Are boxing fans "dumbing" down?

[brettWall]

Problem with these threads is the denial that, like any sport, boxing is a business. Majority of the profit that is generated comes from the people who want to see action. Without them, you won't even have a thread like this. And the strange thing is that the very same people who complain about the lack of interest in the "sweet science" are streaming them for free. Just imagine if all fighters have the same style as Rigo or Lara.

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

Problem with these threads is the denial that, like any sport, boxing is a business. Majority of the profit that is generated comes from the people who want to see action. Without them, you won't even have a thread like this. And the strange thing is that the very same people who complain about the lack of interest in the "sweet science" are streaming them for free. Just imagine if all fighters have the same style as Rigo or Lara.

I think you misunderstand my point. I'm not saying all fighters have to fight like Rigo or Mayweather.

What I'm saying is that there should be room for them just like the Angulo's of the world. Why should a great fighter like Rigo, not get the payday he deserves because fans can't understand or appreciate his style?

I understand the boxing business very well, I'm in it. What I don't get is how just a decade ago, it seemed that boxing fans were more knowledgeable about the sport. Now it seems that it's gone the way of MMA and booing fighters.

I don't want boxing to turn into a tough man contest or MMA. Where douche bags are all wearing "Extreme Everlast" T-shirts and booing the fighters.

That's my only point.

[brick wall]

i think it's more about having more casual boxing fans now than hardcore fans which is the opposite 10 years ago.

casual fans are only in it for the entertainment. they're not necessarily dumb...it's just that they don't really care that much about the technical aspect of the sports. their urge towards the sports is different with that of the hardcores.

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

i think it's more about having more casual boxing fans now than hardcore fans which is the opposite 10 years ago.

casual fans are only in it for the entertainment. they're not necessarily dumb...it's just that they don't really care that much about the technical aspect of the sports. their urge towards the sports is different with that of the hardcores.

Fans were much more in attendance before than now. I remember when I was an amateur I fought in front of much bigger crowds than what I'm working at now.

[Weltschmerz]

Well if they pay to see a fight and they don't like what they see, they have a right to boo. It's entertainment, after all.

[mrpain81]

People were booing during Ali vs. Frazier 1 and also Duran vs. Leonard 3.

It's nothing new and it's nowhere near as common as in the UFC or MMA, I don't think I've ever seen an event where they don't boo.

Honestly I think a lot of the people who are booing now are just MMA fans that never been to a boxing match and just start booing if nothing happens for 15 seconds.

[RSBonos]

You really think that Rigo would have been a superstar in 80-90's? get a grip. Defensive minded fighters usually struggle to draw interest, then add the fact that he doesn't speak English, doesn't come from a ethnicity with a rabid fanbase and fights at the lower weights. He should be happy with the purse he's getting from TR.

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

You really think that Rigo would have been a superstar in 80-90's? get a grip. Defensive minded fighters usually struggle to draw interest, then add the fact that he doesn't speak English, doesn't come from a ethnicity with a rabid fanbase and fights at the lower weights. He should be happy with the purse he's getting from TR.

I think he would have because in those days everyone fought everyone for the most part and if he fought the best and kept winning, they couldn't deny him.

I think today, the best fights aren't being made because GB and TR don't want to do business with each other and that also hurts the marketability of each fighter.

[Mr.Fantastic]

It should be "boxer fans", not boxing fans.

Most fans are fans of boxers and change their standards when their boxers do it.
Example: Mayweather/Cotto catch weights.

[Citizen Koba]

Excellent point. I think posters can't understand the sublime. When agbeko is made to drop his punch output so drastically or when ghost, canelo, nonito stop throwing punches it's not because their opponent is boring. It's because the opponent is so thoroughly beating them that they figure it's best to lose standing up then on their back. You would think boxing fans would appreciate that.

Success is a journey, not a destination. How a fight ends is important, but what happens up to that point is often what determines how we get to the ending.

Boxing can be sublimely beautiful or breathtakingingly brutal or anything in between...for me each route to victory is as special as the next.

If you're able to catch most posters on this forum when they're not trying to re-educate one another, and willing to engage in conversation about the sport itself on neutral fights or fighters, you'll find that many (perhaps most) are well educated about both the sport, it's nuances and its history.

However, that may not be the impression that an observer would would gain watching us sling s#it like tweeting teenagers.

Fight fans at boxing matches? Couldn't tell ya, the Brits sem pretty much the same as ever to me but I've never been to a non UK fight.