BOXING RENAISSANCE: What would it take?

[Panamaniac]

To regain one of the many golden eras of the past? Fans often cite the Hagler/Hearns/Leonard/Duran "glory" years as the last boxing revival. What would it take to put Boxing back into the headlines of sports pages, if not the front pages of newspapers. Not just for megafights, but on a consistent basis, like the "ball" sports.

Would it take another Muhammad Ali - a flamboyant self-promoting hot shot who backs up his loud-mouth with his fists of stone?

Would it take another power-punching KO artist like (pre-cannibalistic) Mike Tyson - a dark destroyer who puts practically every opponent to sleep within five rounds.

Would it take unification or elimination bouts between the champions of the four major governing bodies of Boxing toward the crowning of one champion per weight class.

Or is Boxing is perfect as is and needs no improvement to regain prominence among major sports.

TYPO ALERT ON LAST POLL ITEM: SHOULD READ - BOXING NEEDS NO IMPROVEMENT. Mods., can you fix this?

[Steelhammer86]

It would require a change of attitude from the sports media.

We're having a great year in boxing, there's a lot of great fighters right now, we have some great matchups coming up this fall. But the media is ignoring it...

However unification bouts and having one champion per division would be a major improvement.

[col Blake]

It would require a change of attitude from the sports media.

We're having a great year in boxing, there's a lot of great fighters right now, we have some great matchups coming up this fall. But the media is ignoring it...

However unification bouts and having one champion per division would be a major improvement.

stop the hand picked opponents champs get from their promoters, infact get rid of old cheating bastards Don (wan)King Wank Warren and let the likes of the golden boy run the sport put fights on the will draw people back to the sport

[Tuggers1986]

It needs another Ali or De La Hoya to come along. Somebody the public can know and love without being hardcore boxing fans. The general public know De La Hoya and watch his fights without having a massive interest in boxing where as 90% of the general public won't know who Cotto is for instance

[squealpiggy]

I agree with Steelhammer on this one, boxing is having its best year for a long time and the only time it is mentioned in mainstream sports media is to say that UFC is better. Mainstream sports outlets have managed to get so used to saying that boxing is dying on its arse they have no interest in publishing anything to the contrary.

On the other hand I have noticed up here in the frozen North that there is more interest in boxing emerging and it is getting more coverage on our local sports channels. Even if it does get bumped for NASCAR and CFL on occasion.

[Steelhammer86]

On the other hand I have noticed up here in the frozen North that there is more interest in boxing emerging and it is getting more coverage on our local sports channels. Even if it does get bumped for NASCAR and CFL on occasion.

Steve Molitor may have something to do with that, he's the first world-class boxer in English Canada for at least 15 years. Wladimir Klitschko would become popular I think if more people were familiar with him - I wish the media would hype him a bit from time to time...

[kayjay]

It doesn't need an Ali or Tyson. It has Mayweather, Klitschko, Calzaghe, and Pacquiao. If that doesn't fit your preconception of who the best boxers should be, that's your problem.

But one champ per division would improve the matchmaking and the visibilty.

Also, if you're hoping for increased mass media exposure you're thinking in the wrong direction. You probably also think all the champs should be American (and black). This is the information age. Fewer people follow any interest more closely, because we have so many media options. There was never a better time in this regard. We see all the important fights that take place in the world, not subject to TV prudcution teams because we dl the video from this site w/i 24 hours, even if it's not shown in our country.

[siablo14]

one champ per division and lessen the amount of weightclass so casual fans wont have to think alot.

[Ironside]

one champ per division and lessen the amount of weightclass so casual fans wont have to think alot.

agreed, also if they have 1 champ per division, all of the contenders would be battling it out for that title shot and those would be fights the fans would wanna see, i think it would eliminate the hand picking bs.

[siablo14]

agreed, also if they have 1 champ per division, all of the contenders would be battling it out for that title shot and those would be fights the fans would wanna see, i think it would eliminate the hand picking bs.

another great point, take for example the supermiddle tourney that was on SHOBOX, i liked that.