Debate Starter? :)

[danny stash]

Terrific insight. The poularity of boxing here in the UK waxes and wanes depending on whether our big fights are being shown on free to air TV, which is less and less since PPV and subscription only channels came on the scene in the 90s.

I wish that the scenario you describe could happen, but money talks, and PPV is what delivers it.

this was mysight above but hey who's counting...

LOL

[Haglerwins]

I actually think there is more money to be made on network TV.. from a fighter's standpoint anyway. Sneaker deals, and other sports merchandise. Food/Soft drink ads, guest spots on hot shows, etc. etc. Imagine what would be on the horizon for a major star who could pull 30-40 million viewers for a big fight. Networks would be throwing dollars and all kinds of lucrative deals at these guys after that.

My bad, Danny. I didn't really check out the other posts hard like that before I posted. Just skimmed and ran with it.

[damian5000]

It's demise isn't obvious all over the world. Here in Thailand, the ****kok Post regularly has writeups on upcoming fights happening OUTSIDE OF THAILAND, as well as results...Often with decent sized color pictures of the fighters. I think it's mainly in the US that it's fallen off the radar.

[Left2body]

I'm not saying boxing is mainstream but its getting back up there some what....Since about May 2007 we have been getting excellent matchups Calz-Kessler, Judah-Cotto, Vazquez-Marquez, Pavlik-Miranda, JMM-Pac, Ponce-Bautista, Williams-Margarito..........All these were real fights amongst top guys in there divisions where either fighter had a good chance of winning.

Also, I dont know about Mexico or Cuba but in PR boxing regularly gets front page.

Hopefully Versus network will get very good ratings for the Hatton-Lazcano fight and they find it financially viable to offer good quality fights.

If Versus is succesful they can help do to boxing what SpikeTV did for MMA.

[dog1dog2]

I wish that the scenario you describe could happen, but money talks, and PPV is what delivers it.

Agreed.....therein lies the problem of the double-edged sword that is "pay-per-view": It fills the promoter's coffers with cash, while simultaneously driving away the masses.....

Quite the conundrum.....

[abadger]

Agreed.....therein lies the problem of the double-edged sword that is "pay-per-view": It fills the promoter's coffers with cash, while simultaneously driving away the masses.....

Quite the conundrum.....

Its nuts actually. I'm not sure that sacrificing profit for exposure in the short term is ever going to make a good long term bet.