Are the fans the problem with boxing today?

[New England]

Which fight are you referring to?

donaire, probably; a bigger guy with an iron chin in his prime.


but what do i know?

[Dr Rumack]

Biggest problem in this respect is that the 'hardcore' fanbase for the sport has shrunk to almost nothing, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the audience for televised fights.

The majority of the TV audience are 'casuals', and don't follow the fight closely enough to recognise bullshit when that's what they're getting.

That's ultimately what it comes down to. As boxing has become more and more marginal, fewer and fewer people know what's real and what isn't.

[Yogi007]

The problem is not the fans. The problem is that there isn't enough fighters like this in the sport...

Offense creates excitement. People like it when a fight has them sitting on the edge of their seat, jumping up and down from time to time, while yelling, "OH YEA, HIT HIM, HIT HIM, HIT HIM!!!!!!!". Defensive minded fighters, that are constantly running backwards, grabbing and holding, and throwing nothing gut get off me kind of punches, do not create that kind of excitement.

[Konstantin]

The problem with some people who frequent this board is they must have forgot that offense is a skill as well.

[ea22]

The problem with some people who frequent this board is they must have forgot that offense is a skill as well.

Indeed it seems like scoring is skewed towards a fighter who is defensive and looking pretty than the guy who is actually putting in the work. So much for giving the guy who is the making the fight the close round.

As for the fans? No the fans aren't the problem, boxing has a **** load of problems, can you really blame people for giving up in boxing when there is a litany of paper champs, ducking, and the biggest fight of this era is happening(or may not happen) 5 years later? I wouldn't, I love boxing, always will, but I can understand why it's not as popular as it used to be.

[Luilun]

No it's fighters cherry picking, crying to refs, avoiding prime fighters, crying about gloves, without the fans boxing wouldn't exist. Boxing must generate its money from the fans just remember that.

[puro dinamita]

yea but some of these idiots actually think they're are the fighter themselves

[puro dinamita]

The problem is not the fans. The problem is that there isn't enough fighters like this in the sport...

Offense creates excitement. People like it when a fight has them sitting on the edge of their seat, jumping up and down from time to time, while yelling, "OH YEA, HIT HIM, HIT HIM, HIT HIM!!!!!!!". Defensive minded fighters, that are constantly running backwards, grabbing and holding, and throwing nothing gut get off me kind of punches, do not create that kind of excitement.

[Guest]

The problem with boxing is there aren't enough boxers or enough fans.

I don't mind that people want to see explosive knockouts and bar room brawls.

That in general is what people like, explosive violence not the sweet science.


I think every sport has it's share of dumb or unappreciative fans.

One of the big issues I think is the lack of corporate sponsorship which the other sports get. Big companies seem to be afraid of lending their name to something the common man thinks is primitive and barbaric.

[SalimShady1212]

Very interesting responses, glad to see everyone contributing to this debate.