What has led to the decline of boxing?

Recommended Videos

Kryzantine

New member
Feb 18, 2010
827
0
0
It seems that in the last 15 years, boxing has taken a serious decline. People simply aren't watching it, and if you asked anyone on the street, they'd wonder who the hell Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto are. The UFC, on the other hand, has taken off in the last 5. What gives? What happened to boxing? Why is not as popular as it was less than 20 years ago? And how can it be fixed?

And the one thing I simply have to say, before this thread will ultimately degenerate into it: I really don't want to hear about MMA vs Boxing as a sport, and which one is better. I'm Russian born and Brooklyn-raised, I have a set mindset when it comes to boxing that can't be changed, and I have my reasons for preferring it over MMA. I'd much rather keep the discussion to the financial or social aspects of the sport that has led to its decline.
 

lacktheknack

Je suis joined jewels.
Jan 19, 2009
19,316
0
0
I'd rather play games than watch big people smack each other with soft gloves for no adequate reason?
 
Apr 19, 2010
1,544
0
0
Well boxing is punching people with gloves on while ultimate fighting is pretty much beat the crap out of the other guy.
With that in mind, more violence means more people entertained.
 

shotgunbob

New member
Mar 24, 2009
651
0
0
UFC is more exciting to most people. Considering it uses alot more styles than boxing.

Plus no real popular fighters with the exception of Mayweather and Pacquiao
 

Kryzantine

New member
Feb 18, 2010
827
0
0
xRagnarok19 said:
Well boxing is punching people with gloves on while ultimate fighting is pretty much beat the crap out of the other guy.
With that in mind, more violence means more people entertained.
You do realize that gloves were introduced specifically so boxers couldn't kill each other in the ring, and even that doesn't stop death?

But like I said, I don't want this to turn into an MMA vs Boxing thread.
 

Riobux

New member
Apr 15, 2009
1,955
0
0
Kryzantine said:
You do realize that gloves were introduced specifically so boxers couldn't kill each other in the ring, and even that doesn't stop death?
I recall there being a statistic that there were no recorded deaths (or very few) in boxing before gloves were introduced. After they were, well, it rose.
 

Kryzantine

New member
Feb 18, 2010
827
0
0
Riobux said:
Kryzantine said:
You do realize that gloves were introduced specifically so boxers couldn't kill each other in the ring, and even that doesn't stop death?
I recall there being a statistic that there were no recorded deaths (or very few) in boxing before gloves were introduced. After they were, well, it rose.
Fighting bare-knuckled must have hurt, though. A lot.
 

Burningsok

New member
Jul 23, 2009
1,504
0
0
Boxing specializes in one style of fighting. In MMA it's several, so the fighter isn't able to specialize in one thing, so he isn't as lethal as a boxer. Sure yeah the MMA has a lot more in his arsenal, but none of their tactics are more polished then a boxers ability to punch. If the boxer wasn't wearing those gloves and was wearing the MMA kind, his punches could drop any man in the MMA pretty damn quickly. I will say that an MMA fighter is very capable of taking down a boxer.
 

Riobux

New member
Apr 15, 2009
1,955
0
0
Kryzantine said:
Riobux said:
Kryzantine said:
You do realize that gloves were introduced specifically so boxers couldn't kill each other in the ring, and even that doesn't stop death?
I recall there being a statistic that there were no recorded deaths (or very few) in boxing before gloves were introduced. After they were, well, it rose.
Fighting bare-knuckled must have hurt, though. A lot.
That was why it never really killed as far as I heard. People didn't want to punch around the head area because it hurt their fists. So they tended to attack the torso and, sometimes, their faces a little.
 

Kryzantine

New member
Feb 18, 2010
827
0
0
Burningsok said:
Boxing specializes in one style of fighting. In MMA it's several, so the fighter isn't able to specialize in one thing, so he isn't as lethal as a boxer. Sure yeah the MMA has a lot more in his arsenal, but none of their tactics are more polished then a boxers ability to punch. If the boxer wasn't wearing those gloves and was wearing the MMA kind, his punches could drop any man in the MMA pretty damn quickly. I will say that an MMA fighter is very capable of taking down a boxer.
Depends on how fast both fighters are. If the boxer is allowed to get inside, he has the superior reflex and power, and I don't think even a low blow would be able to stop him at that point. The MMA fighter would go down quite quickly. And if Carl Froch came after an MMA fighter, the latter would need a baseball bat to have a remote chance at getting him down.

