When/Why did Boxing stop being about proving who is really the Best?

boxing has always been run by people looking to make money. promotors and fighters put on and participate in boxing matches for money. if they didn't get rich, these guys would not put their lives on the line. you can die in there. if you watch enough boxing you should understand that. I agree with you completely. it surprising so many people don't get this concept of making money in boxing. NOBODY fights for prestige. it's all about the money & nothing else. if you can't see this then you are always going to be disappointed. lennox lewis is one of the few fighters who actually went after the best because he saw dollar signs & was confident he could beat anybody. he hated mandatories & always called them a thorn in his side. no money in mandatories. today's champions best opposition only happens when the sanctioning bodies force a mandatory on them...

It has always been about the benjamins tho but boxing as a business has found a way to make money off people without ever having to fulfill promise of making the best fight for the fans....that used to be a given not right away but eventually there was no doubt the 2 best would clash. Now we have imaginary best fighters and impossible fights, and fighters and promoters being perfectly content with that because people have submitted to it being a reality too. Also the turning of the sport into a reality tv show Ali used to put on a show but he could back it up and people knew he was the goods because he proved it ..... now we got people who networks try to sell because of how they sell themselves not because of their merits as a fighter. It makes me sick every time i gotta watch a hypejob beat on a tomato can on a major network that sh*t belongs on espn and people telling me that it was a great entertaining fight because he is abusing on a clearly mismatched opponent but it looks good to them so the guy must be great...that is just ridiculous. It isn't ridiculous from a promoter's point of view, from their point of view they're capitalizing off of fans and turning a tidy profit as a result. True fight fans are nauseated but where's the incentive for promoters to do this differently, especially if the way they're doing it now works? Reality television is how it works these days, it just is. We can resist this idea or accept it and move on, i.e. it is what it is.....

Boxing is a business, it isn't sexy but it does have a bottom line and always has. Fights aren't occurring because fighters are scared or something that's shallow or stupid. Matching the best against the best isn't always lucrative, because true fans really know who the best are, unfortunately hardcore fans don't make up the whole fan base. I mean there are sh1t fighters out there with fans that believe they can win and will pay good money to back that up, a promoter like Bob Arum looks at a situation like that and sees financial opportunities. He'd be a terrible businessman if he didn't, this is the art of matchmaking, not pleasing fans each and every time. Sometimes great fights can be put together where everyone wins but other times fans don't and I think its fair to blame the fighters for this. Its all about the Benjamin's...... It has always been about the benjamins tho but boxing as a business has found a way to make money off people without ever having to fulfill promise of making the best fight for the fans....that used to be a given not right away but eventually there was no doubt the 2 best would clash. Now we have imaginary best fighters and impossible fights, and fighters and promoters being perfectly content with that because people have submitted to it being a reality too. Also the turning of the sport into a reality tv show Ali used to put on a show but he could back it up and people knew he was the goods because he proved it ..... now we got people who networks try to sell because of how they sell themselves not because of their merits as a fighter. It makes me sick every time i gotta watch a hypejob beat on a tomato can on a major network that sh*t belongs on espn and people telling me that it was a great entertaining fight because he is abusing on a clearly mismatched opponent but it looks good to them so the guy must be great...that is just ridiculous.

Fighters have always wanted to make money above all else, but making money used to require a lot more of the "best fighting the best" aspect. Obviously, when us fans are willing to accept watching mismatches, the best don't have to fight the best. It's our fault. Don't like a fighter fighting mismatches or guys you don't want to see him fight? Stop watching and stop ordering the PPVs.

As soon as it became unprofitable. Going beyond that though, the emergence of multiple 'world championships' is a significant factor as well. When there's one belt to fight for it increases the likelihood of the top two guys in the division fighting each other. It doesn't guarantee it, but it does create a situation where there are no alternative routes to that world champions status.

Serious question here is it the promoters fault, or the networks maybe the fighters, and when or what happened to get it to the point where it was noticeable for you? Anybody who thinks it is still is about that (which to me is a naive view) please explain why. Boxing is a business, it isn't sexy but it does have a bottom line and always has. Fights aren't occurring because fighters are scared or something that's shallow or stupid. Matching the best against the best isn't always lucrative, because true fans really know who the best are, unfortunately hardcore fans don't make up the whole fan base. I mean there are sh1t fighters out there with fans that believe they can win and will pay good money to back that up, a promoter like Bob Arum looks at a situation like that and sees financial opportunities. He'd be a terrible businessman if he didn't, this is the art of matchmaking, not pleasing fans each and every time. Sometimes great fights can be put together where everyone wins but other times fans don't and I don't think it's fair to blame the fighters for this. Its all about the Benjamin's......

