The demise of British Boxing has started...

A host of reasons. For most it's not the £20 PPV but the poor timing and the poor shows that are coming on Sky Sports.

Sky Sports costs £40+ ($60), though in the Mayweather fight at the stary of the month (£20/$30) then this PPV (£20/$30), then Box nation (£12/$18.) and the month for a boxing fan has come close to £100 (almost $150).

Throw the PPV on to the fact that every decent looking Sky Sports main event has collapsed recently (including Gavin Vs Van Heerden which has collapsed so that Eddie can get Gavin a very undeserved world title fight) and it seems clear that British fight fans are getting frustrated. Funny how much good will Hearn had prior Bellew Vs Cleverly and how much that good will has been destroyed.

UK Boxing isn't even close to being on a high, it's a niche sport over here and being taken even further away from the fans by the greed of Hearn and the inability to get fighters the exposure they need to be real attractions.

 

Isn't it different in Japan. When MMA was hot in Japan with k1 and pride those shows were on free TV popping huge ratings.

The reality is even if a boxer over here got big they will want to be on PPV as money as that's where the money is. Free TV cannot put up the money while ppv even with less viewers can make fighters way bigger paydays.

That's just the reality.

 

Different markets. All fight sports (Pro-Wrestling, boxing, MMA, K1) need free TV coverage in Japan to create stars.

Pay TV is not a common feature among Japanese TV viewers.

 

Really?

I just don't see that happening.

Premiership football, England cricket matches etc etc are too damn popular.

Sorry but you are gonna have to come up with some hard evidence of Sky Sports subscriptions dropping off.

 

I don't know.
I remember watching Benn v Watson, Watson v Eubank 1 and 2 and Benn v Eubank 1 and 2 ... all on free TV (ITV and BBC).

Those fights were better than these PPVs, and were watched by millions.
And there were other good/great British fights on free TV around the same time.

I'm not complaining about PPVs because I don't buy them if I don't want them.

I'm not sure in what way "British boxing is at an all time high" though ??

 

You have a point. It's nice watching Josh go to work though considering his last fight was virtually a spar you'd hope tonight's was a bit livelier. The odds are indeed ugly.

If he's really to develop he needs capable opposition.