Did Floyd Mayweather reduce the popularity of boxing in the USA with his boring defensive style?

I'm not from the States, but he hasn't ruined it for me

 

This is almost certainly down to the PPV model, not the fighter. A casual or non boxing fan is not about to spend $80+ to watch boxing

 

The rise of the NFL and NBA killed boxing in the U.S. That, and the disappearance of youth boxing and gyms generally. People just don’t think about it here.

Mayweather actually helped. I will say that I think the Mayweather/Pacquaio fight did some damage to the PPV model for a few years. That fight was awful and a lot of people tuned in and immediately tuned out of the sport.

 

His 'business-first' attitude, not his style hurt boxing the most. Now we have most of the elite level fighters fighting extremely rare.
Thurman, Crawford, Spence, the neanderthal Tank fight once a year. Now it's more than ever before. They got lazy, unwilling to fight often and make money. They all wait ages for one super-duper mega-fight that would make tons of money.

 

Best athletes are no longer in boxing. There is a much higher percentage of making more money in basketball and football compared to boxing in the US. Boxing coverage in the US is considerably less than it used to be. Mayweather's style has had no effect on the decline of boxing popularity in the US, his style and his attitude may have rubbed some fans in the wrong way.

 

Mayweather was one of the greatest fighters of all time, and he is one of the reasons why Boxing Fans in the USA continued to be fans. I think the popularity waned here, as noted earlier, because of all the bull crap & fighting too infrequently that's been going on.

Here in the USA we're spoiled, seeing as we've had the greatest fighters of all time come from here, and are accustomed to greatness - and there ain't much greatness out there anymore.

 

Boxing in America is all about the HW division. Without an exciting American HW the country loses interest and the sport recedes into the background.

 

Boxing has never been bigger.

 

If anything he was, the thing keeping boxing alive and relevant in most circles here. Noone else since has had the casual drawing power his "boring" style has.

 

Mayweathers style was only part of it. The main reason is now today no one believes boxing is still a combat sport . The way Mayweather was protected & helped by the NSAC, USADA & Vegas boxing officials was blatant. He had "winning" dec he did not deserve, was allowed to flaunt the Peds abuse with no consequences etc. Now today Canelo is having the same "help" Sad to have to say it but the sport is now totally corrupt!!!

 

That's where you lost me

 

No. Several factors resulted in boxing being relegated to a sub-tab on sports sites.

1. The emergence of MMA
2. The UFC basically always having the best fight the best. Not always, but a lot more than the embarrassment boxing has become.
3. Part time fighters. Hard for casuals to remember a guy that fights once a year.
4. No one in boxing cares about the brand of boxing. It is every man for himself. Marketing only happens for one-off huge events.
5. Boxing is a mess. Corruption, ducking, hand picking opponents. With the internet and information age, the bs is too transparent and no one is doing anything about it.
6. Lack of any decent Heavyweights.
7. Boxing fans - this idiotic mentality that everyone is overrated and a loss means a guy was exposed does the sport no favours. When the supposed hard core fans act like they do they tarnish the sport.

There is a lot more than that as well. Don't blame Floyd. The sport will never see glory days again.

 

I don't think so. I think the best not fighting the best has something to do with it. FM has been accused of this, but a lot of fighters have done this and still are. Add into the mix, the eras you compare FM's to didn't put average fights on PPV for $80.00 with lousy undercards.