Is boxing dead? This guy thinks so

by Zak Woods on Aug 5, 2009 10:30 AM EDT in Apples and Oranges Comment 2 comments

Joe Hand via Philly.com and DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff photographer

Cage Writer passed along an interesting article from the Philly Daily News regarding Joe Hand, a closed-circuit television promoter a.k.a. guy who sells pay-per views to bars and restaraunts.

"People ask, 'Do you think UFC will kill boxing?' " Hand said. "It already has. Boxing's dead. "Look, the next [Floyd] Mayweather fight is the same night as UFC 103. Does that make any sense?

To Hand's last point, Floyd's Uncle was arrested so this will probably be used as an excuse (def a legitimate one) to postpone the fight.

The real interesting point in this article is the comparison of the UFC as a PPV product versus boxing as a PPV product.

A boxing PPV is all about the main event. The under card fights are usually all jokes and are always too short. I know I hate watching a four round boxing match that is a glorified sparring session not a prize-fight. Compare that to five competitive fights on an UFC PPV some of which end early allowing the audience to see a preliminary fight and it is easy to see why the UFC PPV product is better than the boxing PPV alternative.

Remember the business of sports is the business of entertainment and making a competitive and concise product is one of the reasons why people tune in to watch a UFC event. This is something MMA fans should always think about when they start clamoring for five round non-title fights, which in my opinion would drastically change the PPV product for the worse.

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Comments

Boxing is not dead, but not as popular as it used to be

Judging from our MMA vs Boxing sales the past two years, boxing did in fact decline, but is by no means dead. It seems the main focus is upon MMA, but boxing is an important stepping stone in training to get there. UFC seems to be very amusing and appealing to watch but not necessarily as easily applicable as old school boxing.

-Dave Toub
Owner of Punching Bags Pro\

by dave369 on Aug 6, 2009 6:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Boxing isn't dead... Yet

Boxing is a sport that has been governed by profit of money since day one. That is why the main fighters take so long if ever to compete against each other. That is why mayweather isn’t facing pacquiao and fighting marquez. The promoters behind the scene want the big fights to lay in the horizon to anticipate the fans. This only stops the best matches happening when both fighters are in their prime. This corrupt attitude goes through to the olympics and even grass root kids competing at the higher level amatuer compitition. MMA particularly the UFC has a “let them fight” attitude that is what boxing lost gradually since when? The 60’s of course
good fights have happened since then. But less and less so. MMA is evolving and adapting more and more and it’s the lack of the corruption that happens in boxing that is turning life long fight fans from the ring to the cage. Lets face it maybe mayweathers next fight WILL be good but the majority of us ( me included ) will be more excited about the modern day combat that the UFC will be putting on for us.

by Brian Hyslop on Aug 13, 2009 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs