How does boxing become a mainstream popular sport again

[Mike D]

It never will be main stream.

I agree. Boxing fell so far out of the national public conscience that it's going to be really, really unlikely that it ever gets even in the same galaxy of what it used to be.

It's a niche sport and will probably remain that way. One thing is (one of many), the major sports are overflowing with bandwagon casual fans, whereas boxing doesn't have casuals. That is unless you count the ones who make an appearance for the really big PPV fights. But you're not going to catch casuals sitting at home watching your average HBO or Showtime subscription card. Only hardcore boxing fans do that.

And also, the fact that for years (and years) ESPN completely ignored the sport. On SportsCenter, fights are virtually completely ignored unless they involve Floyd or Manny. Tons of people watch sportscenter. Tons. And without them even mentioning anything boxing related -- a lot of sports fans don't have any clue a fight card is coming up unless it's the sports absolutely biggest names. And even then it's usually just a quick blurb scrolling at the bottom of the screen. Now I heard that ESPN will start to cover boxing more because of the PBC deal, and that'll certainly help. But the fact that it has been completely and utterly ignored for years now has certainly helped push it even further into obscurity.

[1lparm]

It never will be main stream.

The NFL and NBA would have to fail.

30 years ago boxing was huge. That's nont that long ago really.

[-=Shade=-]

1. More fights on basic cable and on OTA stations.
2. Less bull**** with judges and refs.
3. Cards that have at least some fan pleaser content on them.
4. Fights that are: a) Competitive with people on the sameish skill level particularly in the non-elite ranks, or b) that have good narratives (up and comer vs old lion, avenge the 'L', etc.), and c) acknowledge that elite level guys will need tuneups but don't make those main events or PPVs.
5. Acknowledge that boxing isn't the UFC or the WWE-- Put bits of gym footage in the telecast, sprinkle in some boxing theory, pay attention to well edited bio pieces. After that put on a show.
6. Promoters and managers should reach out to non-traditional for boxing, but otherwise mainstream, media. Put Rios on a cooking show. Thurman on the View. Algieri on latenight. If boxing is a footnote in mainstream sports media then you have to think asymmetrically.
7. The promotional outfits have to at least be able to make an extra effort to make the fights that should happen, happen, and in a reasonable time frame. If not 'next fight when it's proper' then within no more than 12 months.

[brettWall]

I agree. Boxing fell so far out of the national public conscience that it's going to be really, really unlikely that it ever gets even in the same galaxy of what it used to be.

It's a niche sport and will probably remain that way. One thing is (one of many), the major sports are overflowing with bandwagon casual fans, whereas boxing doesn't have casuals. That is unless you count the ones who make an appearance for the really big PPV fights. But you're not going to catch casuals sitting at home watching your average HBO or Showtime subscription card. Only hardcore boxing fans do that.

And also, the fact that for years (and years) ESPN completely ignored the sport. On SportsCenter, fights are virtually completely ignored unless they involve Floyd or Manny. Tons of people watch sportscenter. Tons. And without them even mentioning anything boxing related -- a lot of sports fans don't have any clue a fight card is coming up unless it's the sports absolutely biggest names. And even then it's usually just a quick blurb scrolling at the bottom of the screen. Now I heard that ESPN will start to cover boxing more because of the PBC deal, and that'll certainly help. But the fact that it has been completely and utterly ignored for years now has certainly helped push it even further into obscurity.

That's the unfortunate thing about boxing. Sportsnews channels don't cover it. It almost seemed like when they do cover it like mentioning upcoming fights, it's seen as a shameless plug or helping promoters promote the fight. Yet they don't have problem mentioning or promoting other sports.