Is Boxing Dead? (warning some Klitschko spoilers here) - Page 3

Ric915 · 02-21-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

Still would love to see a boxing channel .... GBP has the money to do it, but Arum and King (I think) have the rights to the classic fights and classic fights would be a must.

That is correct I know when ESPN went to Arum for footage of the Mancini-Kim fight for the Triumph and Traged special he said no. He wanted Ray to tell him it was ok before he released the footage. I would love to see a boxiing channel but agree classics would definately have to be included

Syd Thrift · 02-21-2008, 12:05 PM

I think this thread is guilty of not seeing the big picture. Yes, boxing is smaller in the USA. Its growing in eastern Europe, huge in Mexico and the phillipines, and fairly large Japan. And to top it off, in many of those places its biggest with the smaller weight classes.

Also, mma is a fad and not nearly as exciting as boxing in general. The best thing it has going for it is that its so small right now that a couple of organizations can more or less run it.

JohntheHammerHeyes · 02-21-2008, 01:44 PM

Whilst not dead boxing has certainly declined in popularity. I know from reading some other sites that some boxing fans in America think that because 60,000 turn up to see Calzaghe - Kessler or 15,000 turn out for the big shows in Germany that boxing in Europe must be healthy and on the up. Sadly I think these kind of occasions are the exception and not the rule.

Mad Bomber · 02-21-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric915

That is correct I know when ESPN went to Arum for footage of the Mancini-Kim fight for the Triumph and Traged special he said no. He wanted Ray to tell him it was ok before he released the footage. I would love to see a boxiing channel but agree classics would definately have to be included

I agree with both of you, and I had a discussion about this very topic last year about having a classic or 24 hour boxing channel here at work, and we are applying for a 24 hour sports channel, so we will see if anything comes of it.

Greg

Brooks TVB · 02-22-2008, 02:06 AM

Boxing is not quite what it used to be in my neck of the woods. Most people around here go for mma because they think boxing is for wimps. You can't explain the art of boxing as compared to a standard streetfight (mma) to the people around here. I personally like to watch mma on occasion but boxing is by far more of a sport.

Anyway, boxings not dead we just need to get rid of the alphabet belts and crown one champion and get some fights on network television again. Big fights not just the bum of the week.

Tommysixfingers · 02-22-2008, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brooks TVB

Boxing is not quite what it used to be in my neck of the woods. Most people around here go for mma because they think boxing is for wimps. You can't explain the art of boxing as compared to a standard streetfight (mma) to the people around here. I personally like to watch mma on occasion but boxing is by far more of a sport.

Anyway, boxings not dead we just need to get rid of the alphabet belts and crown one champion and get some fights on network television again. Big fights not just the bum of the week.

I don't see why liking MMA makes it impossible to like boxing and the other way around. It's like saying that you like Tennis better than Squash because squash is for whimps. I'm not really fond of the comparison that people make all the time either. Different sports with different rules, just like any two other sports.

Anyway, boxing's worst enemy is boxing and not MMA. 10+ organisations and multiple chumps...I mean champs in every weightclass makes it impossible for the casual viewer to follow and develop an interest.

Cap · 02-22-2008, 09:08 AM

Has anyone made a count recently of just how many champions there are? Does anyone in the sport NOT have a title belt?

Cap

hamed · 02-22-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommysixfingers

I don't see why liking MMA makes it impossible to like boxing and the other way around. It's like saying that you like Tennis better than Squash because squash is for whimps. I'm not really fond of the comparison that people make all the time either. Different sports with different rules, just like any two other sports.

Anyway, boxing's worst enemy is boxing and not MMA. 10+ organisations and multiple chumps...I mean champs in every weightclass makes it impossible for the casual viewer to follow and develop an interest.

Good points Tommy. I watched Kimbo Slice KO Tank on Showtime last Sat night & liked that fight because it was like a boxing match mostly. In fact, all the bouts on that card were pretty good to me except the one that went to decision, 2 big guys hugging & grabbing - like a boring HW boxing fight.

And yeah, I would not call boxers or MMA guys whimps - wonder if those fans would be brave enough to tell a boxer that boxing is for whimps, LOL.

Also true about boxing having so many organizations. But while MMA is relatively new, you think they might start having too many champs/organizations soon too? We all know about UFC but there's also WEC on Versus, Showtime has their fights & now Mark Cuban wants Couture to fight someone on his new cable or webnet whatever he's creating. Seems like MMA might be following boxing's path in that regard with a # of new organizations popping up due to MMA being so popular right now.

zyberianwarrior · 02-23-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonedwarf

It's interesting. In Calgary at least, pro wrestling gets better coverage than boxing.

because of someone that used to live there named um.......

um...........

Oh yea Bret Hart!!!! and the entire Hart family line.

Cap · 02-23-2008, 01:32 PM

If someone discovered a half-decent heavyweight in Toronto and he made his living based in Ontario, you'd start seeing a returning interest in the sport in Canada. In this country, Toronto is the media centre. If it doesn't happen in Toronto it doesn't really happen. Unfortunately.

