Hopkins Turns 47, Worries About Sport’s Future

[4Corners]

The other weight classes aren't in trouble though.

There's still plenty of good Amercians from 118/122-175.

[RL_GMA]

It really has to do with the overall appeal Boxing has to the masses in today's world. The reason places like Philly, Detroit, NY, LA, and hell even Miami were packing gyms was because Boxing was much more relevant then as where now we're struggling to find a superstar NOT named Mayweather or Pacquiao. It's sad, but it's the reality of the situation. Just like how when they mentioned the Heavyweights being lost to NBA and NFL, Look at the money these guys are getting just signing a 7 figure rookie contract. Fighters won't see that for YEARS and being we're in a society (at least in the US) where it's about making money quick, of course Boxing isn't going to be 1st on the list for a lot of these younger guys. Not only that, but you also have a lot of gyms where it's MMA / Boxing oriented and there's a good amount of kids jumping into MMA from jump before Boxing because of the overall popularity it has today.

[AdamantiumPI]

Heavyweights certainly were hurt by the rise of the NBA and NFL. Not really worried about the rest of the weight classes though. Not many sports where a gifted fighter at 147lbs could play sports. Hence why you see great American fighters and a talent for example like Floyd Mayweather. If Floyd Mayweather was a 220lb dude and had the same talent he too would be in the NFL but since he's a little guy he's in boxing.

Football and basketball are for tall people. I agree completely that US Heavyweights have suffered. But anyone under 5'10"" 200 lbs. that can't play running back could be boxing.

Adrien Broner, Andre Ward, Timothy Bradley, Gary Russell Jr, Mike Jones, James Kirkland, Peter Quillin; that's a good list of fighters. Deontay Wilder and Seth Mitchell have potential.

[cupocity303]

The White-American Boxer is almost extinct in Boxing. They all fled to MMA and took most of the White audience with them. And the Black-American is following suit. The only core audience that remains in Boxing, is the old generation white and black guys, with their old, grumpy dissatisfaction that it isn't like it used to be in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

There is no audience for a Black FIghter is Boxing. The Mexican, P. Rican guys coast off of their Nationalism and the ethnic fans it attracts. The Black American fighter can't do that. They can only sell themselves on gimmicks now.

Latest being Floyd Mayweather. But eventually the consumer is gonna get tired of Slick, Swaggin' Black fighter who is undefeated and hated for bragging about his money. This used to be popular in Hip-Hop/Rap as well and is fading away, and it will too in Boxing.

[paulf]

Everything he's saying is true. Boxing is just no longer an interest amongst American youths. It was never going to last forever. The giant paydays and contracts for even medicore players sitting on the bench is a much better deal than in Boxing, where theres only to be money to be made if you're in the top ten.

In 15 years, half the champs will be Chinese (if they're eventually allowed to go pro)

[Brother Jay]

The "football excuse" is played out. America has merely declined as a world power, and the rest of the world is catching up. The decline is reflected in sports. America used to rule men's tennis, too, and it doesn't anymore. And presumably not because all the best men's tennis players are playing in the NFL.

It's just the march of history. Nobody dominates forever.

Well by your way of thinking we are discussing the best "athletes", not boxers.

Americans are dominant in big three which are baseball, basketball and American football.

Americans are typically the best boxers.

An American has dominated the Tour de France.

An American has dominated Olympic swimming.

For years Americans have dominated Olympic track and field.

The greatest golfers are Americans.

Hockey and soccer just have never been that popular in America. They are niche sports here.

But your notion that other countries have "caught up" is rather weak. The Klitschkos are the only dominant Europeans in the sport of boxing. Many believe that there success is due to a few factors:

1 - No competition. The division is dead.

2 - They are giants in a division that has seldom been occupied by such tall men.

3 - Wlad has been defeated by men that were journeymen. He just never quit boxing. Vitali wasn't active for quite some time. Who were the best that they defeated?

4 - the only real chance that most Europeans have are at heavyweight because there is no limit. That means that a 7 foot, 350lb man can box a 5'10, 210lb man and it be legitimate.

