life?" Is it because I'm losing interest in the sweet science? Is it because I'm bored with boxing's matchups? Is it because I find mma more exciting?
I answered all the above questions with a no.
Boxing is my favourite sport, my first love and my fortress. I love boxing like a family member!

The reason I have been indulging in so much mma watching is because mma, somewhere along the line has become more accessible. As I scour my local video stores for boxing footage I come across the same average compilation dvd's. I bout these same dvd's when I was in my early teens and they have yet to be replaced or updated. However, each week a new ufc dvd appears on the shelf, a pride dvd will be found in a bargain bin or a fighter compilation will be released. In recent years mma has been marketed brilliantly (by Dana White) and has become far more accesible than boxing. pike TV allows easy access to most of the UFC's cards and shows, mma tv allows the viewer 24hr coverage of the sport and it's stars! Yet the noble art of boxing increases the implementation of pay per views and high ticket prices. Shows of note only occur in the casino's or the garden, the worlds greatest boxers becoming the darlings of new york and Las Vegas rather than of the world.

Boxing has come through with some fantastic match ups in the past year. Yet attempts by many to publicise these fights (over you tube or by upload) have been foiled by the companies owning the rights to the footage. Yet they never make any attempt to utilse this footage themselves. I would gladly pay to see my favourite fights on a dvd I could watch over and over, if it were supported by and undercard. I would view it as a little piece of history that I would catalog and add to my archive...A friend would come over and say "remember when such and such knocked out whats his name," "oh yeah I'd reply, it was on the bill last April, I have that Bill DVD."
It would not be difficult for the promoter to get the rights for these fights and create a dvd on their card. It would then be profitable for them to sell those dvds. Yet they prefer to allow their undercard fighters to struggle in anonymity without puiblivity or endorsement.....


Ridiculous.

[DaxxKahn]

I've been watching a lot of mma in recent times.
Last Friday upon watching another card on DVD I asked myself, "why have I been watching so much mma when boxing is the love of my life?" Is it because I'm losing interest in the sweet science? Is it because I'm bored with boxing's matchups? Is it because I find mma more exciting?
I answered all the above questions with a no.
Boxing is my favourite sport, my first love and my fortress. I love boxing like a family member!

The reason I have been indulging in so much mma watching is because mma, somewhere along the line has become more accessible. As I scour my local video stores for boxing footage I come across the same average compilation dvd's. I bout these same dvd's when I was in my early teens and they have yet to be replaced or updated. However, each week a new ufc dvd appears on the shelf, a pride dvd will be found in a bargain bin or a fighter compilation will be released. In recent years mma has been marketed brilliantly (by Dana White) and has become far more accesible than boxing. pike TV allows easy access to most of the UFC's cards and shows, mma tv allows the viewer 24hr coverage of the sport and it's stars! Yet the noble art of boxing increases the implementation of pay per views and high ticket prices. Shows of note only occur in the casino's or the garden, the worlds greatest boxers becoming the darlings of new york and Las Vegas rather than of the world.

Boxing has come through with some fantastic match ups in the past year. Yet attempts by many to publicise these fights (over you tube or by upload) have been foiled by the companies owning the rights to the footage. Yet they never make any attempt to utilse this footage themselves. I would gladly pay to see my favourite fights on a dvd I could watch over and over, if it were supported by and undercard. I would view it as a little piece of history that I would catalog and add to my archive...A friend would come over and say "remember when such and such knocked out whats his name," "oh yeah I'd reply, it was on the bill last April, I have that Bill DVD."
It would not be difficult for the promoter to get the rights for these fights and create a dvd on their card. It would then be profitable for them to sell those dvds. Yet they prefer to allow their undercard fighters to struggle in anonymity without puiblivity or endorsement.....


Ridiculous.