But when arguing MMA vs Boxing, it should be the appeal of 2 MMA fighters against each other vs 2 boxers against each other. I think that the MMA fight would be more forgiving. You make a mistake in a UFC fight, you're not down that much. You make a mistake in a boxing fight, you're in some serious shit. Your fight could be over then and there.
 

ScarletRider

New member
Jan 6, 2010
158
0
0
I dunno... When I see a boxing match, it rather reminds me of fencing. It seems a lot more cerebral, you can tell there's a lot going on in each of the fighter's heads. Whereas whenever I see an MMA match... Well: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/7/15/

Just how I see it. To each their own and all that.
 

Pariah87

New member
Jul 9, 2009
934
0
0
I prefer to watch boxing out of the two. I'm not sure why, in some fights it can be 10 minutes of probing punches, then you'll get 20 seconds of action which is actually quite fun. I only ever watch rarely because you usually have to pay to view which I hate. I already pay a tv liscence and for the cable, I don't want to pay another £10 to watch a fight.

Interestingly, down the Casino where I watch most sporting events, it was full to bursting last year for Haye vs Valuev, so several hundred people, whereas only 20 or so were there to watch the England games during the World Cup.
 

octafish

New member
Apr 23, 2010
5,137
0
0
What is wrong with boxing and how can it be fixed? It is fixed and that is what is wrong. [http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/fight-farce/story-e6frf9if-1225895857025]

It is pretty popular at the amateur level around here (Melbourne).
 

no oneder

New member
Jul 11, 2010
1,243
0
0
What the fuck dude?!?! Boxing still is great. And if you think otherwise, then I'd pity you.

There are still great names out there: Manny "Manilla Ice "Pacquiao, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and John "The Derry Destroyer" Duddy.

If the fan base isn't growing is because of the reputation other bad boxers have given to it.

And how the fuck can someone compare UFC to the sweet science?
 

enzilewulf

New member
Jun 19, 2009
2,130
0
0
Fake wrestling and then the UFC. That and I can catch old fights of the UFC on spike. I just don't know where to find boxing.
 

enzilewulf

New member
Jun 19, 2009
2,130
0
0
no oneder said:
What the fuck dude?!?! Boxing still is great. And if you think otherwise, then I'd pity you.

There are still great names out there: Manny "Manilla Ice "Pacquiao, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and John "The Derry Destroyer" Duddy.

If the fan base isn't growing is because of the reputation other bad boxers have given to it.

And how the fuck can someone compare UFC to the sweet science?
Sweet I am pitied. Anyways how I see it is which is more entertaining. A fist fight with strictly fist, or a more expanded fight where there is ground fighting and regular fighting. I always love to see the strategy these guys use in the UFC. There is so many options. I just can never find boxing when its on anyways, yet same goes to the UFC.
 

ydkwidrmw

New member
Aug 6, 2009
84
0
0
Kryzantine said:
It seems that in the last 15 years, boxing has taken a serious decline. People simply aren't watching it, and if you asked anyone on the street, they'd wonder who the hell Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto are. The UFC, on the other hand, has taken off in the last 5. What gives? What happened to boxing? Why is not as popular as it was less than 20 years ago? And how can it be fixed?

And the one thing I simply have to say, before this thread will ultimately degenerate into it: I really don't want to hear about MMA vs Boxing as a sport, and which one is better. I'm Russian born and Brooklyn-raised, I have a set mindset when it comes to boxing that can't be changed, and I have my reasons for preferring it over MMA. I'd much rather keep the discussion to the financial or social aspects of the sport that has led to its decline.
I think you answered your own question. Boxing is less popular because MMA is becoming more popular. Boxing fans are transitioning to MMA.