A Good Sign Of Boxing's Declining Popularity

Where the **** are my points?

Boxing's not dying... But what I notice from a lot of hardcore Boxing fans here is they don't accept the fact that Boxing indeed isn't anywhere near where it was on a Global scale and popularity wise from the early 80s to mid-late 90s. Why? Because of the lack of crossover stars. Look at the fighters that the 80s and 90s bred: Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, JCC. These dudes had endorsement deals, commercials, etc. How many fighters today can say they have that type of backing or notoriety among the public? Sure, we still have good fights, but a lot of those fighters don't have the type of appeal that gets Hollywood flooding Vegas like how Cesars Palace did in the 80s and 90s. Now with the UFC, people also need to understand that they hold events monthly and the majority of the fights take place in Vegas. Dana promotes the shit out of it and its seen on TV on a regular basis. So really, it's a no brainer. Boxing doesn't have an organization overseeing the ins and outs of all the fights, it's comprised more of Promoters and different promotions than have contracted fighters. But where the problem comes in is when one promoter doesn't want to do business with another promoter for whatever reason leaving the possibility of some marque fights from happening left on the back burner (i.e. Floyd and Top Rank). You'll never have that problem in the UFC because all the fighters are under one umbrella. I'll always be a Boxing fan 1st, but the business of Boxing overall is what's caused its decline in the last several years on top of there not being more than a handful of crossover stars to bring more popularity back into the sport. http://www.adrants.com/images/khan_reebok.jpg

How about the decline in average purse money? P. Williams and Kelly Pavlik are about to split a 3.5 million purse for a matchup that most boxing fans truly want to see. Compare that to Hopkins-Trinidad who split 14 million for a middlweight title fight. Now I won't disagree that Hopkins-Tito demanded more money, but 4 times the amount... without taking inflation into account? A better comparison might be Jermain Taylor vs. Winky Wright. Personally I am much more excited to see Williams-Pavlik yet somehow Taylor-Wright demanded a 7.5 million dollar purse for what was ultimately a pretty lackluster fight. So you see we can take similar type matchups and today's fights are generating 1/2 1/4 or 1/8 the total purse of the same fight 4-5 years ago. Nice way to pick and choose your battles, how much money was Hopkins making against top contender Antwun Echols in the 90's? How about against Glen Johnson? Winky vs Taylor was a bigger fight since Taylor was coming off two wins against Hopkins on PPV and Wright was coming off two big wins over Shane Mosley and the domination against Trinidad. Also Taylor/Wright was not "Lackluster" as you try to make it out to be, it was a very exciting fight. Pavlik is 1 bout removed from getting schooled by Hopkins and Williams isn't a super star, HBO is paying a reasonable price. You should also post more examples about the purses being 1/2 or 1/8 I would like to see that. About people not knowing shit about Boxing, it's been like that since I can remember. I've only been a big Boxing fan since 96 but I haven't meet that many people that know a good deal about the sport. Boxing became a niche sport when it was taken off network TV and was put on HBO and Showtime. I don't see the reason for making these "The Sky is falling threads" I'm pretty sure 99.9% of Boxing fans ain't going to stop enjoying the sport because it's not as popular as it used to be.

How about the decline in average purse money? P. Williams and Kelly Pavlik are about to split a 3.5 million purse for a matchup that most boxing fans truly want to see. Compare that to Hopkins-Trinidad who split 14 million for a middlweight title fight. Now I won't disagree that Hopkins-Tito demanded more money, but 4 times the amount... without taking inflation into account? A better comparison might be Jermain Taylor vs. Winky Wright. Personally I am much more excited to see Williams-Pavlik yet somehow Taylor-Wright demanded a 7.5 million dollar purse for what was ultimately a pretty lackluster fight. So you see we can take similar type matchups and today's fights are generating 1/2 1/4 or 1/8 the total purse of the same fight 4-5 years ago. Well for Williams v Pavlik the purse is actually bigger than that because 3.75 is HBO's offer. There is also sponsorship money, gate money etc. I will admit that is low but that is HBO ****ing up and paying too much for other fights. And yes, Demise is an absolute idiot lol. He's one of those really really annoying idiots too.

