the problems with boxing

[me2007]

an interesting article

I think the situation is getting more and more ridiculous. How many of todays crop of so called champions would have survived in any other era of boxing?

Promoters realise that boxing is increasingly becoming a fringe sport. Competition from other sports is driving natural talent elsewhere. Instead of fundamentally changing boxing politics and having one championship belt per weight, the sports governing bodies and promoters are simply keeping boxing on a life support machine by inventing the champions of today. The route to success from a promoters point of view involves a strategy of aquiring minor titles and protecting their fighters to such an extent that many of them are unknown outside boxing circles.

Boxers can spend their entire careers being matched against inferior opposition whilst avoiding truely testing fights.

This keeps money in the pockets of the promoters and fighters in the short term, but will ultimately kill boxing.

It used to be the case that potential champions fought lower level opposition until they were ready to challenge for the title. In todays world, the title no longer exists, only a series of meaningless bargaining chips which mean nothing to the average fan.

Having one championship belt would spell the end of fighters never travelling outside their own countries. The challenger would travel to the champion. Boxing would regain its credability and the only thing left to do would be to let compubox make points decision and do away with the current judges and judging system.

This of course will never happen, the crooks in the industry are making too much money to allow things to change for the good of the sport.

[Gareth Ivanovic]

Thats a good article and I agree boxing needs to find a way to have one main championship belt in each division. I don't really agree with the compubox system though, because some fighters could throw a lot of punches and not really do much damage. They would award the fighter who threw and landed the most punches and in most cases that is who wins, but their are rounds where the man who doesn't land as many punches wins it because he's punches were more effective.

[Ramamaiden]

very good article and completly agree. sadly i also think it is something that is not gonna change. at least there are still some boxers who wants to fight the best.

[Gareth Ivanovic]

Maybe a commissioner in the sport of boxing would help. Also better marketing for fights and fighters.

[Steelhammer86]

Unification

There should two titles, not four, and a unification match every year or two, to decide on an undisputed champion. Have a unification tournament every second April, it would be a huge sporting event.

There needs to be fewer weight classes - get rid of some of the lower weight classes, like super flyweight. Ten weight classes would be enough.

I don't agree that there's any lack of boxing talent, and I think many of todays boxers - people like Pacquiao, Hatton, Calzaghe, Mayweather and Wlad - would do very well in any era.

I do agree there's too many mismatches, and should be some kind of rule against titleholders fighting weak opponents.

The North American media has a problem with the fact that many of the best boxers are from Europe, so they repeatedly tell us boxing is in decline. The media is being unfairly negative and ignores the world's best, like Calzaghe, Mormeck, Wlad and Pacquiao because they're not American. Most Americans and Canadians have never heard of Manny Pacquiao or Joe Calzaghe! The journalists need to have a worldwide perspective, and pay some attention to these great athletes, give them the attention they deserve.

[Gareth Ivanovic]

There should two titles, not four, and a unification match every year or two, to decide on an undisputed champion. Have a unification tournament every second April, it would be a huge sporting event.

There needs to be fewer weight classes - get rid of some of the lower weight classes, like super flyweight. Ten weight classes would be enough.

I don't agree that there's any lack of boxing talent, and I think many of todays boxers would do well in any era. I agree there should be some kind of rule against titleholders fighting weak opponents.

The North American media has a problem with the fact that many of the best boxers are from Europe, so they repeatedly tell us boxing is in decline. The media is being unfairly negative and ignores the world's best, like Wlad, Calzaghe and Pacquiao because they're not American. Most Americans and Canadians have never heard of Manny Pacquiao or Joe Calzaghe! The journalists need to have a worldwide perspective, and pay some attention to these great athletes, give them the attention they deserve.

Exactly everytime on ESPN they talk about boxing it's something negative (unless it's wednesday or friday night fights). They usually only show the HW division. I like the ESPN Deportes updates on sportscenter they actually talk about boxing and the lower weights. For boxing to be big again here in the U.S. to the mainstream public there probably has to be a dominant american HW champ. That sucks because there are many good boxers in the world today. It's ok though I'll keep watching boxing till i die.