 It's the title problem
There were some notable exceptions, but it was heavyweight boxing that was really huge and drew huge money. The problem started when the title became fragmented. I think with unification and time for talent to get back into the heavyweight rank, it will be fine. There is such a long tradition in the UK and US of admiration for boxing. I just don't see MMA providing the drama and heart felt stories that boxing does. There has yet to be a larger than life, all heart person in MMA that an entire nation can get behind or a ring battle that an entire nation can feel emotional about. These stories abound in boxing. It's a bit dead right now, but it will rise again.
I mean no offense to MMA (I practice it for cry'n out loud), but I think MMA is associated primarily with young beer and testosterone filled guys. Whereas boxing appealed to young, middle aged and old beer and testosterone filled guys!
Let me say this too: the payoff for being a boxing champion for a major title (ie. world heavyweight) is so far beyond anything that MMA can offer that boxing will always attract the highest caliber athletes. People born with a god-given talent for fighting might choose tens of millions in boxing over a few million at the most that you could get from MMA+endorsements. |