I pondered this question and really don't care why boxing and boxers are suddenly willing to taking on risky fights just as long as its happen, but as a fight fan (Key word "fight fan" I love boxing and I'm really starting to love MMA, a knockout is a knockout no matter where it happens) anyways...As a boxing fan or whatever you want to call yourself do you think these great matches are happening in response to the growing popularity of the UFC and they're willingness to have the best fighters fight each other. I'm not writing this for the purpose of a UFC vs Boxing debate because boxing's history is far richer than any mainstream organize MMA competition, but I'm in such awe of how boxing as a sport really stepped up to the plate this year. Look at PBF vs Hatton. PBF is not talking about how great he is but willing to prove it against a dangerous foe. Hatton is willing to step outside of the UK where he is not safe to win a decision against another big name fighter. Cotto is finally taking on someone that can potentially defeat him and Mosley is showing that he is serious about regaining his p4p status. Jt fought a dangerous Pavlik in spite of passively trying to avoid the fight as you can tell after his fight with Spinks, Barerra fought PAC, Calzaghe vs Kessler, Juan Diaz vs Julio Diaz. Vargas v Mayorga To sum this up, boxing fan or fight fans like myself have been craving for this for years. The best boxers are actually fighting each other. Usually boxing would probably have about 1 or 2 major fights a year, but this is amazing and I'm just wondering why, not that it matters, but I'm just wonder what your opinions are?
It's the domino effect: if one high-level boxer sees the exposure he can get for winning an about 50/50 fight, as a result of watching another high-level boxer get all the recognition that comes with it, then he naturally wants in on the action. So when Hatton sees the money and respect that Floyd got for facing and beating DLH, he licked his chops and wanted to take the risk of fighting PBF.
i really dont think that ufc has that much of an impact on boxing and i think the calibre of fights this year was going to happen some time soon anyway. If it wasn't 2007 it would have been next year. I just hope that after a few succesful years ufc doesnt fall in boxings footeps and follow the money.
I don't think UFC is having much of an impact. Everything was just boiling, and now it's blown the lid, all of the big matches are just happening all at once, rather than being spread out over time.
I think this is a trend that is not just '07, since 2005 i see more and more bigger fights and now it just explode, but i think thats just a coincidence. But last year there were Taylor - Winky, Calzaghe - Lacy, Pacquiao morales twice, Mormeck Bell, Mayweather Judah, klitschko Byrd. 2005 there were fights like Peter Klitschko, Castillo Corales, Mayweather Gatti, Morales Pacquiao, Hopkins Taylor, Tarver Johnson,. All cases where the best of the division are fighting each other. And i think it won't stop. early 2008 we will see Pavlik Taylor II, Pacquiao JM Marquez, Calzaghe Hopkins ?, a fight or fights between Hatton, Mayweather, Mosley, cotto or Delahoya. Diaz Pacquiao, Peter Vitaly, maybe unification. I think promoters feel some kind of urgency to put on big fights, cause the ppv buys for avarage fights have become pretty bad.
Boxing as whole is having one of its best years, the 1 and 2 of the divisions are finally fighting to see who is number 1. Boxing will always be survive and eventually win in the end, karate was widely popular in the US in the 70s and eventually slowed down. Boxing is here to say and there is nothing to worry about, the Mayweather/Delahoya fight breaking PPV sales records is just a prime example of Boxing being live and well.