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Heavyweight Boxing

StarOceanHouse

StarOceanHouse

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What ever happened to Heavyweight Boxing? I notice it's not that big anymore or at least to me it isn't. I remember the likes of Holyfield and Tyson and how much media attention these fights would get. I remember getting excited about these fights in the 90's but it doesn't seem like people are interested in boxing anymore. Could it be the lack of great fighters or maybe people switched over to MMA?
 
One of the problems was that boxing itself never took full advantage of their popular fighters, for the sake of growing the sport. In MMA theres better fights more often, not just once a year.
 
Portillo said:
One of the problems was that boxing itself never took full advantage of their popular fighters, for the sake of growing the sport. In MMA theres better fights more often, not just once a year.
Click to expand...

Nicely said,
Boxing had so few fights at so few times, and when they did, they wernt always garenteed to be enjoyable fights.
MMA really took over with alot harder work and more exciting fights/ match ups
 
well also look at how boxing has changed.

They dont really hit anymore. Sure Muhammid danced, but he still fought and traded blows.

Now they avoid hits.
 
Lets ignore for a moment that Heavy weight division is not really that much of a spectacle compared to middleweight or lighter weights. Sure they hit harder but you can go to a bar and see 2 lard arses slug toe to toe.

The main reason it is not perceived as important any more is the fact the none of the contenders are American. The big money is made when Las Vegas is sold out and USA pay per view is powering the bottom line.

Ricky Hatton v Manny Pacquiao is one of the few non american fights that has generated much interest in recent times. (I'm including latin fighters here as well).
 
There are several obvious reasons that possibly help to explain the current state of heavyweight boxing: The general lack of highly talented fighters (especially U.S. fighters or prospects, with the possible exception of Chris Areola) fails to create excitement; the mechanically rigid European style used by the Klitschkos and other foreign fighters bores spectators; the division's domination by foreign fighters disinterests many people in the U.S; the proliferation of meaningless titles (too many belts, like ibf, wba, wbc, nabf, wbo, etc) cheapens the title of “champion.”

Just to emphasize what I mean by lack of talent, consider the artistry and grace of Ali at his best; compare that example of talent with today's best heavyweights. Granted, using Ali is an extreme illustrative example (he's simply "The Greatest"), but look at some of the other great heavyweights of the past: Holyfield's rapid-fire, balanced, furious attacks, Tyson's blinding hand-speed and power, Joe Frasier's bob-and-weave tenacious attack style (with the greatest left-hook in heavyweight history), and George Foreman (maybe the heaviest puncher in the sport's history, who was great enough to be champ in the golden age of heavyweights, and then champ again 20 years later). None of the heavyweight fighters of this era could compete with the talents of the above individuals (and that list is in no way comprehensive, as many others could be added). If an underrated former champion like Larry Holmes were to fight today (and was in his prime), I believe he would clean out the division.
 
^^^^^^^^^

Completely agree.

My personal opinion is that there is SOOOOOOOOO much more money to be made in other sports (like football and basketball) which are actually LESS likely to cause brain damage, that there is simply less incentive for the best athletes to put their eggs in the less lucrative (except at the EXTREME apex), more dangerous sport of boxing.

It's a shame.

I bet that Ron Artest, had he spent ages 7-25 training specifically to be a great boxer, instead of a street fighter who happens to also play great defense on the B-ball court, could cause some havoc as a boxer.

But why should he?

He's making more money to play a more glamorous sport.

If, hypothetically, Ali was 14 now, I wouldn't be shocked if he would have chosen to focus on
becoming a great linebacker.
 
Are you sure about the money thing? I mean how much does a basketball player make on average or a football player? Cause I know Tyson would make like $15 mil per fight. Seems to me that Boxing would be where the money is at.
 
^^^^^

Yes, Tyson, Holyfield and Lewis might have made $15 million (or perhaps even more) per major fight - but that's literally three guys in the whole heavyweight division throughout the past 15-20 years who consistently made crazy money like that.

In the NBA or in the NFL, on the other hand, not only are the sports less dangerous and more glamorous, but literally HUNDREDS of players in each of those leagues makes ridiculous money nowadays (as opposed to, say, Ali's era, when an average NBA or an average NFL player made lawyer-money; not semi-famous entertainer money.

Simply put, the combination of cable TV, fantastic marketing in each of those leagues, the proliferation of fantasy sports, and the trend of Fortune 500 companies' willingness to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on individual regular season games (to "entertain clients," which is a tax write-off, of course) have made pursuing a career in football or basketball a much safer bet than pursuing a career in boxing, especially throughout the past twenty to thirty years.
 
Being a great athlete doesn't make it a given that you are going to be a good boxer. Likewise being tough isn't enough to make it. I still see it as a ligitimate career to become a fighter but boxing won't be as attractive as Kickboxing or whatever else you get paid for these days. The number of basketballers or footballers who would succeed in boxing is miniscule.

Most of the great boxers started out because it was a sport not a career. There are many who achieve their dream of the Olympics first before aiming for the professional ranks.
 
rstar84 said:
n of meaningless titles (too many belts, like ibf, wba, wbc, nabf, wbo, etc)
Click to expand...
I think this is the major problem, other than of course the fact that a more brutal an intense sport like MMA has finally evolved and even bigger, it's gone mainstream. The inability to unify belts has had me flipping through boxing channels . I boxed for 11 years as a kid silver/golden gloves but then quickly changed over to MMA. Reason being, much more competition. I also wrestled my whole life and have 2 black belts so wanted something I could use EVERYTHING I've every learned. Boxing has become so one dimensional compared to mma. MMA is real fighting compared to boxing. I love boxing as I said I train with Rob Radford every week and a few pros to keep my hands up. but also to the average fan, people want diversity, change in a sport. Not just the same shit all the time. The bloodlust calls for destructive ko's to please bloodthirsty fans. Ko's with 4 oz gloves happens at any second rather than big soft, cushy mits. The sense of brutality is recognized much more in mma. Not to mention there are so many mainstream poster boys in MMA now. Kids of all ages know, Couture, Liddell, Brock, GSP,etc.... who does boxing have for the young crowd. I see boxing dying out slowly . The last few UFC ppvs and ratings easily back that up. I mean what would you rather watch?? And I'm not being biased because I gave up boxing to full time learn MMA and get back in touch with my grappling. Not enough going on there to keep people excited
 
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