he means people used to watch wrestling the way people today watch big boxing events (like pac vs. dela hoya).
http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/bios/halloffame/lewisbio.html Here's an example of what I mean. People used to pay, bet, and watch wrestling just like boxing matches. Then matches started getting set-up and eventually turned into the "pro-wrestling" we have today. There have been several organizations that have tried bringing back legitimacy to real wrestling such as the Real Pro Wrestling. It just couldn't gain the traction needed so it just fell flat on it's face. Any sport has the chance of losing traction if they don't stay up to date with what fans want and need. I just hope boxing stick around, unlike how wrestling did.
Most forms of contests will remain in existence. I'm sure people are dueling with pistols at 10 paces somewhere in the world. No particular contest has a permanent foothold in its current public interest level. All are subject to shifting between popularity and obscurity. One reason for mma's rise in popularity, and the decreasing interest in boxing, is fight cards. When you watch an UFC ppv event; you get to see at least 5 fights with some of some of the UFC's better to best talent bunch. Boxing ppvs are one high profile fight and frequently nothing else to speak of.
I dont think Boxing is dying although yes its faded. It would be impossible for Boxing to die IMO. People still love boxing but lots of folks aside from a few of the diehards dont wanna deal with the **** that we gotta deal with. This economy is very poor and 55 bucks for a PPV is bull**** I remember just a couple years back they where 35-40. I dont mind the gigantic fights being PPV but some are just plain ridiculous. For about a year between the middle of 07 to middle of this year it seemed like all the best fights where happening now its dropping off agian and fans dont like that. In MMA the best are basically forced to fight each other and yes the PPVs prices arent much different but almost every card is like a WWE Wrestlemania card you know stacked with big matches. In a few weeks you got Nog-Mir the former UFC Champ vs former Pride Champ in a Grapple lovers dream fight to determine the top contender,Wandy vs Rampage III to settle the score from their classic Pride encounters agian you got 2 former World Champs and then its Rashad and Forrest for the Title the first 2 TUF Champs no offense but when will you ever see the Contenders winners battling for THE Championship.