Comments Thread For: The Beltline: Pay-per-view, paywalls, and now real walls keep the world out

[BoxingUpdates]

Boxing continues to do a fine job of restricting access to a sport we're told is enjoying a resurgence, writes Elliot Worsell
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[anonymous2.0]

“These fighters are all spoiled,” said Timothy Bradley last week

Kinda hypocritical of Tim because I remember him saying "Take what you can get!" in regards to Shakur receiving gifts from other people. We're in a sport where a loss can mean your next paycheck goes from 7 figures to 6 or you miss out on a mega fight, take what you can get.

[lilacp]

Kinda hypocritical of Tim because I remember him saying "Take what you can get!" in regards to Shakur receiving gifts from other people. We're in a sport where a loss can mean your next paycheck goes from 7 figures to 6 or you miss out on a mega fight, take what you can get.

I don't trust Bradley, he is part of the spectacle, or at least wants to be in that mix.

An important question that should be explore more in these type of analyses is what's happening to boxing at the non-elite level. What's the impact of these changes on the boxing events that the Joes Schmoes of the world can actually pay to see. What's the actual potential for the uncut gems of boxing to emerge from the shadows and be champions in the culture of over-protection and all-talk-but-little-action that has taken over the sport?

Another important aspect that should be noted is that, in contrast of the typical boxing promoters--pure capitalists who are in it simply for the money-- Riyadh Season is all about building the political economy of Saudi Arabia. Throwing a good show for the fans is not really the goal here. The goal is about cultivating foreign investment, networking, and advancing the economic and political interests of a country that is responsible for many horrors. The role of Riyadh and other investments in the global sports and culture industry (Mr. Beast, of all things) serves as a smoke screen and as the lubricant for Saudi Arabia's growth today. This is not to say that the US, the UK, or other countries don't participate in their own horrors in relationship to the sport (the lack of support and care for boxers as human beings, especially after their career is over, is one of many), but in the case of Saudi Arabia, the shadows are compounded.

Like many older fans, my interest in the sport has decreased because of the prevalence of spectacle in the sport (social media nonsense, excessive contract talk, performative trainers, wrestling-like commentary, the list is long). Watching the elite boxers has also become too expensive, I would rather save that PPV money so I can pay for my medicines once this rotten body truly starts decaying.

Will Riyadh Season have an impact on this? Probably not, we live in the society of spectacle, where everything threatens to become pure surface and to lose its authenticity. Hell, maybe AI generated this comment for all of you to savor (or spit on). And, again, it's all about the Benjamins (as it always has been, of course). But boxing will continue, in whatever shape or form, giving its fight, as always.

[DClefthook]

well fear not boys and girls because there is a new company called DAZN that is going to get rid of PPV once and for all......oh wait a minute....

[DClefthook]

hahahhahahahahaha you dumb MFs believed PPV IS DEAD hahahahaha