Good Post and some good point's....I watch a bit of MMA as well...if not for anything but that fact like you stated...It's on....Where I live you can pretty much get UFC Unleashed, Ultimate fighter (Reruns and first run episondes of both), Elite XC once a moth for new cards rereuns two three times a week, IFC, World combat league or WEC just about anytime of day one or another is on the television. WEC runs about 5-6hrs a day on Versus....

MMA is marketed like a mad man.....Boxing needs some better marketing or even more arketing on regular channels not during fights when they cut promo's or in build up series like 24/7.....It will happen...sooner then later I hope

[donnydarkoIRL]

Good Post and some good point's....I watch a bit of MMA as well...if not for anything but that fact like you stated...It's on....Where I live you can pretty much get UFC Unleashed, Ultimate fighter (Reruns and first run episondes of both), Elite XC once a moth for new cards rereuns two three times a week, IFC, World combat league or WEC just about anytime of day one or another is on the television. WEC runs about 5-6hrs a day on Versus....

MMA is marketed like a mad man.....Boxing needs some better marketing or even more arketing on regular channels not during fights when they cut promo's or in build up series like 24/7.....It will happen...sooner then later I hope

I understand boxing may have difficulties with sanctioning bodies and getting them all on one dvd, but I see no reason why they cannot work it out as it would contribute to their own pockets in the long run.

MMA indeed has had a great marketing strategy and they make fantastic fights as soon as they become feasible.

I like mma a lot, but boxing is a more skillful artful sport, there is no reaosn that should not be marketed. Our own "promoters" are forcing our game underground with high ticket prices, ppv and lack of publicity.....
Nobody knows who Rafael Marquez and Israel Vasquez are

[DaxxKahn]

Good Post and some good point's....I watch a bit of MMA as well...if not for anything but that fact like you stated...It's on....Where I live you can pretty much get UFC Unleashed, Ultimate fighter (Reruns and first run episondes of both), Elite XC once a moth for new cards rereuns two three times a week, IFC, World combat league or WEC just about anytime of day one or another is on the television. WEC runs about 5-6hrs a day on Versus....

MMA is marketed like a mad man.....Boxing needs some better marketing or even more arketing on regular channels not during fights when they cut promo's or in build up series like 24/7.....It will happen...sooner then later I hope

I understand boxing may have difficulties with sanctioning bodies and getting them all on one dvd, but I see no reason why they cannot work it out as it would contribute to their own pockets in the long run.

MMA indeed has had a great marketing strategy and they make fantastic fights as soon as they become feasible.

I like mma a lot, but boxing is a more skillful artful sport, there is no reaosn that should not be marketed. Our own "promoters" are forcing our game underground with high ticket prices, ppv and lack of publicity.....
Nobody knows who Rafael Marquez and Israel Vasquez are

Sanctioning bodies do not own the rights to a fight...Promoters do...If DKP has a fight card with lets say....Ray Leonard Vs Marvin Hagler (Just off top of my head can't remember who promoted the fight) and it is for the WBC title...Then Ray fights for the WBA title a year later....and the fight is promoted by King again....King would be the one to decide if he allows the fights to be made into a dvd set because he owns the broadcast rights not the WBA and WBC....

Thats why many big name fighters have it in their contracts they can copy thier own bouts for resale...EG- Boxsets...so they are not tied to the promoter after retirement

[donnydarkoIRL]

Good Post and some good point's....I watch a bit of MMA as well...if not for anything but that fact like you stated...It's on....Where I live you can pretty much get UFC Unleashed, Ultimate fighter (Reruns and first run episondes of both), Elite XC once a moth for new cards rereuns two three times a week, IFC, World combat league or WEC just about anytime of day one or another is on the television. WEC runs about 5-6hrs a day on Versus....

MMA is marketed like a mad man.....Boxing needs some better marketing or even more arketing on regular channels not during fights when they cut promo's or in build up series like 24/7.....It will happen...sooner then later I hope

I understand boxing may have difficulties with sanctioning bodies and getting them all on one dvd, but I see no reason why they cannot work it out as it would contribute to their own pockets in the long run.

