Why Boxing is so popular in UK and not in France?

[anonymous2.0]

I imagine that French athletes see more opportunity in team sports then in an individualistic sport like boxing and its wonky pay structure. I wonder if Tony Yoka will change the French's perception of boxing.

[Rusty Tromboni]

French Boxers mid-century were better than English ones...

[billeau2]

Was just wondering, about the historical reasons why boxing never were as much popular in France, like it is in UK?

Does anyone knows?

I can add to the intrigue for what it is worth. The FRench had a great art of Savate which entailed decent boxing and foot striking. It was a great art for the streets, perhaps too great? Perhaps it never needed to be a sport? the way that the English/Irish needed a way to settle scores and not murder each other.

The English used a history of blade arts to create the backdrop for boxing, and France never had that history... But I am skeptical that one needs fencing to develop boxing. Spain has a very strong blade culture and arts and never developed boxing as such... That tells us about that hypothesis.

So who knows? wish I could be more helpful.