Why is BOXING so low on the Totem pole in AMERICA?

this is a BS thread....just think about it what sport is used as a platform in most Hollywood movies... Boxing=Rocky, Cinderalla Man, Million Dollar Baby, Raging Bull, so on and so on almost every guy has a favorite boxer... you see more people playing around and boxing rather than playing around and doing arm bars... Boxing is a big part of America plus...on your poll...how do we know how legit that is...u prolly asked first, "why is boxing low on the totem pole?" before you even did the survey almost every American has seen Rocky and if not it should be a part of being a citizen here... boxing was the first real sport in America... Boxing just isn't hyped up...it's the scheduling and marketing...too much diversity in the organization and structure of boxing... GIMME my points!!!

Also people dont wanna pay 40 to 50 bucks for something that might end in one round. Boxing will do much better if they show it on ABC or NBC on Friday nights again or on Saturday nights! they can bring a ton of revenue and do something that can revolutionize the sport again and bring it back to the olden days when familys used to sit every friday with their kids and watch a fight! It's a tad bit messy because who would sponser a boxing match and end up not being guranteed that their commercial will be shown. PPV did help deteriorate the popularity of boxing but so did money hungry promoters who did not put forth their best efforts to make the best fights.

Man I hope you're right but the last PPV killer was DLH and he said he's not going to fight forever and that he can see the end of the road. So where's the next boxing PPV king? I don't really see it and boxing in the US is what this topic pertains to thouhg in Germany things are moving along nicely. THE MYTH OF BOXING AS A "DYING SPORT" Much like Jim Lampley's thoughts on the subject of mixed martial arts, the whole notion of boxing as a "dead sport" or a "sport that needs to be saved" is based largely on ignorance of the facts. The facts are that last year was the second-biggest year in boxing history at the pay-per-view box office, with $177 million in gross PPV revenue for HBO. It would also be inaccurate to say that boxing can't draw decent PPV buyrates without Oscar de la Hoya. While De la Hoya vs. Mayorga was boxing's biggest event in 2006, it only generated $42 million out of the $177 million in HBO's gross PPV revenue last year. The remaining $132 million in gross PPV revenue was drawn by fights that did not feature De la Hoya. One of the reasons for the existence of this false perception about boxing's fortunes is the dramatic rise of the UFC on the PPV landscape in 2006. Even with boxing having its second-biggest year ever in 2006, the UFC surpassed boxing for the first time ever in 2006, with gross PPV revenue of $222,766,000 generated by UFC PPVs in 2006. The drastic increase in the UFC's pay-per-view buyrates did not appear to negatively affect boxing's PPV buyrates. In fact, a major boxing PPV and a major UFC PPV aired at the same time on PPV last November, and neither event suffered any significant ill effects as a result of the head-to-head competition. There is some crossover between the two sports' fans, but nowhere near as much as one might assume. http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=3922&zoneid=3 The UFC had a Phenomenal year last year, but something else you have to consider. Who were the biggest draws in the UFC last year? Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Tito Ortiz. All three have been Ko'd in the last year, Will the UFC fans still pay to watch the new champions fight? Time will tell, you said something good earlier that "UFC fans arent even educated in there own sport" Thats very true about the "Casual fans" alot of those casual fans dident know the awsome talent MMA had in Japan, and now they are comming to the UFC. If those "Foreign" fighters start to dominate in the UFC thats when we will see how much of the fans really love the sport.

Yup, boxing's own fault too for making some bad PPV choices and Lineal boxing champs becoming virtually meaningless and indecipherable to John Q. Public.

MMA isnt helping Boxing but boxing was out of the mainstream long before UFC got their TV deal... Look no further than corrupt, bloated, and numerous sanctioning bodies, Floyd mayweather/John Ruiz types who think its ok to expose boxing for the fraudulent fight sport that it can be if pushed in the ring, lack of skill as athletes flock to the NFL, stifling of mainstream coverage by PC over-pacified liberal media, etc....

