Total re-structure of the boxing scene?

El Guapo!

Ok so I just thought I'd run something by you. I've always been a boxing fan and always will be, but in the last while its losing popularity and is being totally over-shadowed by UFC (which I'm also a big fan of).
I'm wondering would the majority of boxing fans welcome a change to the face of the industry to make it more along the lines of UFC?
Now I dont mean use UFC as a blueprint and basically turn boxing into a replica of the UFC, but I mean take some pointers from the way Dana White and the UFC has completely changed the face of MMA.
IMO it could work wonders for boxing. You see the crowds Prizefighter brings in. It attracts new fans as well as life-long boxing fans. Alright the caliber of the prizefighter shows isnt fantastic but its fresh and exciting. What if boxing put on shows like the UFC does. Even once a month. And a board of directors/organisers determine who fights who. No more side-stepping fighters. No more year long negotiations. No more waiting for months and months for decent fights to get finalised. The shows could be run on the basis that each fight is 3/5 rounds and the big big name title fights could be 10/12.
Money needn't be an issue. The purses would still be decent. Plus theres masses of sponsorship which in itself is worth a small fortune. It also means more frequent exposure of the fighters which would bring in even more personal sponsorship deals. It increases business elsewhere too i.e-merchandise etc.
It wouldnt need to turn into a ridiculous soap opera like professional wrestling either. It could be the next big thing, a new phenomenon, bringing boxing back to the pinnacle of sport.
All in all I think it improves the whole game for everybody, fighters and fans alike. If the fans are happy they buy tickets which makes the fighters happy.
So whats your opinions on something like this?

TheProdigy

Any big name established fighter who can command a couple of million off a PPV wouldn't be interested and although the Super-Six was originally full of good fighters it became farcical so probably won't happen when there is so many greedy people rampant in the sport.

alanceltic

Pizefighter is a great format, especially for up and coming fighters or last chance saloon for lads in the twilight of their carreer. Problem is when a fighter gets ranked the stakes and money gets in the way of logical fights. Just look at Duddy/Lee/Macklin, there has been a huge apetite for these to get it on but up to now it never made any sense financially or logically even though it would make an intreguing fight and would get bums on seats. Simply put, there is too many vested interests for such a format to take place and the super6 has poved this even though the concept on paper is great. Closest was probably the contender series. Would love to see a new dimension added alright, the amateurs are even mixing things up, will be interesting to see how this pans out.

colly10

I like the idea of the super 6 for example, pity about all the injuries this time around and not great that Bute isn't involved.

The thing is though that there is far to much money in boxing for them to play by anyones rules, even taking the Super 6. The best matchup that can be Dirrell v Ward.
Most people feel that either Ward or Bute are the man but some believe Dirrell is. Whoever would loose between Dirrell or Ward would face a huge set back, Ward is willing to take that gamble but I don't believe Dirrell is. It's a business with promoters and advisors and if they feel it's too early for Dirrell to take that gamble then it's not going to happen.

As UFC gains popularity, more money will be involved, it is more likely to go like boxing that boxing is to go like UFC unfortunately

deisedelight

its a myth that boxing is losing its popularity. outside of north america boxing is as strong now as it ever was. no need for me to go into facts and figures but mma is miles behind boxing in terms of worldwide popularity though the way UFC markets itself as a brand is unreal. lets hope next we can have two huge fights next yr - haye v klitchko and pac v pbf

gene_tunney

UFC can run shows like that because they pay the competitors a pittance. Boxing is all about money. Audley Harrison got paid £1,000,000 the other night for throwing about 3 punches. Go figure.

Vintagekits

Dean09 wrote: »

Ok so I just thought I'd run something by you. I've always been a boxing fan and always will be, but in the last while its losing popularity and is being totally over-shadowed by UFC (which I'm also a big fan of).
I'm wondering would the majority of boxing fans welcome a change to the face of the industry to make it more along the lines of UFC?
Now I dont mean use UFC as a blueprint and basically turn boxing into a replica of the UFC, but I mean take some pointers from the way Dana White and the UFC has completely changed the face of MMA.
IMO it could work wonders for boxing. You see the crowds Prizefighter brings in. It attracts new fans as well as life-long boxing fans. Alright the caliber of the prizefighter shows isnt fantastic but its fresh and exciting. What if boxing put on shows like the UFC does. Even once a month. And a board of directors/organisers determine who fights who. No more side-stepping fighters. No more year long negotiations. No more waiting for months and months for decent fights to get finalised. The shows could be run on the basis that each fight is 3/5 rounds and the big big name title fights could be 10/12.
Money needn't be an issue. The purses would still be decent. Plus theres masses of sponsorship which in itself is worth a small fortune. It also means more frequent exposure of the fighters which would bring in even more personal sponsorship deals. It increases business elsewhere too i.e-merchandise etc.
It wouldnt need to turn into a ridiculous soap opera like professional wrestling either. It could be the next big thing, a new phenomenon, bringing boxing back to the pinnacle of sport.
All in all I think it improves the whole game for everybody, fighters and fans alike. If the fans are happy they buy tickets which makes the fighters happy.
So whats your opinions on something like this?