Cap

mh2365 · 02-23-2008, 02:14 PM

By the way who won between Kimbo and Tank?

Tommysixfingers · 02-23-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

By the way who won between Kimbo and Tank?

Kimbo by ko.

mh2365 · 02-23-2008, 02:24 PM

From my little knowledge of the sport .. that is a pretty good win isn't it?

Tommysixfingers · 02-23-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

From my little knowledge of the sport .. that is a pretty good win isn't it?

No, not at all. Tank is a bum...a shot, 15 year over the hill bar room brawler. He wasn't good 15 years ago and he isn't any better now. I'll admit that he is a tough sob though.

Tank is 10-14 in MMA and has won 1 match in the last 10 years.

mh2365 · 02-23-2008, 02:33 PM

Okay ... Tank Abbott was just a name I recognized for some reason.

Cap · 02-23-2008, 02:34 PM

I hereby promise to try not to make disparaging remarks about MMA and its followers on this forum. Right now I'm threatening myself with a knife to hold my tongue.

Cap

Tommysixfingers · 02-23-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

Okay ... Tank Abbott was just a name I recognized for some reason.

Tank is a charachter and easy to remember. Maybe you've seen him on "Friends" in the episode when Monica's boyfriend Pete makes his UFC debut.

mh2365 · 02-23-2008, 02:36 PM

Probably ...

hamed · 02-23-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh2365

Okay ... Tank Abbott was just a name I recognized for some reason.

Yeah Mike, I actually saw an action figure of Tank in either Target or Wal-mart the other day. I think they made that figure based on his WWE days.

Maybe that's why?

Mr Big · 02-23-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommysixfingers

No, not at all. Tank is a bum...a shot, 15 year over the hill bar room brawler. He wasn't good 15 years ago and he isn't any better now. I'll admit that he is a tough sob though.

Tank is 10-14 in MMA and has won 1 match in the last 10 years.

Tank Abbott is a typical example of the fact that it takes much more than just being a big tough guy to succeed at MMA. I can see fellow pro wrestler Brock Lesnar following in his footsteps and winding up as a sub .500 fighter in the cage.

02-22-2008, 02:06 AM	#45
Brooks TVB All Star Starter Join Date: May 2004 Location: Loudon, TN. Posts: 1,439	Boxing is not quite what it used to be in my neck of the woods. Most people around here go for mma because they think boxing is for wimps. You can't explain the art of boxing as compared to a standard streetfight (mma) to the people around here. I personally like to watch mma on occasion but boxing is by far more of a sport. Anyway, boxings not dead we just need to get rid of the alphabet belts and crown one champion and get some fights on network television again. Big fights not just the bum of the week. __________________ UTBA II Member (Brooks Battlers 5-16-0) Career Record UTBA Owners Cup Record 1-1 (1) UTBA II Season 2 (Battlers 2-9-0) Mike Hanson's LBA Complete Fighter Management

02-22-2008, 09:08 AM	#47
Cap Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Large Province in God's Country Posts: 8,070	Has anyone made a count recently of just how many champions there are? Does anyone in the sport NOT have a title belt? Cap __________________ "...There were Giants in Those Days.."

02-23-2008, 01:32 PM	#50
Cap Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Large Province in God's Country Posts: 8,070	If someone discovered a half-decent heavyweight in Toronto and he made his living based in Ontario, you'd start seeing a returning interest in the sport in Canada. In this country, Toronto is the media centre. If it doesn't happen in Toronto it doesn't really happen. Unfortunately. Cap __________________ "...There were Giants in Those Days.."

02-23-2008, 02:34 PM	#56
Cap Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Large Province in God's Country Posts: 8,070	I hereby promise to try not to make disparaging remarks about MMA and its followers on this forum. Right now I'm threatening myself with a knife to hold my tongue. Cap __________________ "...There were Giants in Those Days.."

02-21-2008, 01:44 PM	#43
JohntheHammerHeyes Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 62	Whilst not dead boxing has certainly declined in popularity. I know from reading some other sites that some boxing fans in America think that because 60,000 turn up to see Calzaghe - Kessler or 15,000 turn out for the big shows in Germany that boxing in Europe must be healthy and on the up. Sadly I think these kind of occasions are the exception and not the rule.

02-23-2008, 02:14 PM	#51
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,941 Infractions: 0/2 (101)	By the way who won between Kimbo and Tank?

02-23-2008, 02:24 PM	#53
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,941 Infractions: 0/2 (101)	From my little knowledge of the sport .. that is a pretty good win isn't it?

02-23-2008, 02:33 PM	#55
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,941 Infractions: 0/2 (101)	Okay ... Tank Abbott was just a name I recognized for some reason.

02-23-2008, 02:36 PM	#58
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,941 Infractions: 0/2 (101)	Probably ...