Man I hope you're right but the last PPV killer was DLH and he said he's not going to fight forever and that he can see the end of the road. So where's the next boxing PPV king? I don't really see it and boxing in the US is what this topic pertains to thouhg in Germany things are moving along nicely.

That doesn't at all address how MMA is helping boxing. It's not. MMA to most people is synonymous with UFC who's president is a failed boxing promoter himself. Every now and then he issues the odd challenge to Mayweather or Tyson but it brings nothing to boxing whatsoever. MMA's casual fans cannot even speak on MMA with much knowledge much less boxing. Or any other fight sport for that matter. I said why I think MMA will help boxing, This year boxing had the biggest PPV ever, were they all Harcore boxing fans that ordered it? You said "MMA is hurting boxing" this thread was first made in 2005, was MMA hurting boxing back then also? Were they stealing fans? Last year was the Second best PPV ever for boxing. 1999 is still the biggest but that will fall by the end of the year. We like to think that boxing lives and dies in the US, thats not so, Germany is quickly becoming the New Boxing capital. Boxing isnt dying like people believe, its acctually having a huge upswing this year.

That doesn't at all address how MMA is helping boxing. It's not. MMA to most people is synonymous with UFC who's president is a failed boxing promoter himself. Every now and then he issues the odd challenge to Mayweather or Tyson but it brings nothing to boxing whatsoever. MMA's casual fans cannot even speak on MMA with much knowledge much less boxing. Or any other fight sport for that matter.

MMA is in a sad way doing it and credibility sadly has nothing to do with it. MMA's not killing boxing but a theory goes that there is only so many fight fnas around and new growth seldom happens with fans. So MMA is tapping into a pool of fans of the most casual kind. Boxing is not any more. Boxing used to be part of the daily. MMA is easily digestible and press fed for waiting masses. I should say also it is the purest folly to assume in any way that boxing is 'dying'. Boxing will never die so long as too guys put on gloves and fight with only their fists. Thats your opinion but I dont agree with you, I acctually believe MMA is helping boxing, Alot of the new MMA fans used to be Wrastling fans. And never gave boxing a chance, Now that they become "Combat sport" fans and are getting more educated, They will start to appreciate the sweet science. This is going to be the biggest money making year for boxing ever.

LOL WNBA is higher than boxing, that's fucked up. LOL boxing is in a state of crisis Why are u at a boxing forum spewing stupid comment after stupid comment? Why dont u stay at sherdog and forget about boxing, Nobody would miss a troll which is what you are.

HAHAHA@ MMA Come on man u made good points then u go and say "MMA is killing boxinng" Reason #2 hard to follow is dead on, to be a boxing fan u gotta be very well educated on all the sanctioning bodies and 17 weight divisiions. also "Money" its very expensive being a boxing fan, especially if u dont stream fights. Check it HBO, Showtime, Basic cable, PPV I think the average boxing fan spends almost 70-100 on Just cable and PPV's, We are the most loyal of sport fans and get taken advantage way too much. MMA is in a sad way doing it and credibility sadly has nothing to do with it. MMA's not killing boxing but a theory goes that there is only so many fight fnas around and new growth seldom happens with fans. So MMA is tapping into a pool of fans of the most casual kind. Boxing is not any more. Boxing used to be part of the daily. MMA is easily digestible and press fed for waiting masses. I should say also it is the purest folly to assume in any way that boxing is 'dying'. Boxing will never die so long as too guys put on gloves and fight with only their fists.