I stopped reading after your wildly innaccurate opening line.

I like both but there is nothing like watching a huge boxing match,mayweather v Hatton etc.
UFC can deliver nothing like it,probably because there is so many decent fights the main card is overshadowed.

The fact that UFC fighters rarely hold the title for long probably takes away from it a bit.

cowzerp

I genuinely prefer the big Boxing matches but the fact that most the top Boxers are unknown due to bad promoting makes the UFC more pallatable to most people as its always better watching people you know..

also, the UFC can have 3-5 great fights on paper on a card where this tends to be ungeard of in Boxing due to the massive pay days the top fighters get, 1 day the wages will increase in the UFC in my opinion and the same will happen there..

I would love if all Boxers at the top level where promoted so that people knew who they where watching and not just the top few such as Mayweather, pacman etc...

cowzerp

cowzerp wrote: »

I genuinely prefer the big Boxing matches but the fact that most the top Boxers are unknown due to bad promoting makes the UFC more pallatable to most people as its always better watching people you know..

also, the UFC can have 3-5 great fights on paper on a card where this tends to be ungeard of in Boxing due to the massive pay days the top fighters get, 1 day the wages will increase in the UFC in my opinion and the same will happen there..

I would love if all Boxers at the top level where promoted so that people knew who they where watching and not just the top few such as Mayweather, pacman etc...

True,I actually think UFC are holding MMA back.
They have done an excellent job up until now but there comes a point where the sport need seperate promotions companies to handle the big fights.ATM its like a wwe show in its setup.

Its only a matter of time before some of the big fighters tell Dana to piss off and manage their own fights.

El Guapo!

Vintagekits wrote: »

I stopped reading after your wildly innaccurate opening line.

Ok maybe it was a bit of a wild generalisation. I just meant its lost popularity with some fans and some have switched to mainly watching UFC (you could argue they werent real fans in the first place). I suppose what I really meant is to point out how boxing isnt marketed as well as it could be.

Vintagekits

Dean09 wrote: »

Ok maybe it was a bit of a wild generalisation. I just meant its lost popularity with some fans and some have switched to mainly watching UFC (you could argue they werent real fans in the first place). I suppose what I really meant is to point out how boxing isnt marketed as well as it could be.

There are massive problems with boxing.

These issues will inevitably rasie their ugly head in MMA when it emerges from its fledgling state.

Boxing's main problem, as I see it, is the absence of a unified governing body like FIFA in soccer. MMA also suffers from this although it may not seem this way because of the dominence of a single promotional company.

I can see the positives in the UFC's dominence, but there are also negatives as well.

I could be wrong but I am frequently being told that the best MMA fighter refuses to fight in UFC promotions.

strobe

cowzerp wrote: »

I genuinely prefer the big Boxing matches but the fact that most the top Boxers are unknown due to bad promoting makes the UFC more pallatable to most people as its always better watching people you know..

also, the UFC can have 3-5 great fights on paper on a card where this tends to be ungeard of in Boxing due to the massive pay days the top fighters get, 1 day the wages will increase in the UFC in my opinion and the same will happen there..

I would love if all Boxers at the top level where promoted so that people knew who they where watching and not just the top few such as Mayweather, pacman etc...

Completely agree here. Look how many people turned out regularly to watch B. Dunne, both live and on T.V, I think we can all agree that was down to great promotion of him and by him. Not to mention the amount of people I know who would never have watched Mayweather - Hatton if it wasn't for the fact 24/7 was run on Sky One. Even my sister watched it and she hadn't watched a fight in her life.

24/7 is a great program for promoting fights. The fact people can actually get to know a fighters personality and backstory a bit and pick a favourite in the fight means it has the potential to draw in a huge number of casual fans or even non-fans who otherwise would have no interest.

This kind of platform should be utlilised far more frequently and made a lot more accessible. Not just for "super-fights" though, there is now reason why there couldn't be weekly shows with different fighter appearing over and over for people to get to know them and become interested in how they progress.

El Guapo!

strobe wrote: »

24/7 is a great program for promoting fights. The fact people can actually get to know a fighters personality and backstory a bit and pick a favourite in the fight means it has the potential to draw in a huge number of casual fans or even non-fans who otherwise would have no interest.

I agree with this 100%. I think 24/7 has done wonders for making the sport more accessible and tangible to the regular joe-soap. If it continues and spreads to lesser known/hyped fights it can only get better. I suppose its a major step in the right direction for the sport.


I also agree with what Vintagekits said about the need for a single governing body in boxing. If this were to happen it would be a major positive for the sport. Although I'm sure it wouldn't be without its problems too.