MMA indeed has had a great marketing strategy and they make fantastic fights as soon as they become feasible.

I like mma a lot, but boxing is a more skillful artful sport, there is no reaosn that should not be marketed. Our own "promoters" are forcing our game underground with high ticket prices, ppv and lack of publicity.....
Nobody knows who Rafael Marquez and Israel Vasquez are

Sanctioning bodies do not own the rights to a fight...Promoters do...If DKP has a fight card with lets say....Ray Leonard Vs Marvin Hagler (Just off top of my head can't remember who promoted the fight) and it is for the WBC title...Then Ray fights for the WBA title a year later....and the fight is promoted by King again....King would be the one to decide if he allows the fights to be made into a dvd set because he owns the broadcast rights not the WBA and WBC....

Thats why many big name fighters have it in their contracts they can copy thier own bouts for resale...EG- Boxsets...so they are not tied to the promoter after retirement

Clever of you Daxx, I suspected as much but was unsure. What I was refering to though was the objections of sanctioning bodies on the usage of their names, titles and ratings.

Something needs to be done.

[Boxerharvey]

Great post Donny, most of my mates can only name a few boxers around at the moment like Mayweather, De Le Hoya & Hatton but they know so many MMA fighters and like you say last year and this year there has been so many killer match ups. I have tried to watch MMA but find it really hard to watch (and I am a kickboxer myself) but give me boxing any day. To me it is so much more skillfull and as you say artful. I end up buying fighters career sets off the net cus I cant find dvds in the shops and because I havent got Sky I rarley get to watch boxing live. Thats why I am so grateful there are places like this website to keep me informed on the sport I love so much.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Great post Donny, most of my mates can only name a few boxers around at the moment like Mayweather, De Le Hoya & Hatton but they know so many MMA fighters and like you say last year and this year there has been so many killer match ups. I have tried to watch MMA but find it really hard to watch (and I am a kickboxer myself) but give me boxing any day. To me it is so much more skillfull and as you say artful. I end up buying fighters career sets off the net cus I cant find dvds in the shops and because I havent got Sky I rarley get to watch boxing live. Thats why I am so grateful there are places like this website to keep me informed on the sport I love so much.

I do like mma very much, in fact I find it very entertaining.
But if you give me a choice of watching Couture v Gonzaga and Cazares v Caledron....The tiny boxing guys win every day of the week!
I love boxing and it irks me to see our great sport presented so poorly.

I now it's humourous, but it really annoys me when people say to me "That guy Hatton lost his last fight, shame wasn't it?" "Yeah but he was going up in weight" is my standard excuse as a Hatton fan.
"Yeah, he was too small for heavyweight."

No lie, thats an actual conversation I am ashamed to have been involved in last week!

[Bomp]

You're dead on donny. It seriously annoys that footage of every meaningful fight exists somewhere, but there is no acces to them. Before every ITV Warren card, they show the same fucking 'best of big fight live' program on ITV 4 before it. They have countless hours of boxing from previous stars like Benn and Eubank at their fingertips, and two channels that show jack shit, yet they don't put 2 and 2 together.

As you said, they could make all these fights available a few weeks after the event and actually make a profit without charging extortionate prices, but the7y choose to let the footage rot somewhere instead.

They could easily take advantage of the recent surge of interest in the sport over here due to the likes of Hatton/JC/Khan just by simply showing more fight cards, they wouldnt' have to pay jack shit for them eiether because they would happen with or without TV exposure. All I know is that a lot of mates and general acquaintances locally have been taking an interest lately, and most even watched the undercard on Saturday at the local pub and were entertained. It could be made easily into a fortnightly fixture getting the up and coming fighters in the spotlight, making for a higher number of bigger events in the fututre, consequently making more money for the tossers in charge .But of course all this makes just too much sense for it to actually be implemented.

