[bojangles1987]

Originally Posted by The Nephilim

The NFL was around and very popular in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, etc. So why didn't it impinge on US boxing in those eras as well?

The reason American HWs are not where they used to be is the fall of the Soviet Union and the freeing up of Eastern Europeans to fight professionally.

Had the Soviet Union not existed, the history of the HW division would likely be very different.

The NFL was not even remotely as popular in the 70s, 80s, or even 90s as it is now. It's a phenomenon that permeates damn near every part of American culture now. You can't escape the NFL here in America.