Been a Fan since the seventies, a hardcore boxing enthusiast...

It's at least part of the problem, that much is clear.
But the way boxing works (or doesn't work actually) since PPV/network contracts/free tv with an abysmal businessmodel and greed have taken over, good fights are too far inbetween.

You're right about the globalisation though. American boxfans have tot learn to embrace foreign fighters, and start appreciating them for their efforts in the ring, not just dismiss them based on nationality.

 

Followed Boxing since childhood, yet doesn't understand defensive styles nor the effort it takes to see completely special fighters such as Ward perform.

Hopefully, you will find a home in following backyard fighting, where you originally belong.

 

Sadly I tend to agree.
i'm sick of fake "champions". "World Title" fights being promoted as competitive when infact they're mismatches.
So called champions avoiding anything with a pulse that may beat them or lose there "0".
No disrespect but a fighter like Nathan Cleverly who was blasted out inside 12 minutes by Kovalev, being able to win another belt against a mediocre fighter, then walking arouind being able to call himself a "world champion".

 

Sadly I tend to agree.
i'm sick of fake "champions". "World Title" fights being promoted as competitive when infact they're mismatches.
So called champions avoiding anything with a pulse that may beat them or lose there "0".
No disrespect but a fighter like Nathan Cleverly who was blasted out inside 12 minutes by Kovalev, being able to win another belt against a mediocre fighter, then walking around being able to call himself a "world champion".

 

To many Bull Sh!t belts...and to many Fighters worried about there already Dodgy Resume's.....I was fortunate to be involved with the Golden Era where Fighters had more control and gave Fan's what they wanted...We will never see the likes of it again in Boxing....Today's Boxing is a Shadow of what it was.!!!

 

I understand.
- There's only a small number of great fighters.
- Boxing has become too business-centric, case in point - GGG's career and how everyone has ducked him. The best don't go out of their way to fight the best, win or lose. PPV is a sham which makes the main focus - money, rather than glory; it becomes everyone's aspiration to be a PPV star.
- Lazy promotions by companies, promoting fights passively based on 'what worked before' aka strategic drift. Only Eddie Hearn from Britain is doing a good job here, but he still needs to tap into the middle to high income demographic.
- American Boxing has plummeted massively. Trainers like Eddie Futch are long gone. Knowledge is lost.
- People look at UFC as the ultimate combat sport that'll make someone fair best in a fight, now.
- South American Boxing has plummeted massively. The main fighter in Mexico is Canelo Alvarez who I barely class as elite.
- The many cereal box belts provides boxers with a structure that allows them to claim glory with less work.
- Mayweather-Pacquiao took the last bit of specialness away from casual fans, it was a truly depressing day for boxing (on the basis of them both not performing as we wanted real fighters to).
- Boxing is no longer showed on mainstream TV channels, and there a number of different sports channels, maximising selection.
- Globalisation of the sport. There have emerged the Eastern Europeans in particular who are now taking over boxing. Americans are very patriotic in a strange way, they're not very welcoming of these foreign talents and unfortunately they garner hatred by a certain demographic. There must be a cultural embrace.

 

You're right. I'm from South Africa, and boxing was a staple on the TV in the 80's-90's. It's now become some niche hobby. All we see is rugby and football, and frankly we suck so much at those it's embarrassing.

 

There still are some old-school fighters around today ( GGG, Kovalev and even Wilder )

 

The fact is most the fights today featuring top fighters in their primes are foregone conclusions, so you don't miss a lot if you watch them a few hours later when they pop up on youtube!
95% of the time it goes just the way you knew it would, so, with that in mind, you don't get much sense of anticipation if you pay to view them LIVE.

 

Wilder? He's typifies the modern day malaise. Win a belt and call yourself a world champion by fighting bums.

 

I'll tell you right now, if boxing continues like 2016 did for a few more years I'm out as well. Probably sink back to casual status.
Errol spence jr can help the US market grow. Hopefully he gets fights against the top Welters. Cherry Garcia is a pure disgrace.