What will it take to make Boxing main stream?

[Domain]

Boxing has always been and still is mainstream in alot of places. Just not the US. US is all about instant gratification nowadays. its just the norm in US society. And when the US has sports like MMA which increasingly has less and less to do with actual martial arts but touts the fact they can take random tough guys off the street like kimbo and compete at a world class level right away then boxing cannot compete. Why would any aspiring fighter between 15-21 want to dedicate a whole lifestyle to boxing when they can take a couple of jiujitsu classes, run for a few hours, and be good enough to step into a cage and be a certified badass right off the bat??

In those rich kid areas they all watch ufc and practice is and I see those billy badasses rich white boys pick fights at the malls in the orange county beach area in cali...I am sick of that ****.

I miss the days when Fighters acted like men and really grew up tough and carried themselves like gentleman not these preppy trendy wrestler punks with tattoos.

With UFC **** everyone can claim they are a fighter even if they dont know how to box or throw hands right.

Thats the annoying part.

[Ryn0]

ONE THING. Heavyweight Champion. We need a unified, exciting, ENGLISH SPEAKING and dominant Heavyweight champ. I'm not racist but if boxing wants to make money in America then it needs that. It's doing great it other countries like Mexico, PR, England etc.

If Boxing wants to be mainstream we'll need either a dominant Heavyweight champ who has to be exciting or a division of great Heavyweight fighting each other for the claim at the real title. The only problem is that he has to be English speaking because America will not embrace a foreign champion unless it was a competitive division and the foreign champ was in the big mix of things with other great Heavy's.

[MikeBrew328]

Move Friday Night Fights from ESPN2 to ABC. It could VERY easily happen. ABC hasn't been doing great lately anyway, save lost.

[shadeyfizzle]

You guys are all missing the big picture.

BOXING HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE MAINSTREAM IN ALOT OF COUNTRIES BESIDES THE US.

Do you think there are any bars showing the mma ppv in mexico?

Do you not think Ricky Hatton or Joe Calzaghe could sell out any arena or stadium in europe within a couple of hours??

Do you think there are any MMA gyms in the Philippines or Puerto Rico?

This problem about mainstream in the US comes from lifestyle, not boxing itself. We in the US want everything quick,fast, in a hurry. Why work a full 8hrs when you're on salary and get paid the same working 6?? Same with boxing. Why sacrifice and dedicate yourself to boxing when you can win a couple of backyard brawls in miami and automatically get paid more than MMA's most highly skilled and true practitioners

[Kakutogi-Gumi]

Boxing has always been and still is mainstream in alot of places. Just not the US. US is all about instant gratification nowadays. its just the norm in US society. And when the US has sports like MMA which increasingly has less and less to do with actual martial arts but touts the fact they can take random tough guys off the street like kimbo and compete at a world class level right away then boxing cannot compete. Why would any aspiring fighter between 15-21 want to dedicate a whole lifestyle to boxing when they can take a couple of jiujitsu classes, run for a few hours, and be good enough to step into a cage and be a certified badass right off the bat??

May I ask who is behind all the Kimbo hype?

That's right. Gary Shaw.

Shaw is the one who has the hardon for Kimbo. He's the guy who made his match the headline over a title fight. Kimbo is a great guy and is showing that he's willing to learn to fight, everyone whose been a fan of MMA disregards and is upset that Shaw is making Kimbo a Strawman. Strawmen are bad for business and it's bad for Kimbo.

[Kakutogi-Gumi]

Do you think there are any MMA gyms in the Philippines or Puerto Rico?

A couple in both actually.

[boxaholic]

I think we all agree on this : )

1) 1 belt in each divisions. (i dont even mind that theirs so many promoters. It just sucks that one promoter doesnt want to work with another promoter. Which sucks for us the boxing fans.)

2) Boxing defiantly needs some type of boxing union.

3) Like back in the days. Live boxing on channel ABC or FOX or NBC on a Saturday afternoon. (theres just way to much ppv BS) boxer should get more main stream exposer.

Some might disagree with this but : (

4) Weighting yourself lets say 4-8 hours before your fight or something like that not 24 hours before.

What will it take to make Boxing main stream again?

#2 mainly. Most people want to see more fights more often.

[mrpain81]

All titile fights on Network Tv with show's like "Baseball Tonight" Boxing tonight once a week where they talked about the champions and all the news in Boxing, it would make Boxing mainstream IMO.

[Pullcounter]

I think we all agree on this : )

1) 1 belt in each divisions. (i dont even mind that theirs so many promoters. It just sucks that one promoter doesnt want to work with another promoter. Which sucks for us the boxing fans.)

2) Boxing defiantly needs some type of boxing union.

3) Like back in the days. Live boxing on channel ABC or FOX or NBC on a Saturday afternoon. (theres just way to much ppv BS) boxer should get more main stream exposer.

Some might disagree with this but : (

4) Weighting yourself lets say 4-8 hours before your fight or something like that not 24 hours before.

What will it take to make Boxing main stream again?

1) 1 champ per weight class
2) boxing needs a league like the NBA or NFL
3) Network TV exposure
4) Need major celebrities to attend boxing matches... If McCain becomes president and takes an interest in boxing, for sure the sheep will follow.
5) Boxing needs more stars (what would the NBA be without guys like Kobe, Lebron, etc...)

[Flawless]

One belt per division so big fights happen more. The best thing that would make it main stream against is Heavyweight champions who KO everyone and is arrogant so people love to see him lose. Simply we need a Mike Tyson the way he brought back the HW division into the limelight.