Dude what u talking bout? HBO nowadays can't shell out what it once did because of the economy. Hbo once payed RJJ millions to fight a NY cop and? As far as Tito-B-Hop PLEASE. That fight was on PPV and in NO WAY can you compare Pavlik or Williams to Tito's drawing power or star power. The overall consistency is what the issue is. Roy Jones was 1 star, but years prior you had 5 or 6 guys at that level of getting endorsement deals, commercials, big purses, etc. HBO hasn't been dishing out money for regular HBO televised fights simply because they know they could use that money for a PPV event, but the problem is there aren't enough fighters today that garner any big following that a PPV would blow through the roof.

Dude what u talking bout? HBO nowadays can't shell out what it once did because of the economy. Hbo once payed RJJ millions to fight a NY cop and? As far as Tito-B-Hop PLEASE. That fight was on PPV and in NO WAY can you compare Pavlik or Williams to Tito's drawing power or star power. Boxing purses have been dropping since before the economy fell apart.

How about the decline in average purse money? P. Williams and Kelly Pavlik are about to split a 3.5 million purse for a matchup that most boxing fans truly want to see. Compare that to Hopkins-Trinidad who split 14 million for a middlweight title fight. Now I won't disagree that Hopkins-Tito demanded more money, but 4 times the amount... without taking inflation into account? A better comparison might be Jermain Taylor vs. Winky Wright. Personally I am much more excited to see Williams-Pavlik yet somehow Taylor-Wright demanded a 7.5 million dollar purse for what was ultimately a pretty lackluster fight. So you see we can take similar type matchups and today's fights are generating 1/2 1/4 or 1/8 the total purse of the same fight 4-5 years ago. Dude what u talking bout? HBO nowadays can't shell out what it once did because of the economy. Hbo once payed RJJ millions to fight a NY cop and? As far as Tito-B-Hop PLEASE. That fight was on PPV and in NO WAY can you compare Pavlik or Williams to Tito's drawing power or star power.

what are your actual reasons then for why you think boxing is slipping, apart from the fact you couldnt put a bet on in vegas? How about the decline in average purse money? P. Williams and Kelly Pavlik are about to split a 3.5 million purse for a matchup that most boxing fans truly want to see. Compare that to Hopkins-Trinidad who split 14 million for a middlweight title fight. Now I won't disagree that Hopkins-Tito demanded more money, but 4 times the amount... without taking inflation into account? A better comparison might be Jermain Taylor vs. Winky Wright. Personally I am much more excited to see Williams-Pavlik yet somehow Taylor-Wright demanded a 7.5 million dollar purse for what was ultimately a pretty lackluster fight. So you see we can take similar type matchups and today's fights are generating 1/2 1/4 or 1/8 the total purse of the same fight 4-5 years ago.

Boxing's not dying... But what I notice from a lot of hardcore Boxing fans here is they don't accept the fact that Boxing indeed isn't anywhere near where it was on a Global scale and popularity wise from the early 80s to mid-late 90s. Why? Because of the lack of crossover stars. Look at the fighters that the 80s and 90s bred: Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, JCC. These dudes had endorsement deals, commercials, etc. How many fighters today can say they have that type of backing or notoriety among the public? Sure, we still have good fights, but a lot of those fighters don't have the type of appeal that gets Hollywood flooding Vegas like how Cesars Palace did in the 80s and 90s. Now with the UFC, people also need to understand that they hold events monthly and the majority of the fights take place in Vegas. Dana promotes the shit out of it and its seen on TV on a regular basis. So really, it's a no brainer. Boxing doesn't have an organization overseeing the ins and outs of all the fights, it's comprised more of Promoters and different promotions than have contracted fighters. But where the problem comes in is when one promoter doesn't want to do business with another promoter for whatever reason leaving the possibility of some marque fights from happening left on the back burner (i.e. Floyd and Top Rank). You'll never have that problem in the UFC because all the fighters are under one umbrella. I'll always be a Boxing fan 1st, but the business of Boxing overall is what's caused its decline in the last several years on top of there not being more than a handful of crossover stars to bring more popularity back into the sport.

