Tweet
I got into a heated discussion about boxing's popularity in the states compared to other nations. And why the sport and its participants never have and never will have the popularity others enjoy in their native countries.
Adding as an extention to that discussion, the facts relating to a US Boxer's drawing power compared to the drawing power of Boxer's from smaller nations. I cannot recall a US boxer having the drawing power or popularity equal to any popular Boxing star from smaller nations per capita. There have been a few who are of a mixed heritage who enjoyed support from two nations simultaneously {DLH, for example} but cannot recall one who is not of mixed heritage accomplishing that same feat.
Adding as another extention to that discussion - The corruption and poor officiating within boxing, that steadily deters fans from participation and diminishes their opinion of the sport, to such a degree, that many don't even consider Boxing as legitimate, in the US.
***
Lets look at three current hot-beds of boxing compared to the US.
Puerto Rico - Boxing is a highly rated sport and the country both supports and encourages its national boxing icons. Major sports in the islands are, {Popularity in rank.} #1.baseball, #2.basketball and #3.boxing.
Mexico - Boxing is a national pass-time and the country both supports and encourages its national boxing icons. Popular sports in Mexico total three - {Popularity in rank.} #1.Soccer, #2.baseball and #3.boxing.
The Philippines - Boxing is a highly rated sport and the country both supports and encourages its national boxing icons. There are Five major sports in the Philippines that Boxing competes with. These are basketball, boxing, billiards, soccer, and volleyball. Team sports such as volleyball, softball, and baseball also enjoy support from various groups of Filipinos. Individual sports, such as boxing, bowling, billiards, and the different martial arts also have tremendous following among Filipinos. In fact, some of these sports – such as boxing and billiards – have become the ticket to fame, success, and a way out of poverty for many Filipinos.
United States - Boxing is one of many highly rated, well financed sports and has competition that other countries don't have. To name a few, {MMA, WWF, NFL, NBA, NHL, Nascar, Formula 1} etc...
***
Boxing as a sport will never have the popularity in the USA, that other smaller nations have. Mainly because of the geographic size of the US, population diversity and variety of sports and activities available for participation. Many smaller countries have similar sports, such as Baseball, football to divert some of the population away from Boxing but these sports are not even close to the scale of the major sports within the US. With the exception of Soccer, which compared to the NFL is still not on the same level of popularity per geographic size.
So, boxing suffers in the states .... compared to Mexico, Puerto Rico and The Philippines - all of which are much smaller nations.
Also, add to the equation the fact that within the smaller nations - Boxing has been the ticket out of poverty. And the emergence of Boxing spin-off sports within the US {UFC\MMA}.
Boxing in the US seems destined, to constantly struggle for fans and fan support.
***
So, when someone states that certain boxer's who are native to the US don't have a following or a large fan-base - they're not really taking into consideration the reality of culture and geographics. For, if we here in the states had the culture of smaller nations and their passion for the sport - Every boxing event would be total and completely chaotic event, because of the volume of people attending.
Bottom line: Boxing and its participants native to the US will find it increasingly difficult to compete in purse bid negotiations against those from other nations or who have a mixed heritage. Because of the melting pot of nationalities within the USA. A melting pot that includes people who are completely passionate about the sport and are willing to go the extra mile to attend events. That equals fan support and numbers that native US residents cannot match.
For example:
Manny Pac with his passionate Filipino support, coupled with support from native US residents equals a massive potential for live gate, PPV and network revenues - That no native US resident can match or ultimately compete with. This all but guarantee's him the edge in negotiations and the higher percentage of any purse split, no matter who his opponent is.
And this is a sign of things to come - Where non-native boxing icons will provide and be the driving financial force of boxing in the USA. Because within the US - we just cannot match their fan support.
Adding as an extention to that discussion, the facts relating to a US Boxer's drawing power compared to the drawing power of Boxer's from smaller nations. I cannot recall a US boxer having the drawing power or popularity equal to any popular Boxing star from smaller nations per capita. There have been a few who are of a mixed heritage who enjoyed support from two nations simultaneously {DLH, for example} but cannot recall one who is not of mixed heritage accomplishing that same feat.
Adding as another extention to that discussion - The corruption and poor officiating within boxing, that steadily deters fans from participation and diminishes their opinion of the sport, to such a degree, that many don't even consider Boxing as legitimate, in the US.
***
Lets look at three current hot-beds of boxing compared to the US.
Puerto Rico - Boxing is a highly rated sport and the country both supports and encourages its national boxing icons. Major sports in the islands are, {Popularity in rank.} #1.baseball, #2.basketball and #3.boxing.
Mexico - Boxing is a national pass-time and the country both supports and encourages its national boxing icons. Popular sports in Mexico total three - {Popularity in rank.} #1.Soccer, #2.baseball and #3.boxing.
The Philippines - Boxing is a highly rated sport and the country both supports and encourages its national boxing icons. There are Five major sports in the Philippines that Boxing competes with. These are basketball, boxing, billiards, soccer, and volleyball. Team sports such as volleyball, softball, and baseball also enjoy support from various groups of Filipinos. Individual sports, such as boxing, bowling, billiards, and the different martial arts also have tremendous following among Filipinos. In fact, some of these sports – such as boxing and billiards – have become the ticket to fame, success, and a way out of poverty for many Filipinos.
United States - Boxing is one of many highly rated, well financed sports and has competition that other countries don't have. To name a few, {MMA, WWF, NFL, NBA, NHL, Nascar, Formula 1} etc...
***
Boxing as a sport will never have the popularity in the USA, that other smaller nations have. Mainly because of the geographic size of the US, population diversity and variety of sports and activities available for participation. Many smaller countries have similar sports, such as Baseball, football to divert some of the population away from Boxing but these sports are not even close to the scale of the major sports within the US. With the exception of Soccer, which compared to the NFL is still not on the same level of popularity per geographic size.
So, boxing suffers in the states .... compared to Mexico, Puerto Rico and The Philippines - all of which are much smaller nations.
Also, add to the equation the fact that within the smaller nations - Boxing has been the ticket out of poverty. And the emergence of Boxing spin-off sports within the US {UFC\MMA}.
Boxing in the US seems destined, to constantly struggle for fans and fan support.
***
So, when someone states that certain boxer's who are native to the US don't have a following or a large fan-base - they're not really taking into consideration the reality of culture and geographics. For, if we here in the states had the culture of smaller nations and their passion for the sport - Every boxing event would be total and completely chaotic event, because of the volume of people attending.
Bottom line: Boxing and its participants native to the US will find it increasingly difficult to compete in purse bid negotiations against those from other nations or who have a mixed heritage. Because of the melting pot of nationalities within the USA. A melting pot that includes people who are completely passionate about the sport and are willing to go the extra mile to attend events. That equals fan support and numbers that native US residents cannot match.
For example:
Manny Pac with his passionate Filipino support, coupled with support from native US residents equals a massive potential for live gate, PPV and network revenues - That no native US resident can match or ultimately compete with. This all but guarantee's him the edge in negotiations and the higher percentage of any purse split, no matter who his opponent is.
And this is a sign of things to come - Where non-native boxing icons will provide and be the driving financial force of boxing in the USA. Because within the US - we just cannot match their fan support.
Comment