Do you think Boxingvwill ever become a main stream sport here in the US ever again?

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Probably not. It's just too watered down nowadays. I don't see that changing either. Too many titles and too much focus on keeping "0s" instead of making the best fights.

If it does become mainstream again, it will need stars who are regularly on TV so they can build them up as names. This once or twice a year crap won't build up anybody. In his early days, Tyson was on TV all the time which is why he got to be so famous and he definitely brought a lot of fans in. We need guys like that with less titles and less BS. I don't see it happening soon though. Not until major money is lost will any real change happen.

[too_much]

It really hasn't become less popular, been the same for the last 8 years.

[Mindgames]

If so how or if not why not?

Wilder couldve done it. Thats if he hadn't tried to impress hes hangers on with the daft talk about catching a body which no mainstream sponsors or media want to touch. A great heavyweight with a slick marketing machine really could do it. Never say never.

[buddyr]

As long as there are 7 titles per division(WBC and WBA with their extra titles. And I'm not talking about interim titles), Superstars fighting twice a year, champions cherry picking protecting their undefeated record, and outrageous ppv costs for champions fighting cherry picked opponents, I'd say "no". We've got to get rid of all these GD belts. The WBO becoming a major title is crazy. it was bad enough when the IBF became one in the early 80s, but this is crazy. Eventually, some superstar is gonna win an IBO title and it will become major as well less than 10 years from now. This means Herbie Hide is a 2 time hw champion of the world.

[FredRekk]

Probably not. It's just too watered down nowadays. I don't see that changing either. Too many titles and too much focus on keeping "0s" instead of making the best fights.

If it does become mainstream again, it will need stars who are regularly on TV so they can build them up as names. This once or twice a year crap won't build up anybody. In his early days, Tyson was on TV all the time which is why he got to be so famous and he definitely brought a lot of fans in. We need guys like that with less titles and less BS. I don't see it happening soon though. Not until major money is lost will any real change happen.

This is spot on.
Too many bad decisions, flat out robberies, and way too many boxers try to keep their “0” record. Blame that on Mayweather. They’re constantly trying to push themselves as the best by having “0” losses, but the public ain’t buying them wolf tickets. In order to be the best you have to beat the best, and the best is BLESSED.
Seriously tho none of these so called “top dogs” at WW have even fought each other. Spence, Crawford have not fought DG or Keith. Spence is finally gonna fight Porter.
Pacquiao still in the mix effen n!66az up. But the promoters are too concerned trying to push the narrative that their fighter is the “best” cause he hasn’t loss. There ain’t gonna be another Mayweather.
If a n!66a hasn’t lost yet, it’s because he ain’t fighting good competition. Plain and simple.

That’s why UFC is thriving. They continuously match the best with the best. Keep among the best fights and people will watch.
You keep pulling robberies, fixed judges gift decisions and facing top boxers against lower level competition, and people won’t watch.

[Bullrider]

How can it become mainstream when all it has are showcase fighters fighting bums most of the time? Nothing will improve until fans stopped supporting such fights.

The media is not even helping. They're too timid to call such fighters out and expose them for what they really are.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

This is spot on.
Too many bad decisions, flat out robberies, and way too many boxers try to keep their “0” record. Blame that on Mayweather. They’re constantly trying to push themselves as the best by having “0” losses, but the public ain’t buying them wolf tickets. In order to be the best you have to beat the best, and the best is BLESSED.
Seriously tho none of these so called “top dogs” at WW have even fought each other. Spence, Crawford have not fought DG or Keith. Spence is finally gonna fight Porter.
Pacquiao still in the mix effen n!66az up. But the promoters are too concerned trying to push the narrative that their fighter is the “best” cause he hasn’t loss. There ain’t gonna be another Mayweather.
If a n!66a hasn’t lost yet, it’s because he ain’t fighting good competition. Plain and simple.

That’s why UFC is thriving. They continuously match the best with the best. Keep among the best fights and people will watch.
You keep pulling robberies, fixed judges gift decisions and facing top boxers against lower level competition, and people won’t watch.

It's a simple and very effective concept. Boxing used to do this but it's just gotten to a very low point. When the money goes down enough, they'll change. Until then, we're getting garbage with a few exceptions here and there. The best versus the best is no longer the norm but the exception which is sad.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

As long as there are 7 titles per division(WBC and WBA with their extra titles. And I'm not talking about interim titles), Superstars fighting twice a year, champions cherry picking protecting their undefeated record, and outrageous ppv costs for champions fighting cherry picked opponents, I'd say "no". We've got to get rid of all these GD belts. The WBO becoming a major title is crazy. it was bad enough when the IBF became one in the early 80s, but this is crazy. Eventually, some superstar is gonna win an IBO title and it will become major as well less than 10 years from now. This means Herbie Hide is a 2 time hw champion of the world.

No love for Herbie?

Excellent post, man. I totally agree!

[buddyr]

Probably not. It's just too watered down nowadays. I don't see that changing either. Too many titles and too much focus on keeping "0s" instead of making the best fights.

If it does become mainstream again, it will need stars who are regularly on TV so they can build them up as names. This once or twice a year crap won't build up anybody. In his early days, Tyson was on TV all the time which is why he got to be so famous and he definitely brought a lot of fans in. We need guys like that with less titles and less BS. I don't see it happening soon though. Not until major money is lost will any real change happen.

When there are 4 or 5 fighters in the top 10 of each weight class with undefeated records, that is a problem. That means that the top fighters aren't fighting each other. They're also letting big fights wait for too long which leads to someone losing and the fight losing interest(Charlo/hurd, Wilder/Joshua). We all want to see Crawford/Spence. I like them both but Crawford has a dangerous style in which he gets hit entirely too much than he's supposed to. I will never be shocked if he loses.

[buddyr]

As a whole honestly...IT NEVER WAS MAIN STREAM!

Only Certain Fighters was able to make it Mainstream through out the history of this sport like Ali, Leonard, Tyson, Oscar, Mayweather, Pacquiao

Boxing had a lot of STARS that made a lot of money but not only a select few became True Crossover SUPERSTARS in the sport. So NO boxing will never become "Main Stream" in America but that doesn't mean the sport can't do well without being Mainstream

boxing was definitely mainstream back in the day. Prime time fights, saturday afternoon wide world of sports. Saturday and Sunday afternoon fights on NBC and CBS. And let's not forget the 50s when the top guys fought all the time. I would have loved to be alive back then. Imagine having what is considered a ppv fight every weekend or every other weekend