The State Of Boxing In Five Years?

[////]

Every fighter in the top 30 contenders in all weight classes all over the world will be managed by Al Haymon.

So all the titles would be held hostage by protected US-based fighters with adequate "swagger" and their mandatory challenges would be explained away until PBC creates its own belts

I really hope this new format where certain fighters have ****** in the PBC while actual relevant fights overseas are given the silent treatment doesn't persist but it probably will

[El-blanco]

Hopefully the sport implodes a bit and good fighters actually have to fight each other for good money. Boxing is at its worst, currently.

[////]

Honestly imploding a lil would be a good thing

UFC fighters are forced to fight each other but aren't paid enough to unsuccessfully chase the title for more than a few years before considering other work

Boxers can turn 1 decent win into 100+ million dollars of warmups and media appearances and sponsorship deals, making any subsequent risks pointless, the money is absurd and no longer attracts talent so much as spoils it before we can see what it's capable of

Somewhere in the middle is ideal

[EdWins]

Mexicans/Latinos will continue to carry the sport putting on the most entertaining fights. We will keep this sport alive no worries

[mikinoki]

If people think boxing is in a bad state now. It will only get worse when Floyd and Manny retire. Floyd is considered to be the last great American prize fighter. He is a special talent. Not just a good fighter but a great one. I recall Jim Lampley saying "never has it been more clear who the sports best pound for pound fighter is."

Pacquiao not only was an exciting fighter he was a rare talent. A former flyweight who had gone up to win the welterweight title. These guys don't get a ton of hype for no reason. They got their hype because they were truly gifted boxers.

Boxing has been on the decline in the U.S. for years now. People just aren't as interested in the sport as they were years ago. The dissatifaction with boxing started long before Mayweather became a superstar. Mayweather and Pacquiao are the sports only true superstars. They brought a lot of attention to the sport. Soon they, Bernard Hopkins, and Vladimir Klitschko will all be retired. And when that happens there will be a huge void left in the sport.If you think boxing is on its last legs now just wait and see what happens when its last superstars are gone.

These young and up and coming fighters are good but I don't see that special level of talent in them that I saw in Floyd and Manny. I doubt Keith Thurman, Kell Brook, Shawn Porter, Amir Khan, or Adrien Broner will be dominant fighters by the time they are in their mid 30s like Floyd and Manny were. Most people don't even know who these guys are and they are in their primes right now!

Hearing boxing fans say "I can't wait for Floyd and Manny to retire" is like hearing a little kid saying they can't wait to grow up only to later find out how difficult being an adult truly is. You guys think being a boxing fan is tough now just wait and see what it's like in five years.

You are aware that people like Chocolatito,Rigondeaux,Lomachenko,Walters,Gamboa,C rawford,Canelo,GGG,Ward,Kovalev,Stevenson,Wilder,F ury etc actual exist?

[Johnwoo8686]

Mexicans/Latinos will continue to carry the sport putting on the most entertaining fights. We will keep this sport alive no worries

Mexicans/Latinos are the main reason Floyd and Manny grew so much in popularity. They were able to beat the best Hispanic fighters out there. But I don't see anyone being able to dominate the way these guys did. I wholeheartedly believe the 4.4 million buy record that was set by May/Pac will never be broken... ever!

Floyd and Manny are special talents but they are also a product of their time. They are two A level fighters in an era of mostly B level fighters and under. Right now all I see left are B level fighters and worse with no personality, no charisma, nothing special to bring to the table.

I don't think boxing will die when the superstars retire but I do see the sport going through somewhat of a "dark age" for years to come. Superstars/special talents are what carry the sport and right now we don't have that.

[Johnwoo8686]

You are aware that people like Chocolatito,Rigondeaux,Lomachenko,Walters,Gamboa,C rawford,Canelo,GGG,Ward,Kovalev,Stevenson,Wilder,F ury etc actual exist?

I honestly don't believe any of those guys are as good as May and Pac were in their prime although some of the guys you listed are very good. Chocolatito is a small guy who doesn't speak English and hasn't fought anyone of note. Rigondeaux is one of the greatest pure boxers ever but he's shafted by the media and critics who don't know **** about boxing, plus he's getting old. the rest of the guys you listed I seriously doubt will be huge stars in the future. They either are not talented enough or have no personality.

[////]

4.4 has nothing to do with "personality"

you're talking about a guy who barely speaks english and an american who speaks even worse english who went to jail for making his kids watch him beat their mother

it sold that many ppvs because they were highly ranked on p4p lists and built it up for 6+ years beating other popular fighters, "absorbing" their audiences

Someone will always top the p4p list.. It doesn't go away when someone retires

And lets hope we never see the 6 year buildup ever again

[ea22]

American boxing maybe, just look at how the Olympic team has degraded, but worldwide I think it will be ok.

[SlySlickSmooth]

Deontay Wilder doe. Next great American Heavyweight Champion doe.