Boxing, like every sport is a show. If the purpose of a professional sport was anything other than the public exhibition of the event for the paying audience's money (includes advertising/cable fees), competitions would take place behind closed doors. It is an entertainment product. As with every other entertainment product, the demand of the paying audience drives the revenue. It is tricky, because fans are diverse and different fans like to see different things. Personally I like watching the best of the best, the technical destroyers, but occasionally enjoy a good brawl. Most fans seem to favor the sloppy brawls, but when you get fighters like Golovkin and Pacquiao who have outstanding technique, but are also aggressive throwing lots of punches, it makes everyone happy. Generally speaking fans want to see a lot of punches being thrown, high level guys, and guys they find personally engaging in some way. So, ultimately the participants, I.E. fighters/promoters/managers/TV networks have to decide what will please the market without damaging their brand. They have to determine what balance they can agree to of the following: Entertainment - Whether the fight is exciting, consistent back and forth action Risk vs credibility - Whether or not the challenger can give the rising or established star a tough fight, but can't beat them. If a champion fights the best fighter A, but fighter B poses less threat and they can make more, same or only slightly less money, they might choose fighter B. This is the reason why Erislandy Lara will never be let near the best at 154 lbs. Too good, not marketable enough. Marketability - How much fans connect with a particular fighter. The level of interest fans have in an individual for whatever reason. Personality, nationality, fighting style, etc. No matter what anyone says, It isn't always about what simply makes the most money. Marquez walked away from more money to fight Pacquiao again because he wanted another title and he was content on having decisively beat him. It is about what the fighters, promoters, and TV networks can agree on being the best product to please fans (or convincing them that it isn't crap) and growing their product.

Oscar Delahoya started and Floyd Mayweather perfected it but at least Oscar fought everyone in their prime exception Chavez and Whitaker Oscar ducked no one, don't talk out of your rectum.

Serious question here is it the promoters fault, or the networks maybe the fighters, and when or what happened to get it to the point where it was noticeable for you? Anybody who thinks it is still is about that (which to me is a naive view) please explain why. Oscar Delahoya started and Floyd Mayweather perfected it but at least Oscar fought everyone in their prime exception Chavez and Whitaker

Serious question here is it the promoters fault, or the networks maybe the fighters, and when or what happened to get it to the point where it was noticeable for you? Anybody who thinks it is still is about that (which to me is a naive view) please explain why. When Calzaghe retired. He was the last "I will fight any and everyone" warrior.

boxing has always been run by people looking to make money. promotors and fighters put on and participate in boxing matches for money. if they didn't get rich, these guys would not put their lives on the line. you can die in there. if you watch enough boxing you should understand that.

As soon as this PAC vs floyd fanboy drama **** started.

Take it from Floyd, doe. Boxing is business. Easy fight, easy money. Hm... It's also about health. :D

When its popularity declined to where its the 10th popular sport in the US. Network TV dropped the sport completely, there are less stars, less money and smaller crowds. With less hardcore fans comes less understanding of the sport. Boxing gyms across the country are closing and turning into full service fitness centers. Your average fan doesn't know what they are watching. Sad but true.

When? I couldn't tell ya. Why? Greed.

Fans have this idea that it's a heroic, gladatorial war. For the guy who does it full time, it's a job. Stop thinking of them as super heroes and you'll be less disappointed.

If a fighter puts legacy first and dosen't put money first. Marquez choose bradley for less money then he was offered for a fifth pac fight. Cotto seems to be going for the lesser money option in Martinez. Provodnikov also dosen't seem to fight primarly for money. Roy is another fighter who seems to fight on for his own reasons even when it dosen't make sense. Most of theese guys are financially secure so they don't need to worry about money and can keep fighting for other reasons like pride, legacy love of fighting or whatever. Some simply can't walk away it's their lifestyle to punch and get punched in the head. The up and comers will generally jump at every chance they get it's the big money fighters that needs to be made to fight each other. Promoters will always be money first, they are the business part of the equation but if the fighters demand the fights they want promoters can't force them into another fight if they are stubborn enough (marquez and arum). Guys like Glen Johnson fought anyone anywhere even when he was robbed several times he continued to travel and take on anyone and he is still doing it. Fans need to acknowledge and reward guys like Glen Johnson and stop defending fighters who don't do their best to create the best fights. If fighters and fans demand it promoters will have to provide it and will make money doing so.

It was happening long before Mayweather, Floyd is just the most vocal about it. I remember right after his second loss to Mosley Oscar De La Hoya doing a press conference saying he was done taking the fights that fans were demanding. He said he was the cash cow in boxing and he was going to get paid no matter who he fights and that anyone that wants a shot will come to his terms otherwise he will take the fights that he wants to make.

Right around the time fans started campaigning for the fighters making business choices and battling each other about which fighter makes the most money. And who sells more ppv and where the (next) ppv star will come from and why it's ok to duck because said fighter poses too much risk but not enough reward. Knocked it out if the park !!! Same goes for most forms of media/entertainment.. Movies, music (rap especially), news , etc ...

I respect everyone's opinion but I really cant see how one guy shaped the whole boxing culture to what it is today. I really cant put my finger on it, but over the years it feels like it has been degenerating to the point it is now. Not that boxing as a business was ever perfect and granted is a natural response to idealize "The good old days" but the b/s I see in boxing today is not something that has always been present anywhere near to this extent.