Give me a reason to be excited about boxing right now

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Seamus, Jul 26, 2026.


  1. Perkin Warbeck

    Perkin Warbeck Boxing Aficionado Full Member

    16,031
    32,096
    Nov 4, 2017
    But he does have amazingly sharp reflexes and excellent boxing skills.
     
  2. GoodBot

    GoodBot You can like, just forget your password. Full Member

    2,785
    3,399
    Jan 25, 2026
    Man... I was more exited for someone like Nobuhiro Ishida than any of these names.

    I dont get it, why cant I become a fan of any of the current boxers? Usyk is probably the only one, and hes one foot out of the door. I used to be exited for even the average guys, like Gabe Rosado.
    Now there is not a single boxer whose ring return I am anxiously waiting for.

    I think I have lost the love for the sport, barely watch any live cards at all. Mostly find myself watching older fights.
     
    Seamus likes this.
  3. MetalLicker

    MetalLicker I Am Full Member

    25,967
    31,055
    Feb 10, 2011
    Boxing in 2026 has been going through a bit of a dry spell lately. Outside of Inoue/Nakatani, quality boxing matches has seen a noticeable decline.

    We had Dubois/Wardly, Usyk/Verhoeven and Benevidez/Rameriz, but those are not elite fights and they can't sustain the appetite of boxing fans.

    We just need more high quality matches.
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2026
    NoChin likes this.
  4. Mr Applebee

    Mr Applebee Active Member Full Member

    1,474
    832
    Nov 26, 2010
    I think most fans have been feeling the same lately. There are plenty of good fighters…..but none of them want to fight each other. It’s all become a bit tedious now. Something needs to change.
     
    Seamus likes this.
  5. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich 'Iranian flag green' reflecting pool Full Member

    2,359
    3,342
    Aug 15, 2020
  6. Hood.

    Hood. Realist Full Member

    610
    518
    Jul 6, 2022
    A potential Abdullah Mason vs William Zepeda bout has me excited.
     
  7. PopPellegrino

    PopPellegrino Active Member Full Member

    726
    878
    Feb 21, 2026
    Boxing is at a low point, not because this year has been particularly bad for fights, but because the 2020s were filled with stacked Saudi cards that seemed like where the Saudis didn't care whether they made their money back. Now, the Saudis have been slowing down and seem to care more about getting a return on their investment.

    I do want to say, though, that the 2010s weren't a great time for boxing either. Most people rightly only remember the good and great moments from those years while disregarding how bad some of the stuff was. The peak for U.S. boxing, at least, was when boxing was accessible on TV and HBO was consistently putting out good to great PPVs. Unless we get boxing on Netflix or another popular streaming service instead of being stuck on DAZN, boxing will never reach the same level of popularity again.
     
    BustedSaint and Noel857 like this.
  8. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    58,589
    13,738
    Jul 28, 2009
    I know of one special thing. As UFC kills it, the last things it will do are finally put on the fights they should've anyway. So, somewhat soon, likely in a deal with the White House, we're going to see that, but it will die shortly thereafter. But right before that death-the rally right before-that's going to be a reason to get excited.
     
    MagnificentMatt likes this.
  9. PopPellegrino

    PopPellegrino Active Member Full Member

    726
    878
    Feb 21, 2026
    Nothing will "kill" boxing
     
    Keleneki likes this.
  10. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    66,119
    53,482
    Feb 11, 2005
    Compare last night's offering from boxing and the UFC.

    Boxing is my first love but UFC is just more entertaining, with better match-ups, week in and week out.
     
    KO KIDD likes this.
  11. peter_uk

    peter_uk Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,706
    6,423
    Sep 11, 2022
    Personally watching UFC's card last night as a boxing stalwart, yes there were entertaining aspects to it, but the fundamental reason why I will never truly like that sport persisted. The main event seemed to be heating up toward an exciting finish in the final round, but one fighter managed to neuter the action for four out of the last five minutes by dry humping his opponent at the walls of the octagon. It was like watching a fighter clinch and spoil in boxing, only that the clinch didn't last for a few seconds, rather it lasted for a few minutes. I get I'm comparing two distinct sports and that grappling is an integral part of MMA; but if I was in charge, when two UFC fighters grapple for a minute or so without it going anywhere they should be broken up and the action restarted.
     
    PopPellegrino likes this.
  12. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    66,119
    53,482
    Feb 11, 2005
    Neuter the action? Did you ever watch Floyd, Bernard, and at times Toney? Negative fighting all of them. I find it fascinating. And I find the ground game in MMA fascinating, too. That said, they have been considering doing more breaks from ground action when it hits stasis.
     
    KO KIDD likes this.
  13. NoChin

    NoChin You cappin? Full Member

    10,377
    8,432
    Aug 1, 2023
    The state of boxing is at an all time low.
     
  14. BustedSaint

    BustedSaint Country Member Full Member

    668
    811
    Dec 22, 2025
    Not sure about all time low NC, but definitely in a bad patch where we tragics and also casual fans are being denied the huge fights; and what would have be coined exhibition bouts in the past are presented as major events. Even Spence/Tszyu was in this category.
     
    PopPellegrino and NoChin like this.
  15. NoChin

    NoChin You cappin? Full Member

    10,377
    8,432
    Aug 1, 2023
    Good call. Spence vs Tszyu was a battle of two has beens. I don't know how they got the money that they did.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2026
    PopPellegrino and BustedSaint like this.