Fight fans are, from time to time, worried about lack of star quality fighters. For over hundred years history has proven that the sport recovers, even if Dempsey, Ali or Tyson eventually retires. I don't see MMA being a threat to boxing either, anymore than kickboxing was. It is a different sport with different aesthetics and they don't necessarily compete for the same spectators anymore than baseball and basketball do. Boxing's greatest challenge IMHO is economical. Big TV channels have dropped it off. Teens who are used to seeing and getting stuff for free don't want to pay huge PPV fees for single bouts. Also because boxing has plenty of cancellations and the best don't fight each other in years, few want to subscribe a boxing channel when you don't know what you get. Basketball games are not canceled even if Lebron gets injured. So, where does boxing get its money in the future?
You've basically described what happened to boxing in America in the late 1980s/early 90s when PPV and HBO took it over ... the result was a massive drop in mainstream visibility and popularity
I realize that but the PPV model still brought money to the table, even though the popularity of the sport dropped dramatically. With even smaller operators showing the fights and increasing dislike for PPV (for the reasons I mentioned), how does boxing survive now?
But as I said, boxing lacks time tables and structure. Promotional problems and fights being dependable for single persons make it difficult. It would suck to pay monthly fees for six years waiting Mayweather vs Pacquiao.
Presumably, it would also suck for a boxing fan to not have a subscription and be able to watch fights.
We will get Ocasional Cortez to raise like £400m for boxing by charging everyone £15/h to watch fights. m'Kay?
As much as people hate him, Eddie Hearns style of promoting is an example to follow. Use the big stars to bring attention to the concept of the sport. The sport is the platform that makes the stars, not the other way around. Boxing needs stars but the last thing it needs is celebrity worship. That’s why monkey mouth Stephen A Smith disrespecting the sport was such a bad look. If people think the “regular” sport is beneath them and they’re only supposed to care about the biggest fights than the ceiling will get lower and lower and become a circus of celebrity ppv’s every few years. Boxing fans collectively telling Smith to go fuck himself was a proud moment because it showed most boxing fans aren’t cynical, post modern assholes like Ugo or fake barbershop hip hoppers like Reed’s old ass tries to be. Most boxing fans have actual respect and admiration for the sport.
i've wondered why boxers don't have youtube channels where they just vlog and show training, diet, and even personal life there are so many nobodies making a living from these sorts of youtube videos
This article discusses the new state of boxing: A booming, divided boxing business in 2019 A booming, divided boxing business in 2019 via @ESPN App http://es.pn/app
