Don’t understand why we don’t see great fights at this time of year between Christmas and NY. Disappointing that there’s nothing on in either boxing or UFC to look forward to. Think it would always do good gate and tv numbers for a big boxing card around this time with most folk off work and looking for any excuse to have a few drinks.
We've just seen a festive fight - Michael van Gerwen vs Mensur Suljovic... But yes, agreed. I heard someone say this recently and people were saying money may be tight, but whether you are attending or paying it could be treated as a Christmas present in itself, or whatever.
Missed that as I was watching the football but just caught up and seen Michael decline a bull-out only for Mensur to take out 161! But yeah exactly an Xmas present too. Should always be a big NYE fight night IMO.
Maybe fighters are reluctant as they wanna spend their Christmas time with family rather than training? Perhaps they should get paid more to do it or something as an incentive. But, nonetheless, I think it's to do with fights not particularly selling well around the festive period. I agree would be nice to see more though.
There's usually a big card every year in Japan at new year. Afternoon for us, granted. It's Ioka vs Franco in unification fight at super flyweight this Saturday I believe.
Fair point but money always talks. Seen it in the football for decades where they’ve had to sacrifice drinking and eating a lot with their families because of a games on Boxing Day. I reckon fighters would be keen to fight over Christmas with the right opportunity and pay. Just looking back at the calendar year and barely any champions have been out more than twice this year. A few years back there seemed to be multiple great cards per month with Matchroom leading on that front.
The Yanks tried it last year, think they had Luis Ortiz on a Fox PPV on New Year’s Day that bombed, with a show on regular Fox on Christmas night to help sell it and act as a lead out from NFL coverage. Pretty much the only time I’ve seen it in the ‘western world’. Would be a novelty over here, but probably seen as a bit too much of a gamble, especially with attendances and viewing figures the way they are at the moment. I think it’s fine to be honest. There’s far too much diluted quality boxing on TV now with everyone desperate to fill dates and shows. Nice to have one or two weekends a year off from boxing, that’s literally the only time without any major shows here or in the States now.
Prelims on Fox Sports had no viewers and they sold no PPV tickets. This time of the year - around Christmas and New Year - it is almost impossible to organize a profitable boxing event.
UFC 207 headlined by Rousey and Nunez did very well and was on Dec 30th. It set a Nevada attendance record. I think with the right card and the right date it could do really well in either boxing or MMA. I think the British public would definitely buy into a festive fight. Maybe I’m being greedy.