Because there are no big American stars...is it really that hard to understand? No country will take interest in a sport that they do not represent well. I mean last word cup, I saw enough shit on CNN just because the Americans got so far, and should I even mention the whole Beckham thing? From MTV to CNN it was all about that. If Americans were great at the sport then it wouldnt be a "***gy gay homo sport" now would it? Right now, through this service online I have 5 ukrainian chanels, they show boxing at 10:00AM on a Sunday on a free to air chanel. And its not some Russian or Ukrainian guy, they were showing some Ponce De Leon fight the other day lol They have Klitschkos in beer commercials, and they make the news by doing charity work in the country for the kids (a way to get on TV, does Mayweather do that?) And I dont know about that guy "Dude" here in Canada at my work a german tourist came by to fix something on his laptop, he asked me my background I said ukrainian his response "oh cool cool, Klitschko, cool"...a german tourist in Canada, and he still knew something about boxing...

As others have touched on many reasons. Boxing used to be a part of daily American vocabulary and now it's not. 1)pay per view - what if the Superbowl, MLB Finals and Final four were pay per view? Would they do as well? Hell no. With the signifcant and undeniable decline in the heavyweight American population there's no one for people in America to relate to: old Holyfield, washout Shannon Briggs, retina torn Brewster. The Klitschkos sure haven't warmed too many American hearts either. Let's be honest the average casual fan likes heavies, to them if there aren't any decent heavy weights there is no decent boxing. 2)Difficult to follow - With world titles being alphabet souped to death and chammpions seldom fighting champions it should come to no shock boxing is a mess to rank, follow and figure out contendership for. Some world title bouts aren't even broadcasted in the United States. Casual fans cannot be bothered and why should they be? Honestly it's only hardcore fans who actually read what Dan Rafael and the better boxing pundits who accidentally discovered Monshipour v Sithchatchawal and that should have truly have been FOTY 2006. 3)Influx of MMA - ON free TV with easily relatable personalities and high marketing. Now boxing is putting little in the way of marketing and packing cards with fights pay per view buyers and casual fans want to see for the very reason that champions avoid one another. Granted they also don't go through sanctioing bodies or have very high paying purses. Cheap to put together and hyped properly. HAHAHA@ MMA Come on man u made good points then u go and say "MMA is killing boxinng" Reason #2 hard to follow is dead on, to be a boxing fan u gotta be very well educated on all the sanctioning bodies and 17 weight divisiions. also "Money" its very expensive being a boxing fan, especially if u dont stream fights. Check it HBO, Showtime, Basic cable, PPV I think the average boxing fan spends almost 70-100 on Just cable and PPV's, We are the most loyal of sport fans and get taken advantage way too much.

As others have touched on many reasons. Boxing used to be a part of daily American vocabulary and now it's not. 1)pay per view - what if the Superbowl, MLB Finals and Final four were pay per view? Would they do as well? Hell no. With the signifcant and undeniable decline in the heavyweight American population there's no one for people in America to relate to: old Holyfield, washout Shannon Briggs, retina torn Brewster. The Klitschkos sure haven't warmed too many American hearts either. Let's be honest the average casual fan likes heavies, to them if there aren't any decent heavy weights there is no decent boxing. 2)Difficult to follow - With world titles being alphabet souped to death and chammpions seldom fighting champions it should come to no shock boxing is a mess to rank, follow and figure out contendership for. Some world title bouts aren't even broadcasted in the United States. Casual fans cannot be bothered and why should they be? Honestly it's only hardcore fans who actually read what Dan Rafael and the better boxing pundits who accidentally discovered Monshipour v Sithchatchawal and that should have truly have been FOTY 2006. 3)Influx of MMA - ON free TV with easily relatable personalities and high marketing. Now boxing is putting little in the way of marketing and packing cards with fights pay per view buyers and casual fans want to see for the very reason that champions avoid one another. Granted they also don't go through sanctioing bodies or have very high paying purses. Cheap to put together and hyped properly.

im ok with wnba higher than boxing but wwe? cmon man thats a sick joke right? even baseball which i find boring is in number 1

99% of fights are extremely boring and do not seem to involve any sort of combat whatsoever.

