Thats the truth show fights live on free TV and you get the fans back. The cable tv era is over, people download everything these days. The sport needs fans. 6m used to watch Khan fight 3 years ago now he only attracts 70,000 (v McCloskey)
The big fights were on closed circuit, I take the view that it is subcription services taking fights from the networks rather than PPV that is causing support to fall. Millions would watch most of Haglers fights for free and then if they became fans they would watch PPV (closed circuit) for the big fights,Hearns and Leonard.
And to the OP, change the tune. People have said that for 20 years now. That's a bit of an old, tiring, cliche now. PPV isn't killing boxing.....it doesn't help, obviously, but it isn't killing it. If PPV really killed boxing, then MMA/UFC would never exist because every month it seems like there is a card on PPV. Anyway, the only thing boxing needs is mainstream attention. That's it. People are sheep, like the poster above me to who I was responding to, he's your typical person. He has to follow what the media tells him so he can repeat the same thing. The PPV, ABC belts, etc. they don't help, but that's not what is "killing" or "killed" boxing. All boxing needs is mainstream attention from outlets like ESPN. That's all, and people would watch boxing.
PPV is not killing boxing. Fans who are to freaking cheap to split the cost of a PPV with 2 or 3 friends do far more damage.
Could it be as simple as the difference between 10 round fights and 12 round fights, in addition to removing 15 round fights? Is it a coincidence that boxing's dwindling popularity correlates with the removal of 15 round fights? There are great fights at all levels from 4 rounders to 12 rounders however there's something majestic or nostalgic with a 15 rounder... it kinda lets veiwer know he's watching a top level profesional fight. Im all for the safety of boxers, BTW. I dunno... just a noob thinkin outside the box for a sec.....
I'm all for fights on TV, BUT I ****en hate commercials. (So the PPV/Premium channels price is OK w/Me.)
nah man, floyd's PPV's have been tight... they sell more than Manny's PPVs and he just puts on a boxing clinic when he's out there. the only downer was JMM.
I think boxing would work for network TV. if the matches are right (like ortiz/berto, salido/jmm, morales/maidana), people will watch. if berto/ortiz can garner 1.5 million views on HBO, just imagine the numbers it could pull in when it's accessible free to everyone. boxing is commercial friendly too with its in-between round breaks. sure it sort of takes away from the experience a bit, but it's nearly irrelevant if the match is capturing the audience. more public exposure leads to more attention and more fighters being known and building fanbases and more seats being filled especially if you move them to basketball arenas instead of casino showrooms. i fail to see any negatives in moving it to network tv.