This is exactly why you seldom see European champions doing well in other weight classes other than HW. The ones that do have longevity are usually the ones who hide out in their own neck of the woods for the majority of their careers like Calzaghe and Michalczewski. Looks like Bute is doing the SAME exact thing.

Notice that other non-Americans like Pacquiao always seek weaker opponents and will not face the top guys like Mayweather. Instead, Pacquiao has chosen to fight 6 guys that were coming off career losses. Even earlier on when Raheem defeated Morales after Morales defeated Pacquiao, both opted to avoid Raheem.

Martinez has exactly TWO wins worth mentioning in his entire career. He will NOT face anyone like an Andre Ward because he knows better.

Kostya Tszyu intentionally priced himself out of a Mayweather fight when he demanded a 60/40 split.

Lennox Lewis waited until both Tyson and Holyfield were shot to get in the ring with them. Tyson was in prison. Holyfield had heart problems.

Who is the non-American cream of the crop?

Pacquiao .. who can't even decisively beat Marquez and needed a catchweight to do as well as he did?

Or is it Martinez who is still riding the fumes off of his win over Williams?

Could it be Froch or Kessler .. both who were outclassed by America's Ward?

Or possibly some of you think is Michael Katsidis from Australia?

Its like a few of you said ... the big guys would rather go to the NFL or NBA rather than pro boxing. Its just a fact.

When one looks at those sports on a pro and collegiate level and sees mostly Black faces, it tells the story through the numbers, not through childish opinions.

[nomadman]

All of the potential great African American Heavyweights are playing in the NFL right now. Just lok at Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, James Harrison, Lamar Woodley, DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, Lance Briggs, etc. Even Seth Mitchell, supposedly the next good African American HW, he played football.

Evander Holyfield, Rid**** Bowe, Mike Tyson, and Michael Moorer were the last really good African American HW's.

The other weight classes still have future stars: Adrien Broner, Andre Ward, Timothy Bradley, Gary Russell Jr, Mike Jones, James Kirkland, Peter Quillin, etc.

*yawn* Not this boring BS again.

[nomadman]

For anyone who believes that tedious nationalistic flag waving nonsense, tell me which sport do you think Joe Frazier would be playing in were he to be in his prime today?

[ИATAS]

For anyone who believes that tedious nationalistic flag waving nonsense, tell me which sport do you think Joe Frazier would be playing in were he to be in his prime today?

probably football. But it all depends on if he would be brought to a boxing gym or not in his youth. Chances are, he wouldn't because there is a serious lack of boxing gyms today.

It's not about nationalism it's just stating the reality of boxing in america. I'm not the least bit nationalistic and I am not patriotic at all. I don't care about "america being #1" I would be just as happy if america was #149, but the fact of the matter is there simply is not a lot of young talent going into boxing. All you have to do is look at the american heavyweight scene, from the pro's down to the amateurs and you can see, the numbers have gone down significantly.

Children are not boxing these days, very rarely. They are playing other sports. That's why we have guys like Deontay Wilder (an ex basketball player btw) who was the best american heavyweigth in the amateurs with only 20 fights under his belt. that's an embarrassment to american heavyweights if some kid who just picked up boxing can represent the US in the Olympics.

[Haglerwins]

The issue here is that the NFL was founded in 1920 and was one of U.S. top sports also in 1970, and the NBA is also running since the 40's and was also really important in the 70's and 80' (Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, etc...) ... So why all of a sudden all the guys just appeared in the NFL and NBA?

The difference between then and now are the multi-million dollar contracts for players without having done anything. Haven't even started their first game.

Boxing is old school everything and still works on a per fight based pay system.

And you're literally scratching to get into contention if you aren't a highly regarded prospect out of the olympic system. A truly start with nothing sport.

The other sports have entire farm systems to recruit talent from kiddy leagues up to college. And even if you suck, dedication still might land you a roster spot and 6 figures at the end of your journey.