Yeah, well, at least the #2 spot is normally occupied by a good sport. Who watches fucking NASCAR, though? Honestly. I wish boxing was a bit more mainstream. I'd like to be able to talk to people around where I live about boxing sometimes, rather than basically lecturing people on boxing. An actual discussion would be nice. The few people I know who like boxing don't know what they're talking about, or are so fucking biased it's sick. Bombardier has some good points, but a slight insurgence of casual fans would also bring in some more hardcore fans. If they aren't even watching the sport then they'll never be able to appreciate it. And, to be honest, it doesn't bother me that morons go off about this team or that team. I just ignore it if they're stupid. I only talk to people who really know the sport about the sport. Lots of rural, suburban, and small-town white people...

The average TV viewer/sports fan does not want to have to pay for boxing, doesn't want to have to stay up til midnight on a Saturday to watch boxing, doesn't know 10 active fighters, and their main images of modern boxing are guys getting arrested, having riots during press conferences, biting ears (one guy has a lot to do with much of this paragraph...lol) Where I work, the list would be 1. Nascar 2. NBA or NFL (depends on the time of year - NBA gets more interest after football ends) 3. Golf 4. Pro wrestling Yeah, well, at least the #2 spot is normally occupied by a good sport. Who watches fucking NASCAR, though? Honestly. I wish boxing was a bit more mainstream. I'd like to be able to talk to people around where I live about boxing sometimes, rather than basically lecturing people on boxing. An actual discussion would be nice. The few people I know who like boxing don't know what they're talking about, or are so fucking biased it's sick. Bombardier has some good points, but a slight insurgence of casual fans would also bring in some more hardcore fans. If they aren't even watching the sport then they'll never be able to appreciate it. And, to be honest, it doesn't bother me that morons go off about this team or that team. I just ignore it if they're stupid. I only talk to people who really know the sport about the sport.

Ruining what? Do you live in a box? If not than you live with them same people for the rest of your life, and they are (keyword) peoples...the more the marrier. I dont understand how someone thinks their so superior in thinking to shut out the masses and just let the "in crowd" only. More fans would take boxing out the dark, and corruption would have to be more secertly, and wont be done so very often. It's not a superiority thing, guy. If someone wants to become a boxing fan, that's great, but "the masses" generally ruin anything they touch, and if you have any warm and fuzzy ideas to the contrary then you obviously haven't been exposed enough to the real world. People doing or following things in a half-assed way does nothing to benefit whatever it is they're focusing on, case closed. Big money has ruined all major pro sports. Big money comes from popularity. And when the masses like something it has to be cleaned up so that nobody is offended. Things get PC and corporate. Do you want boxers wearing headgear? If they did, the sports acceptance among mainstream folks would probably increase. They would perceive that the sport was somehow "safer" and true fans would suffer. It's like the people that want to take fighting out of hockey so that it doesn't scare off the TV networks as much. Popularity means sanitization. It's the reason most movies shoot for a PG-rating and are carefully manufactured to appeal to the "average" person. Uniqueness and creativity get drained. Do you want that to happen to boxing?

I've mentioned this before when this topic has come up: do you guys really want boxing to be more popular? As it is there are plenty of hardcore fans that support it and good fighters can make more than a decent living, so why do we need millions of "casual" fans to start following along? You know those numbskulls at work who make all kinds of dumbass comments after watching the SuperBowl, which is probably the only NFL game they watch every year? Would you really want the same idiots ruining the best fights by offering up their half-assed opinions of them afterwards? Plus in the business world companies make so many references trying to compare themselves to the Red Sox and Patriots and other championship teams that it kills any enjoyment I might have had watching these teams win. If I had to listen to our CEO compare this company to Diego Corrales' comeback win I'd fucking throw up right then and there. Better to have these people ignorant of the sport then to have them wrecking it for those who truly appreciate it. Plus having more fans would do little to change boxing's crooked ways, imo. That change has to come from within, not without.