The theory was good. Bring boxing back to the mainstream, by showing world level boxing for free on TV. What was not to like? However, the execution has been flawed.
Rather than delivering consistent, competitive match ups, the PBC has become the butt of many jokes in boxing. PBC unfortunately has been associated with mismatches for its most protected fighters, with wilder v wawryzk and lara v foreman upcoming examples of this. The occasional competitive fight on paper has become the exception, not the rule.
Haymons control of US boxing has coincided with the exponential increase in popularity of the UFC, whilst viewing figures for boxing gets lower by the day. Although he is not the only major promoter at fault, haymon must take a large portion of the blame for the transition of boxing into a niche sport.
2016 was a disastrous year for haymon and the PBC, with dwindling figures as a result of one sided match ups. Much of the reported $500 million investment has been thrown away, and the purses for PBC fighters are now decreasing as the money is drying out.
With rumours that his flagship fighter errol spence is looking to leave, and james degale potentially off after the jack fight, its looking as if the foundations of PBC may be beginning to crack and it would be a surprise to see the organisation continuing past 2017.
So what are peoples thoughts on PBC? Has it been a positive influence on the sport, and has its mission objective been completed- to bring boxing back to the levels of mainstream popularity it once held?
Rather than delivering consistent, competitive match ups, the PBC has become the butt of many jokes in boxing. PBC unfortunately has been associated with mismatches for its most protected fighters, with wilder v wawryzk and lara v foreman upcoming examples of this. The occasional competitive fight on paper has become the exception, not the rule.
Haymons control of US boxing has coincided with the exponential increase in popularity of the UFC, whilst viewing figures for boxing gets lower by the day. Although he is not the only major promoter at fault, haymon must take a large portion of the blame for the transition of boxing into a niche sport.
2016 was a disastrous year for haymon and the PBC, with dwindling figures as a result of one sided match ups. Much of the reported $500 million investment has been thrown away, and the purses for PBC fighters are now decreasing as the money is drying out.
With rumours that his flagship fighter errol spence is looking to leave, and james degale potentially off after the jack fight, its looking as if the foundations of PBC may be beginning to crack and it would be a surprise to see the organisation continuing past 2017.
So what are peoples thoughts on PBC? Has it been a positive influence on the sport, and has its mission objective been completed- to bring boxing back to the levels of mainstream popularity it once held?
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