MMA taking away from Boxing?

[bodhisattva]

It seems as though the likes of organizations like the UFC are rapidly becoming the new "Fight Sport". Boxing's revenue is down, their pay-per-view profits are already far less than UFC fights, and the sport seems to be lacking any major all-stars (with few exceptions). This Mayweather vs Hatton fight may be one of the better ones as of late, and does the sport need to make any changes to compete?

What are your opinions?

I don't think so. I think boxing was suffering long before MMA came out.

Lots of people remember when a boxer had to "fight his way up the ranks." In other words, if you wanted a chance to fight the number 1 in your weight class, you were going to defeat numbers 3 and 2 first.

Now, fighters can get fights through their connections. It is like anything else in the world - you can have lots of talent, but no connections, and not make it.

I think that, along with the rest of the corruption, caused a massive loss of interest in boxing.

--

Then MMA came out. First it was "martial art VS martial art" and dominated on the ground. Then everyone learned the ground, and there were more standing knockouts. And we're all pretty used to a well rounded game as a result.

--

but now, I find boxing interesting again. After seeing fighting at all ranges with all games included, I find it interesting to isolate the striking. It's cool to see "simple" boxing again.

I think MMA probably renewed my interest in watching boxing competition when it had long ago declined.

I think it is time for some of the greats of boxing to come into the unlimited ring, though. I don't believe they ever will - they have too much to lose. But I think a couple of good matchups would renew the national interest in boxing.

[JKDBrando]

I for 1 watched the Hatton vs Mayweather. The fight was exciting and the personalities made it fun. The first 3 fights were baloni and didn't hold our attention at all. We cheered when they were over because it was one fight closer to the main event.

However we watch the ufc bouts afterwards and the house was ecstatic and the basic consensus was this awsome so much better and more exciting then boxing.

Maybe its time to let exteme boxing take place. Extra long clinches, elbow blows and throw downs. Now that would be fun.

[Knuckles&Knees]

Boxing is not in decline.. boxing fans are still boxing fans, MMA fans are MMA fans, people who sway from one to the other are neither.

Well... there use the be a time when boxing was much greater in the UK and in the United States. There use to be a time when the heavyweight champion was more well known than the President of the United States - that was back during the early 1900s but no more.

So boxing has taken a decline, to many punches on the chin, perhaps form promoters and organized crime (sarcasm). Lol.

[Knuckles&Knees]

I think with unification and time for talent to get back into the heavyweight rank, it will be fine.

Bump.

The heavyweight is lacking in talent and drama and all these belts don't help the problem.

[dimmak786]

Its a myth.

Boxing is still Huge compared to MMA.

What do top line UFC fighters (those just a notch below Couturem Lidell, and Jackson earn......something like $5000 a fight thats what they clear?!!

It just makes for a good story to say MMA is bigger than boxing.

[wado_kai]

Boxing is not in decline.. boxing fans are still boxing fans, MMA fans are MMA fans, people who sway from one to the other are neither.

[Shoot]

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.

[DickHardman]

mma is more popular than boxing, people looking to train have more incentive to train in mma now than instead of just boxing.

[bigboywasim]

The server was hella slow I didn't know it posted my post that many times.

[Knuckles&Knees]

...and does the sport need to make any changes to compete?

What are your opinions?

1) I think boxing needs to at minimum narrow down to no more than two alphabet organizations.

2) I think pay-per-view, while perhaps a business cash cow for promoters and the executives behind professional boxing, is ultimately hurting the viability of boxing for potential young loyal fans and especially new fans.

[bigboywasim]

Boxing is not the sport it once was. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. I believe it will be as big as baseball/basketball/football in the USA. If all states would agree to a standard set of rules and them tree huggers took a chill pill it will be all good.

[bigboywasim]

Boxing is not the sport it once was. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. I believe it will be as big as baseball/basketball/football in the USA. If all states would agree to a standard set of rules and them tre hugers took a chill pill it will be all good.

[bigboywasim]

Boxing is not the sport it once was. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. I believe it will be as big as baseball/basketball/football in the USA. If all states would agree to a standard set of rules and them tree hugers took a chill pill it will be all good.

[bigboywasim]

Boxing is not the sport it once was. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. I believe it will be as big as baseball/basketball/football in the USA. If all states would agree to a standard set of rules and them tree hugers took a chill pill it will be all good.

[bigboywasim]

Boxing is not the sport it once was. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. I believe it will be as big as baseball/basketball/football in the USA. If all states would agree to a standard set of rules and them tree hugers took a chill pill it will be all good.