Boxing is better than NHB to watch

[judo guy]

Which is why I think NHB is gonna stay a small niche sport forever.

Granted, boxing has more than its fair share of stinker fights. Especially when guys like Lewis tie up all the time.

But when you put 2 guys like Vargas and Trinidad, Hagler and Hearns, Ali and Frazier, and many others I could cite into the ring and they let it all hang out, well there ain't nothing that I've witnessed in NHB that comes close to that for excitement.

That's my opinion anyway.

[Ronin]

J.G.:

The current MMA rules encourage stalling and clock-riding. Until that changes, great fights will be few and far between.

I still think the judging system I proposed last year would go a long way towards solving the problem.

[judo guy]

Hi Ronin,

Before I posted I considered that. However, when I think back to the early UFC's I think they were exciting because of the newness. The most exciting early UFC matches that I remember were Royce vs Kimo and Royce vs Severn. As much as I liked those matches, they don't compare to any of the classic boxing matches I have witnessed.

The matches that I enjoy now in MMA end by strikes. Even in those matches, the punishment and back and forth pales in comparison to what boxers go through.

Based on my own personal observations, a great boxing match is more exciting than a great nhb fight.

[Shrimp]

Nonfighters (i.e. most US spectators) seem to appreciate a striking match much, much more than a grappling match.

IMO, that's what killed UFC: most fights DO go to the ground.

Until Joe Viewer can get off on a good guard pass, nhb will not go mainstream in the US.

This is a sad thing.

[Tony10]

You are correct when you say that most non-MAs find grappling contests boring. Unless it's a real ground & pound fest. The early UFCs were entertaining also because some of the mismatches were so horrendous, there was a lot of blood and serious beatings. It was like a modern gladiator contest.

Some of the MMAs I've been to usually went like this:
1. Attempted strike/kick
2. Clinch
3. Takedown then grappling until time ran out

After a while you just wanted to see some action.

On the other hand, the Pride matches always seem pretty damn exciting, and Shidokan Karate matches are REALLY intense (grappling allowed in third round if it goes that far).

[Robbie]

Its really more of an opinion.I have found that the majority of boxing matches are extremely boring.I like to watch even the lightweights fight in NHB but hate to watch lightweights in boxing.It's just what you prefer.

[Mr. Miyagi]

I got a solution. Any fighter who wins a decision more than 50% of the time should be banned from competition. That'll get rid of bores like Randleman and Henderson, and encourage people to be finishers, like Frank and Saku.
I'd rather see Pat Smith fight anyday than bores like Randleman and Henderson.

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

While Miyagi's idea is a little irrational, I second it

[EJ]

The politics of boxing, the promoters, and the ****ed up judging have made it 75% unwatchable to me.

Gems like Mandalay Bay's Saturday's card (and Friday's on HBO) are few and far between.

[judo guy]

Hi guys,

My opinion is based on observing the best that boxing has to offer and the best that NHB has to offer. Agreed that lots of boxing and NHB is virtually unwatchable. Politics and judging have done an injustice to boxing.

But when I compare the best boxing matches to the best NHB matches I've witnessed, I just think boxing has more to offer the viewer.

Out of curiousity, which NHB fights do you guys feel measure up to the fight we saw between Vargas and Trinidad, Hearns and Leonard, Ali and Frazier, etc?

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

I think both the Sak vs. Renzo and Royce matches are great, great matches that are both dramatic and exciting. Mark Coleman vs. Maurice Smith is another great gem and so is Don Frye vs. Mark Coleman. A lot of UFC main events were great and exciting and hold up today [the ones past the UFC 9 mark].

[RYAN410]

BOXING IS DYING A SLOW PAINFUL DEATH.....I CAN'T WATCH ANYMORE..

[SweepEm]

Judo dude, look how many boxers there are, both amateur and pro vs the same amount in NHB/MMA's

There are great bouts in both, and stikers in both also.

[Playa]

Man it goes both ways. I seen some boring ass NHB matches that were action free, like Ruas and whoever it was in the UFC that one time.

Then you watch Lennox Lewis and think God help us all if this guy is going to be round for a few years.

NHB may be niche sport but can't say as a rule boxing is more exciting. Depends on fighters. Grappling easier to watch on TV, though, I'll give you that. Live you can't see WTF is going on most of the time.

[Americana]

It depends on the fighters. One dimensional wrestlers (Randelman, Coleman, etc.) can make for incredibly boring stallfests. Watching a wrestler lay in someone's guard and hit them with 200 rabbit punches is going to put anybody to sleep.

Certain matchups are bad. Ken Shamrock, for example, is a counter-grappler. Put him in there with somebody who does the same thing and you'll have a bore like Severn v. Shamrock II, where they circled each other doing nothing. Same thing with Shamrock v. Royce II.

I have however seen some great, exciting match-ups. Randy Couture fights are usually good (exception with the Mo Smith fight). Belfort can be exciting.

Also any fight where John Lewis takes a hiding is great in my book. After the Pulver fight the UFC should have just propped Lewis up so someone else could give him a beating.