Has boxing really regressed?

What a wordy way to say "I don't believe what I'm writing, I'm just messing with y'all".

 

Sure but I don't really think it's any of the stick and ball sports that is stealing them, at least any more than in decades past. I think that MMA is putting the real hurt on the talent pool here. When I see a guy like Gaethje's insanely heavy hands, or a guy with the fighting heart and fight-specific athleticism of a Jon Jones, that's where I see the drain. And unlike basketball and football, MMA steals them over every weight division.

I've traveled Mexico a lot, and in a lot of the really poor places. BUT, it was a while ago. When I was last there boxing was still huge. Maybe that is changing.

So, according to our AI overlords, there are roughly 20,000 active pro boxers on the planet. 4500 from Mexico, 3500 are from the US, 1250 from Japan, 1,100 are from the UK, 500 from Russia, 200 from Ukraine... Africa gets murky but there are 200 from Ghana. That covers about half the total. Places like the Philippines give no definitive number.

 

Perhaps with the More Champions, though I do think that has benefits as well as detriments.

I'm old. I've lived through a lot of eras, most of which labeled themselves as horrible at the time, including what is now perceived as the red hot early 90's. Hell, I recently posted on the General about being really disinterested after last weekend's retread fest of Fury, Wach, Spence, Tszyu... It will bounce back with some great fights, always does.

 

apart from the pathetic obvious watering down of the Sport, mentioned here by myself and many others, it's plain to see... any sport that would have a TF listed as a great or even greatest is obviously pretty poor, and it so so plain to see among many fights, half the time you can barely even watch them, especially among the big boys.

also, if it hadn't lost any appeal there wouldn't be near as much crumbling, criticism and complete disregard for it as we heard now in floods since the late 1990's

it's a changed dying sport, a mere shadow of it's greatest days.

 

I do think the MMA explosion the last 20+ years is also a factor. The below clip is going viral of UFC fighter Bobby "King" Green clowning Adrian Broners protege in sparring

This content is protected

While the top star boxers do make more than UFC stars, among the "middle class" fighters, you'll actually have somewhat more financial stability in the UFC than in boxing.

 

In the heavyweight division in particular fighters have gotten bigger and stronger. But I don’t necessarily see an increase in skill or quickness in that same division. Furthermore, it seems that on average people are turning pro later than they used to and fighting less often. I have my doubts about this being an improvement. Mind you of course, I’m basing these comments on an “ average “ and not making a blanket statement concerning EVERY participant in the game. Lastly, we see far fewer examples today of the best facing the best. And in some of the rare instances that we see it, the “ best “ are only still the “ best “ in name only as many times they are diminished…. In contrast, when Muhammad Ali met Joe Frazier in 1971 the two men were both undefeated and in their primes. When Ray Leonard met Tommy Hearns in 1981 they were at their peak. When Meldrick Taylor fought Julio Chavez in 1990 they were undefeated, holding world titles and scene as among boxing’s p4p elite. Today in most cases two young prime champions wouldn’t see a fight with each other until they are well into their 30’s ( or older ) and after accumulating a few losses each . Anthony Joshua should have fought Tyson Fury and Deontay wilder a decade ago. Today such a fight means F-All as did Mayweather vs Pac.