Anyway rant over, don't know how much sense that made.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Bomp, thats brilliance!
You read my mind about the footage, thats exactly what i was saying!
It kille me when HBo stripped youtube of heaps of fight footage last year, yet never made any advances as to relaying the footage in another way

Even if there was an archive website, I'd subscribe!!

[DaxxKahn]

I understand boxing may have difficulties with sanctioning bodies and getting them all on one dvd, but I see no reason why they cannot work it out as it would contribute to their own pockets in the long run.

MMA indeed has had a great marketing strategy and they make fantastic fights as soon as they become feasible.

I like mma a lot, but boxing is a more skillful artful sport, there is no reaosn that should not be marketed. Our own "promoters" are forcing our game underground with high ticket prices, ppv and lack of publicity.....
Nobody knows who Rafael Marquez and Israel Vasquez are

Sanctioning bodies do not own the rights to a fight...Promoters do...If DKP has a fight card with lets say....Ray Leonard Vs Marvin Hagler (Just off top of my head can't remember who promoted the fight) and it is for the WBC title...Then Ray fights for the WBA title a year later....and the fight is promoted by King again....King would be the one to decide if he allows the fights to be made into a dvd set because he owns the broadcast rights not the WBA and WBC....

Thats why many big name fighters have it in their contracts they can copy thier own bouts for resale...EG- Boxsets...so they are not tied to the promoter after retirement

Clever of you Daxx, I suspected as much but was unsure. What I was refering to though was the objections of sanctioning bodies on the usage of their names, titles and ratings.

Something needs to be done.

There are ways around such things that promoters do all the time..Especially since titles have become more fluent and most legit fans and critics only count the ring title or whoever has the most belts in a division the true champion...EG-

at WW we have Cotto with the WBA, Quintana with the WBO, Cintron with the IBF and PBF with the WBC.....PBF is widely considered the P4P best in the world so the promoter will try to disreguard him when speaking of the other champions....so a promo for Quintana would go something like this....(Makin this up so no one start with so and so is not the best or most feared etc)

Carlos Quintana dethroned Paul Williams the man who beat the most feared fighter at the time in the 147lb division Antonio Margarito...Now the Man who is considered by many to be the best Welterweight in the sport World champion Carlos Quintana puts his version of the world title up for grabs against Joshua Clottey.....

See Carlos was billed as the world champion,,,,It did not say exactly who thinks he is the best in the division just that many do....for all we know the promoter thinks Carlos Parents and cousins are many people....just marketing ploys.....I see them happen all the time and get them in my e-mail from promoters all the time....Just that boxing is not as advertised as it should be....the question is now why not?

[Macho]

Hey mi Pana Donny and all of you guys , good and interesting post , how can i find MMA ?....

[donnydarkoIRL]

mma is widely screened. Probably the best and most widely viewed is spike tv

[El Kabong]

MMA sucks and I am sorry it's for kids with issues....even more so than boxing.


Oh look at me I have a tribal tat, I'm a bad ass. It's for the Charlie Zelenoff's of the world

[donnydarkoIRL]

MMA sucks and I am sorry it's for kids with issues....even more so than boxing.


Oh look at me I have a tribal tat, I'm a bad ass. It's for the Charlie Zelenoff's of the world

Lyle, I'm a boxing fan, but I have to disagree.

MMa is a collection of dedicated, talented fighters competing in a highly physical and dangerous sport.

It does not suck.

[Boxerharvey]

MMA sucks and I am sorry it's for kids with issues....even more so than boxing.


Oh look at me I have a tribal tat, I'm a bad ass. It's for the Charlie Zelenoff's of the world

Lyle, I'm a boxing fan, but I have to disagree.

MMa is a collection of dedicated, talented fighters competing in a highly physical and dangerous sport.

It does not suck.

Have to agree, although I find MMA boring to watch compared to boxing I still have so much repsect for MMA fighters. They are all round top athletes that are in top condition and who cross train to be able to fight at distance as well as upclose and on the ground.