When/Why did Boxing stop being about proving who is really the Best?

[New England]

boxing has always been run by people looking to make money.

promotors and fighters put on and participate in boxing matches for money.


if they didn't get rich, these guys would not put their lives on the line. you can die in there.

if you watch enough boxing you should understand that.

[LoadedWraps]

Serious question here is it the promoters fault, or the networks maybe the fighters, and when or what happened to get it to the point where it was noticeable for you?

Anybody who thinks it is still is about that (which to me is a naive view) please explain why.

When Calzaghe retired. He was the last "I will fight any and everyone" warrior.

[PAC-BOY]

Right after Delahoya Mayweather

pretty much. :qqq:

[Luilun]

Serious question here is it the promoters fault, or the networks maybe the fighters, and when or what happened to get it to the point where it was noticeable for you?

Anybody who thinks it is still is about that (which to me is a naive view) please explain why.

Oscar Delahoya started and Floyd Mayweather perfected it but at least Oscar fought everyone in their prime exception Chavez and Whitaker

[LoadedWraps]

Oscar Delahoya started and Floyd Mayweather perfected it but at least Oscar fought everyone in their prime exception Chavez and Whitaker

Oscar ducked no one, don't talk out of your rectum.

[Visceral]

Boxing, like every sport is a show. If the purpose of a professional sport was anything other than the public exhibition of the event for the paying audience's money (includes advertising/cable fees), competitions would take place behind closed doors.
It is an entertainment product. As with every other entertainment product, the demand of the paying audience drives the revenue. It is tricky, because fans are diverse and different fans like to see different things. Personally I like watching the best of the best, the technical destroyers, but occasionally enjoy a good brawl.
Most fans seem to favor the sloppy brawls, but when you get fighters like Golovkin and Pacquiao who have outstanding technique, but are also aggressive throwing lots of punches, it makes everyone happy.
Generally speaking fans want to see a lot of punches being thrown, high level guys, and guys they find personally engaging in some way.

So, ultimately the participants, I.E. fighters/promoters/managers/TV networks have to decide what will please the market without damaging their brand. They have to determine what balance they can agree to of the following:

Entertainment - Whether the fight is exciting, consistent back and forth action

Risk vs credibility - Whether or not the challenger can give the rising or established star a tough fight, but can't beat them. If a champion fights the best fighter A, but fighter B poses less threat and they can make more, same or only slightly less money, they might choose fighter B. This is the reason why Erislandy Lara will never be let near the best at 154 lbs. Too good, not marketable enough.

Marketability - How much fans connect with a particular fighter. The level of interest fans have in an individual for whatever reason. Personality, nationality, fighting style, etc.

No matter what anyone says, It isn't always about what simply makes the most money. Marquez walked away from more money to fight Pacquiao again because he wanted another title and he was content on having decisively beat him.
It is about what the fighters, promoters, and TV networks can agree on being the best product to please fans (or convincing them that it isn't crap) and growing their product.

[Slip Stream]

Serious question here is it the promoters fault, or the networks maybe the fighters, and when or what happened to get it to the point where it was noticeable for you?

Anybody who thinks it is still is about that (which to me is a naive view) please explain why.

Boxing is a business, it isn't sexy but it does have a bottom line and always has. Fights aren't occurring because fighters are scared or something that's shallow or ******. Matching the best against the best isn't always lucrative, because true fans really know who the best are, unfortunately hardcore fans don't make up the whole fan base. I mean there are **** fighters out there with fans that believe they can win and will pay good money to back that up, a promoter like Bob Arum looks at a situation like that and sees financial opportunities. He'd be a terrible businessman if he didn't, this is the art of matchmaking, not pleasing fans each and every time. Sometimes great fights can be put together where everyone wins but other times fans don't and I don't think it's fair to blame the fighters for this.

Its all about the Benjamin's......

[Dr Rumack]

As soon as it became unprofitable.

Going beyond that though, the emergence of multiple 'world championships' is a significant factor as well. When there's one belt to fight for it increases the likelihood of the top two guys in the division fighting each other. It doesn't guarantee it, but it does create a situation where there are no alternative routes to that world champions status.

[bojangles1987]

Fighters have always wanted to make money above all else, but making money used to require a lot more of the "best fighting the best" aspect.

Obviously, when us fans are willing to accept watching mismatches, the best don't have to fight the best. It's our fault. Don't like a fighter fighting mismatches or guys you don't want to see him fight? Stop watching and stop ordering the PPVs.

[DannYankee]

Boxing is a business, it isn't sexy but it does have a bottom line and always has. Fights aren't occurring because fighters are scared or something that's shallow or ******. Matching the best against the best isn't always lucrative, because true fans really know who the best are, unfortunately hardcore fans don't make up the whole fan base. I mean there are **** fighters out there with fans that believe they can win and will pay good money to back that up, a promoter like Bob Arum looks at a situation like that and sees financial opportunities. He'd be a terrible businessman if he didn't, this is the art of matchmaking, not pleasing fans each and every time. Sometimes great fights can be put together where everyone wins but other times fans don't and I think its fair to blame the fighters for this.

Its all about the Benjamin's......

It has always been about the benjamins tho but boxing as a business has found a way to make money off people without ever having to fulfill promise of making the best fight for the fans....that used to be a given not right away but eventually there was no doubt the 2 best would clash. Now we have imaginary best fighters and impossible fights, and fighters and promoters being perfectly content with that because people have submitted to it being a reality too.

Also the turning of the sport into a reality tv show Ali used to put on a show but he could back it up and people knew he was the goods because he proved it ..... now we got people who networks try to sell because of how they sell themselves not because of their merits as a fighter. It makes me sick every time i gotta watch a hypejob beat on a tomato can on a major network that **** belongs on espn and people telling me that it was a great entertaining fight because he is abusing on a clearly mismatched opponent but it looks good to them so the guy must be great...that is just ridiculous.