How do we 'fix' boxing?

This

If the mainstream followed boxing they would see it has more drama in it than the WWE and its actually real.

 

put all the klitshko fanatics where they belong, a mental ward:rofl. then we'll make some progress:good

 

Don't expect anything from leftalone33 remotely resembling something looking like a sane post from the far distance.

 

Definately more free to air.
And 1 champ per division

 

First off, we need to get boxing back on network t.v., or at least cable.

Having one champ per division would help, but it's not like we haven't had ABC belts for a while.

To bring Americans back into it, we really need another good American fighter, a new Oscar of sorts. What would really help is an undisputed American heavyweight champ. US Americans don't really care about anything unless it pertains to us.

 

All of the above. Plus if espn and the like won't cover it more consistently, than get a network that will. Or a 24 hour boxing channel.

 

Well, in the US, alot of the previous stars were introduced to us through their amateur careers and the Olympics. We grew with them through the Olympics and their pro debuts. When you've watched a guy fight as an 18 year old, repping your country against grown ass men, you tend to stay with them as a fan.

That amateur pipeline has to crank back up.

The starmaking marketing apparatus in the US is designed to build upon a great amateur or Olympic career. The fighter build his name up through the amateurs, and then the networks nurtured him into stardom. Why do you think HBO invested in Jermain Taylor? Why do you think Showtime is cool with Dirrell and Ward in their tourney over Bute and Andrade? And those guys come from some of the less popular US teams.

I constantly have to tell folk to not discount this factor when trying to figure out why De La Hoya can still sell fights, why Roy Jones and Holyfield are still so beloved, or even why Mayweather was able to transition into the mainstream. If you named all the 'huge name' American fighters over the last 20 years, other than Tyson (and maybe Hopkins), almost all of them were decorated amateurs.

There was a time when the US vs Cuba in team boxing would get broadcast in primetime. Those pre Olympic tourneys were hugely popular on TV. The Lou Duva signed guys off the '84 team fought their pro debuts in primetime at Madison Square Garden ( Breland, Meldrick Taylor, Pernell Whitaker, Tyrell Biggs, Virgil Hill, and Evander Holyfield).

Those days are gone.

 

Ain't broke.

Unless by "fix" you mean "rig", in which case bring back the mob. :deal

 

why would you be shocked that any fight involving Valuev was barely on the radar. the guy is a ****ing joke.

As for how to fix the sport, root out the sanctioning bodies. In those cases Valuev vs haye would be something like #6 vs #9, but it would still be an interesting fight because more people would be tuned into the sport.

 

aww, k-man is throwing a hissy fit. its alright k-man, just because i dont worship the klitschkos doesn't mean im insane. maybe you should take a look in the mirror after making such a bizzare statement???

 

I knew about the fight and I didnt attempt to watch

 

get it back on free TV, the rest takes care of itshelf. I really can't over emphasize the importance of normal TV to boxing.