What the hell is going on will boxing? Is it pretty much dead?

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

A combination of watching the sport for around 25 years and being a meditator means I find it hard to get on board with these dramatic narratives about boxing's decline. We've seen lots of big fights over the past few years. Things ebb and flow, what's happening in the US seems to be a cultural problem.

My biggest frustration is the terrible media around boxing. Can we have some proper journalists back who can help do something about the sanctioning bodies?

I just think boxing isn’t accessible anymore. Take yourself back to the early 2000’s when you first became a fan, you would have had HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC etc to consume boxing if you’re US based. Here in the UK we had Sky, ITV, Channel 5, even BBC when Audley turned pro. I think of kids now and what do they have? Barely anyone has DAZN, most kids introduction to boxing will be f***ing Jake Paul on Netflix.

Us hardcore fans will continue to stream fights and find ways to watch but the fanbase will just grow smaller and smaller. I genuinely hope I’m way off on my assessment but I think boxing is in a terrible place right now.

[Coverdale]

I just think boxing isn’t accessible anymore. Take yourself back to the early 2000’s when you first became a fan, you would have had HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC etc to consume boxing if you’re US based. Here in the UK we had Sky, ITV, Channel 5, even BBC when Audley turned pro. I think of kids now and what do they have? Barely anyone has DAZN, most kids introduction to boxing will be f***ing Jake Paul on Netflix.

Us hardcore fans will continue to stream fights and find ways to watch but the fanbase will just grow smaller and smaller. I genuinely hope I’m way off on my assessment but I think boxing is in a terrible place right now.

The broadcasting landscape has completely changed in that time. People don't want long term subscriptions anymore. If the sport shrinks maybe it will kill off a few sanctioning bodies and give the sport a better basis to build back from.

During the entire time I've been watching boxing there have been these same frustrations in various forms.

[HisExcellency]

Lol…LIFE is dead brother and nothing is as good as it once was e.g. sports, movies, music, economy, socialising etc.

Sign of the times

[SouthpawRight]

Lol…LIFE is dead brother and nothing is as good as it once was e.g. sports, movies, music, economy, socialising etc.

Sign of the times

byproduct of supporting lockdowns like a scared h0m0

was the QUADRUPLE vaccination worth it

[HisExcellency]

byproduct of supporting lockdowns like a scared h0m0

was the QUADRUPLE vaccination worth it

Lol actually I DIDN’T take it as I was already fully aware of the agenda T-Kitty

[Toffee]

The Saudis put on some great cards. Some of the supporting fights could have been main events elsewhere.

Feels good on the night but then you've got nothing to watch the next week.

Plus we actually got fighters fighting their rivals. Which is fine if you accept a loss on someone's record but boxing media and fans have been conditioned into writing everyone off once they lose.

So in the heavyweights, we only have Usyk and a couple of possible contenders in Parker and Kabayel. We even have to resort to hyping a very inexperienced Itauma to have any interest.

The old school promoters knew that the chase was more exciting than the kill. They dragged three heavyweights out for nearly a decade and the sport was thriving, despite the complaints that we didn't have an undisputed champion.

[SouthpawRight]

Lol actually I DIDN’T take it as I was already fully aware of the agenda T-Kitty

indians big brain

[davef]

Who knows Dana Whites new model which is more in house and UFC based might work? You will have a roster of fighters who they will push to be more known through social media, weekly update videos and basically in house rivalries where fighters can't avoid each other.

The talent might be lacking at the start but it will grow for sure and create names. It's probably the future of boxing

[Light_Speed]

You sound like a casual, there's plenty of up and coming guys: Moses Itauma, Keyshawn Davis, Hamza Sheeraz, Abdullah Mason.

The 168 and 154 divisions are stacked.

There's a massive card next month and then a good one in December. Just because you don't hear about it doesn't mean nothing is happening.

[NihonJim]

And we have people saying Usyk "deserves a break'

Undisputed champions fighting once a year is TERRIBLE for boxing