If old-style pugilism was revived...

Yes, throws were indeed integral to the older rules, but not in boxing as it became popularized to a wide audience with the synchronized birth of motion pictures (and the history of moving films and modern boxing are indelibly intertwined). There's no great challenge, at least as I see it, in snaking an arm under an opponent's arm in a clinch, and then turning over to execute a rudimentary hip toss. Facing an opponent head on, and outpunching him, possibly striking him to the ground, is a more demanding feat to attempt, at least according to my way of thinking.

It seems to me that the objective should be to restore boxing to the structures which brought it to the height of popularity and public acceptance. How routinely are heads of state receiving boxing champions these days? Max Schmeling had audiences with both FDR and Hitler. Ali was received by U.S. presidents and Soviet dictators alike. WWE performers have long since surpassed boxers as cultural icons. Can boxing do anything to reverse that, and regain the stature enjoyed by today's most popular sports, and sporting stars? (Which boxing was, and champion boxers were, once upon a time, for a very extended period in civilization's recent history.)

 

Hilarious.

 

I'd watch it. but you can never recapture the flavor of the bareknuckle days, because any sign of danger to the fighter and they'd stop it. a deep cut, too much facial bruising, theres no way to see the kind of punishment seen today in the old prize ring, unless it was an illegal out in the nether regions fight.

 

Certainly, but could it sell?

 

Well, I remember some guy back in the late 1970's, with a pet orangutan named Clyde, who was pretty popular with the ticket buying public. (Tough guy, with a really funny name.)

 

I disagree, people watch MMA because it has the possibility of grappling; while the general public may not have as much of a taste for grappling as they do punching, the lack of an artificial means of preventing grappling is what makes it attractive to the general public, the pureness of it.

That covers the general fans, and when you get into the hardcore MMA fans, you have those who are hardcore fight fans and watch all sorts of combat sports (me) and those who watch MMA because they come from a grappling background, be it wrestling, jiu jitsu, judo, whatever, and watch MMA to see grappling and because it is the closest thing to a profesional version of their particular sport. There is also a small portion who only watch MMA, for whatever reason.

There would be a large sharing of fanbase no doubt, but it wouldn't outdraw MMA, at least in terms of MMA fanbase, both general public and hardcore.

 

I would've watched all of their events...if it's free.