Comments Thread For: Bursting the Bubble: ESPN's Boxing Return So Far Falling Flat

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

I've been a boxing fan for about as long as I can remember. From the moment I shared my dad's recliner to watch Kenny Norton violently erase the "0" from Duane Bobick's pro record, I've been as hooked as hooked can be. I was 8. Do the math I'm a bit older now. Fortunately, I've kept busy enough since to disregard the calendar changes.
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[Bronx2245]

"Regardless of reason, alarm bells are ringing as multiple reports indicate ratings for UFC shows are far outpacing those for Top Rank."

That's what happens when you don't have 25 promoters, and 3 different platforms (SHO/FOX, ESPN, and DAZN) fighting for survival!

[Coachcody]

They need Teddy Atlas back

[Fighter78]

ESPN and Top Rank are just dumb....plain and simple.....they should have just done one fight a week and brought back Friday Night Fights.....Tuesday and Thursday are TERRIBLE days to stage these events......dumb ass people in charge...smh...and its no wonder....Bob Arum hasn't made any money from the sport of boxing in several years......how do they stay afloat you ask? THEY'RE CRIMINALS!

[Kiowhatta]

Some refreshing honesty for a change.

I mean there are mismatches...and then there are just plain set up's. Those fights weren't even worthy of remotely being called tune ups.

In most countries boxing is booming at the club level. In Russia, the U.K, Asia, and Mexico the sport is booming. So the blame has to fall somewhere.

Boxing is not dead. There's a massive disconnect between the interest in the sport and the garbage being served up on screen. There are many a boxing fan out there who won't bother to go out of his or her way to pay to watch abysmal mismatches.

[Monzon99]

Boxing in America is dead. There are no stars to sell. Fans have had it with all of the rigged bs like mayweather's phony fraud career and wilder's 50 fake dives. Boxing in America is dead and the last heartbeat was the rigged Floyd vs Pac fight which coward floyd is ducking the rematch like a bi7ch.

[xxlefthookxx]

ESPN and Top Rank are just dumb....plain and simple.....they should have just done one fight a week and brought back Friday Night Fights.....Tuesday and Thursday are TERRIBLE days to stage these events......dumb ass people in charge...smh...and its no wonder....Bob Arum hasn't made any money from the sport of boxing in several years......how do they stay afloat you ask? THEY'RE CRIMINALS!

Disagree with the nights they are televised. Midweek is awesome and doesn't mess with other sports for competition. Ratings are not great, but news shows are leading the ratings due to covid and political gyrations.
The cards have not been good, and I think they need to get the broadcast team in the bubble (only 2 are needed) so that there is some more energy.

[Pigeons]

I didn't realize boxing was back on ESPN.

[Coachcody]

The Top Rank shows have been boring for the most part, but nobody else is putting fights on TV that I am aware of in the US.

[KTFOKING]

Lol, when will people understand that boxing is just a niche sport stateside? The writer is surprised the UFC ratings are doing much better? Well duh, the UFC is clearly more popular than boxing and has surpassed boxing for a while.

All the top promoters have been hesitant to throw out top match ups or their top fighters due to all the uncertainty with Covid. They all would love to get some gate money on their shows but that doesn't look to be happening anytime soon. ESPN needed some live sports content so TR had to put on shows. Some of the shows have been very fun and entertaining while others have been pretty terrible. But at least they have been putting some content out. Hearn could say the ratings are terrible for the sport, but that is nonsense. These shows are pretty much irrelevant in the big picture.