MMA News Forums » Sports & Training » Boxing

[Brutus]

The constant use of the "save boxing" and "boxing is dying" storylines in the media are not only bothering boxing fans, but the network bigwigs are being agitated as well. Larry Brown on Sports reprinted a recent letter that was sent by Ross Greenburg, President of HBO Sports, to the editor of Sports Illustrated, John Huey.

"I am getting a little tired of your using the “save boxing” story line every time you guys decide to cover the sport, as you did in your story on Kelly Pavlik. If boxing is dying, why did our 24/7 De La Hoya-Mayweather reality series average 4.7 million viewers a week over a four-week period? And how did the fight itself do 2.4 million buys? If boxing is dying, why is the anticipation for Calzaghe vs. Kessler, Cotto vs. Mosley, and Mayweather vs. Hatton so great? I think magazines and newspapers that characterize boxing as dying are trying to rationalize their stubbornness in not covering the sport. Boxing fans are out there in millions. You and others are just not serving their needs. We are.

Ross Greenburg, President, HBO Sports"

Source: www.boxingscene.com

he makes some good points.

[Punk Ass]

I agree. I think some of the MMA media is just as bad as Bob Arum, Lampley, or any other biased asshole.

[Salvy_Mic]

Yeah, but look at it from this point of view. At least 20 years ago, a fight of the magnitude of de la Hoya/Mayweather gets the cover and feature story of Time magazine, as well as front page headline news in the weeks leading up to the fight. Now, the biggest exposure that fight got asides from the gimmicky (in my opinion, anyway) travelling press conferences they put on, was that mini-reality show. It wouldn't have even needed that 20 years. So in that regards, boxing is nowhere near where it used to, and ought to, be.

Greenburg is only looking at the numbers, but the writers who are always tolling the bell for changes, like Dan Rafael, Kevin Iole, Cliff Rold, Steve Kim, and Doug Fischer, just to name a few, know that there are underlying problems that must be rectified in order for boxing to get back to its old level. Boxing isn't dying, but its definitely badly under the weather. And if left unchecked, it could very well lead to an untimely demise. The sport in general, though, has taken some very good strides this year, especially as far as making the fights that people want to see, for the most part. But it still has some ways to go before boxing becomes nationally relevant once again.

[chico76]

Originally Posted by Salvy_Mic

Yeah, but look at it from this point of view. At least 20 years ago, a fight of the magnitude of de la Hoya/Mayweather gets the cover and feature story of Time magazine, as well as front page headline news in the weeks leading up to the fight. Now, the biggest exposure that fight got asides from the gimmicky (in my opinion, anyway) travelling press conferences they put on, was that mini-reality show. It wouldn't have even needed that 20 years. So in that regards, boxing is nowhere near where it used to, and ought to, be.

Greenburg is only looking at the numbers, but the writers who are always tolling the bell for changes, like Dan Rafael, Kevin Iole, Cliff Rold, Steve Kim, and Doug Fischer, just to name a few, know that there are underlying problems that must be rectified in order for boxing to get back to its old level. Boxing isn't dying, but its definitely badly under the weather. And if left unchecked, it could very well lead to an untimely demise. The sport in general, though, has taken some very good strides this year, especially as far as making the fights that people want to see, for the most part. But it still has some ways to go before boxing becomes nationally relevant once again.

True, but just because the world is saturated with so much other sports and entertainment stimuli, doesn't constitute the death of the sport. Boxing is alive, not as well as it used to be (too many boxing orgs)Boxing is an under-covered sports maket, but boxing is making itself unaccessable to the fans too.

[Severn]

Boxing did damage to itself for many many years. It's doing better because as a whole it's realized that it's fucked up and are taking steps to remedy that. But this new era of combat sport fandom is being hoarded by MMA. You can see many many new fans come in of all ages to watch MMA. It's easier to follow and it's easier to get into.

Boxing is in the middle of a comeback, but I'm not ready to pronounce like the famous boxing illustrated headline that "BOXING IS HOT AGAIN!"

There was a time when everyone, fan or non-fan knew who the heavyweight champion of the world was. When that happens again then I'll put boxing on the pedestal it once was. But for now it's enjoying a resurgence. Whether it capitalizes on that only time will tell.

[Caine2878]

I have to disagree with the boxing is dying or under the weather theme. I think boxing is truely alive and well. In the past boxing has mainly been about the heavyweight class. Heavyweights were the face of boxing now that the heavyweight class is in the state its in it has allowed attention to be drawn to other weight classes that were not getting as much attention before. The matchups this year prove that boxing is ALIVE and WELL!

[Severn]

Originally Posted by Caine2878

I have to disagree with the boxing is dying or under the weather theme. I think boxing is truely alive and well. In the past boxing has mainly been about the heavyweight class. Heavyweights were the face of boxing now that the heavyweight class is in the state its in it has allowed attention to be drawn to other weight classes that were not getting as much attention before. The matchups this year prove that boxing is ALIVE and WELL!

Not really. Back then you had well known lightweight, welterweight champs and middleweight champs. What made boxing hot back then was that there were lots of stars in all different weight classes. You got Duran, Leonard, Hearns, Hagler, Mancini, Arguello, Arron Pryor (who was a fucking Monster)- I mean it was a big time back then. It's nowhere near that now.

[Punk Ass]

Originally Posted by Severn

Not really. Back then you had well known lightweight, welterweight champs and middleweight champs. What made boxing hot back then was that there were lots of stars in all different weight classes. You got Duran, Leonard, Hearns, Hagler, Mancini, Arguello, Arron Pryor (who was a fucking Monster)- I mean it was a big time back then. It's nowhere near that now.

Lets face it, who was bigger than Mike Tyson and Mahammed Ali? Caine is right, the HW division was very big at the time. I do agree the lighter divisions were doing well also but, PBF vs DLH broke all records, so that should tell you something.