What's boxing popularity like over in Europe?

[SlySlickSmooth]

Where I live, in California, I don't find many boxing fans besides the filipinos/mexicans you run into.

There's been a lot of European fighters, SMWs, HWs.. one of the youngest Brit medalists in Khan, so hows the sport living on there?

[taansend]

I was born & bred in London & left there for the States in my mid 20's.

I've lived in Florida & also in Fresno, San Diego & Santa Barbara in California. And you're right - it's just the Mexicans that love Boxing (Pinoys got into it with Pacquiao but will drift back towards Basketball with his ageing).

Boxing does not seem as popular in the UK as when I left - but we were spoilt with the Benn/Eubank/Collins etc etc era - but I would still say it's a popular sport.

It might well be the most popular individual sport. Maybe tennis but it could depend on what class you're from.

I think that the Matchroom "Prizefighter" series has helped in many ways - same as 20/20 has helped cricket. People have shorter attention spans now & having a 'champion' crowned in one evening appeals to people.

[Tom Cruise]

Boxing has a decent following in terms of viewership, but participation is very low over here.

We tend to get fans of fighters (due to city/town/football club allegiances) rather than fans of boxing a lot of the time as well but that seems to be the same in most countries.

On the positive side things are looking good for the amateur system, as we allocate more money to sports which perform well at olympics our amateur has had a big funding boost in the last few years.

Outside of a few eras (Benn/Eubank/Watson/Collins era, Lennox Lewis, Ricky Hatton) it tends to be a fringe sport which will never be able to compete with football/rugby/cricket etc

[D-MiZe]

It's nowhere near the big sports like football, rugby, cricket, tennis etc, more on par with cycling, snooker etc. It's a sport which over here relies on one main persona, be it Lennox Lewis or Ricky Hatton - there needs to be one superstar.

A lot of the 'fans' are really casual and wouldn't know their arsehole from their elbow in boxing terms. As such, going to a Ricky Hatton fight is an 'event/occasion', get pissed up and have a laugh whilst watching a fight. You'll get a lot of football fans attending fights of fighters who've declared their allegiance to said fan's football club, thus the bands & chanting.

Amateur boxing has received more funding over here, so that's definitely a positive. We're seeing more talent coming through and a lot more success at the highest level, hopefully this translates into the paid ring.

Basically, it's popular once a blue moon. Whenever Sky tell you there is a good clash on, people will watch. It's why hypejob is so synonymous with British fighters, they need to encourage viewers somehow.

[SlySlickSmooth]

I'm a little more or less surprised. I guess humans have evolved to mainly only indulge in boxing wars than to experience a boxing match. Or maybe people's attention span have only lowered.. or I just can't wrap my head around why I don't find team sports more enjoyable than pugilism.

[Weebler I]

Eddie Hearn reckons the popularity of boxing in the UK has grown massively in the last 2-3 years. He's at the sharp end so I guess he would know.

From a general perspective, I just don't think it's accessible enough to the man on the street. Right now Tyson Fury aside if you want to see boxing on TV in the UK you have to make an effort, and often pay extra.