Man...Just cuz u can't bet on a certain fight being held in the desert with 2 no-namers to the general public doesn't mean the sport is dead or declining. Will u be able to bet JMM-May and Pac-Cotto OF COURSE! END OF STORY! How bout Arreola-Klit and Pav-Will u'll be able to find those fights and that's all that matters.

even though we are on the wrong page here I can see that you think Demise is a cunt so I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume we will agree on something else down the line. I'm gonna reiterate that you are taking my statements out of context though. I am just being honest about what I see and what I believe the trends mean. I am a boxing fan, never watch MMA, could not care less about it. I just feel the reality is that boxing is slipping and part of the problem is the fact that the people involved refuse to acknowledge it. It may seem minor but I maintain that it is a disturbing sign when you cannot bet on a World Title fight in the Mecca of boxing. It is not normal, and not something that would have happened even 3 or 4 years ago. what are your actual reasons then for why you think boxing is slipping, apart from the fact you couldnt put a bet on in vegas?

I assume you are not replying as you are busy transferring my million points. Thanks. even though we are on the wrong page here I can see that you think Demise is a cunt so I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume we will agree on something else down the line. I'm gonna reiterate that you are taking my statements out of context though. I am just being honest about what I see and what I believe the trends mean. I am a boxing fan, never watch MMA, could not care less about it. I just feel the reality is that boxing is slipping and part of the problem is the fact that the people involved refuse to acknowledge it. It may seem minor but I maintain that it is a disturbing sign when you cannot bet on a World Title fight in the Mecca of boxing. It is not normal, and not something that would have happened even 3 or 4 years ago.

You are in the minority. The vast minority. maybe in terms of putting bets on! the only bad thing iv seen about boxing recently is the collapse of setanta. but thats not because theres a lack in boxing popularity. there may be a few less brits following it because hatton has pretty much done and because calzaghe retired. but the boxing purists will always be there. we have also got some cracking fights to look forward to in cotto v pac, mayweather v jmm and david haye's charge at the boring heavyweight division.

Without the Klits it would be dead. There is only support for Abraham because of the foundation set by the Klitschkos. Like I said, eventually the Germans will tire of supporting Non-German fighters. I think the foundation for the boxing boom lays in the german re-union and former East german fighters making it big as pro's (Maske, Ottke). I cannot say whether the boom will last without a new all-german star appearing, but presently the german scene looks in terrific shape lots of free network exposure. I think it's precisely the easy acces to free boxing on television that is the key here and something the US promotors should pay signifikant attention.

not really. iv been watching the premiership for years and never put a bet on it once! You are in the minority. The vast minority.

It's a tell tale sign that it is on the decline. Gambling is a major driving force behind the popularity of sports. If you can't gamble on it then nobody really cares about it. not really. iv been watching the premiership for years and never put a bet on it once!

It's quite simple really. If I talk boxing with your average Joe on the street they immediately turn the conversation to Chuck Liddell, Brock Lesnar or Rampage Jackson. What don't you understand about that statement? They know what boxing is, but know nothing of the competitors and are much more well informed about MMA. Also, there are several bars in my area that regularly televise UFC cards for 100's of people. None of them, under any cicrumstance, show a PPV boxing match. my local pub shows the boxing. even if its on at 5am. but if you have a little think about it, for pubs and bars to order the boxing, its not the same as ordering it at your residence. it costs a hell of alot more. pubs and bars will only show it if they know there is defo gonna be enough people coming to watch it. £190 it cost to order hatton malignaggi at the pub.

I assume you are not replying as you are busy transferring my million points. Thanks.

and this is your conclusion to why boxing is dying? It's a tell tale sign that it is on the decline. Gambling is a major driving force behind the popularity of sports. If you can't gamble on it then nobody really cares about it.

and this is your conclusion to why boxing is dying? Exactly. This guy basically think boxing is dying because he couldn't bet on a paper title fight between two top 10 fighters in the 140 division in Las Vegas.. which is apparently the 'Home of Boxing'.