Not even cable, but on ABC or NBC or CBS, how many new fans would be attracted? I'm guessing a lot. I think people would really pick up on the action, and find their favorites. Mayweather would be the man people love to hate, much as Jeff Gordon is/was in NASCAR. As people become more interested, they'll find their gripes (bad matchmaking, ABC organizations, shady promoters and crooked judging) but I think, as the writer on the front page does as well, that boxing needs to be back in the mainstream. The biggest blue collar sport can only be viewed live or on TV by the wealthy? That has to change.
I would say not many fans. You would never get the high priced fighters to fight because that means they would have to lower there purses. That wont happen so you would leave the same fighters that fight on espn friday night fights now. New fans dont want that and we die hard fans would be the only ones tuned in which in networks eyes is not enough and considered a failure. No easy solution to this but to live and let die.
If you make nice matchups with fighters that will fight at affordable wages, boxing would easily be back. They could get Friday Night fight and contender guys and do well. Guys like Ding, Clottey, Collazo, Juan Lazcano, Nate Campbell, Zahir Raheem, Jorge Barrios etc.....
