BOXING RENAISSANCE: What would it take?

To regain one of the many golden eras of the past? Fans often cite the Hagler/Hearns/Leonard/Duran "glory" years as the last boxing revival. What would it take to put Boxing back into the headlines of sports pages, if not the front pages of newspapers. Not just for megafights, but on a consistent basis, like the "ball" sports. :boxing: Would it take another Muhammad Ali - a flamboyant self-promoting hot shot who backs up his loud-mouth with his fists of stone? :boxing: Would it take another power-punching KO artist like (pre-cannibalistic) Mike Tyson - a dark destroyer who puts practically every opponent to sleep within five rounds. :boxing: Would it take unification or elimination bouts between the champions of the four major governing bodies of Boxing toward the crowning of one champion per weight class. :boxing: Or is Boxing is perfect as is and needs no improvement to regain prominence among major sports. TYPO ALERT ON LAST POLL ITEM: SHOULD READ - BOXING NEEDS NO IMPROVEMENT. Mods., can you fix this?

Comments (15)

siablo14

Having just one champion per division would be a good start. pay-per view should be scrapped, and fighters/fights should be exposed to the public more. Covering the sport in the media will also work to an extent, boxing gets literally no coverage on the news, in papers etc. u can say that again.:bad:

18y ago

adamk1304

Let 'em all fight in one weight class: lightweight. The average guy doesn't respect a boxing champion at 126 lbs. That even sounds funny writing it. When I have guys over for fights we have to skip the lower weight fights. Most of my mates got more into bautista-medina than mayweather-de la hoya on may 5th, if the fighters are exciting, most people will watch it.

18y ago

WHB3

I'm favor of seven weight classes. Featherweight (126) Lightweight (135) Welterweight (147) Middleweight (160) Light Heavyweight (175) Cruiserweight (200) Heavyweight (Unlimited) Besides way too many titles, there are far too many divisions. No need to have a different division every six-eight pounds.

18y ago

adamk1304

18y ago

kayjay

18y ago

adamk1304

I agree, no weight classes under 135. That's unnecessary, grown men don't weigh that little and the casual fan doesn't want to watch unusually small men fight. There are some great fighters below 135.

18y ago

kayjay

one champ per division and lessen the amount of weightclass so casual fans wont have to think alot. I agree, no weight classes under 135. That's unnecessary, grown men don't weigh that little and the casual fan doesn't want to watch unusually small men fight.

18y ago

WHB3

Keep having meaningful fights. Keep building stars because let's face it, boxing's always has and always will rely on starpower. The second point is bound to spawn off of the first. Really, it's just those two things. Meaningful fights encompass everything from unification bouts to the right guys fighting each other to huge PPV draws. Keep doing that and the sport will eventually be healthy again.

18y ago

siablo14

agreed, also if they have 1 champ per division, all of the contenders would be battling it out for that title shot and those would be fights the fans would wanna see, i think it would eliminate the hand picking bs. another great point, take for example the supermiddle tourney that was on SHOBOX, i liked that.

18y ago

Ironside

one champ per division and lessen the amount of weightclass so casual fans wont have to think alot.agreed, also if they have 1 champ per division, all of the contenders would be battling it out for that title shot and those would be fights the fans would wanna see, i think it would eliminate the hand picking bs.

18y ago

siablo14

one champ per division and lessen the amount of weightclass so casual fans wont have to think alot.

18y ago

kayjay

It doesn't need an Ali or Tyson. It has Mayweather, Klitschko, Calzaghe, and Pacquiao. If that doesn't fit your preconception of who the best boxers should be, that's your problem. But one champ per division would improve the matchmaking and the visibilty. Also, if you're hoping for increased mass media exposure you're thinking in the wrong direction. You probably also think all the champs should be American (and black). This is the information age. Fewer people follow any interest more closely, because we have so many media options. There was never a better time in this regard. We see all the important fights that take place in the world, not subject to TV prudcution teams because we dl the video from this site w/i 24 hours, even if it's not shown in our country.

18y ago

squealpiggy

I agree with Steelhammer on this one, boxing is having its best year for a long time and the only time it is mentioned in mainstream sports media is to say that UFC is better. Mainstream sports outlets have managed to get so used to saying that boxing is dying on its arse they have no interest in publishing anything to the contrary. On the other hand I have noticed up here in the frozen North that there is more interest in boxing emerging and it is getting more coverage on our local sports channels. Even if it does get bumped for NASCAR and CFL on occasion.

18y ago

Tuggers1986

It needs another Ali or De La Hoya to come along. Somebody the public can know and love without being hardcore boxing fans. The general public know De La Hoya and watch his fights without having a massive interest in boxing where as 90% of the general public won't know who Cotto is for instance

18y ago

col_Blake

It would require a change of attitude from the sports media. We're having a great year in boxing, there's a lot of great fighters right now, we have some great matchups coming up this fall. But the media is ignoring it... However unification bouts and having one champion per division would be a major improvement. stop the hand picked opponents champs get from their promoters, infact get rid of old cheating bastards Don (wan)King Wank Warren and let the likes of the golden boy run the sport put fights on the will draw people back to the sport

18y ago