I'm a new fan. Only been following closely for a few months. I came from MMA, so I admit I'm really ignorant on most things boxing, but something is really bothering me about the sport and maybe you guys can refute it or let me know if my thinking is wrong. It seems to me that in boxing nobody wants to fight anybody. Like fights that SHOULD happen, don't, because the fighters don't want them to. Amir Khan vs Tim Bradley should happen, but it's not. Manny vs Mayweather. Even this Haye and Klitch fight seems like both guys are just looking for a reason to try and make sure this fight doesn't happen. A couple weeks ago Ward vs Abraham was off for some silly reason but luckily it's back on. My only perspective on this is what I see in MMA and in MMA it seems to be the complete opposite than it is in boxing. In MMA the best want to fight the best everytime. Nobody ever holds out for silly reasons. The only reason someone wouldn't fight is if they are injured. In boxing it just seems like the top guys look for any reason they can to not have to fight the other top guys. Again, I'm ignorant but the impression I get is nobody in boxing even wants to fight. The top guys seem to be looking for reasons to not have to fight the other top guys. Even the smallest reasons, they will take them and use it as an excuse to make sure the fight doesn't happen. I'm really falling in love with this sport, but this is the main thing that's stopping me from becoming a bigger boxing fan than MMA fan. Has it always been like this or is this something that's only been happening recently?
All you need to know: 1. There are too many sanctioning bodies (WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO etc) making the titles worthless. 2. Promoters are protecting their golden egg-laying geese (Arum - Pacquiao) at the expense of great fights.
Fighters in MMA fight because Dana White tells them too, there is only one sanctioning body and no promoters so getting the fights are easy. In boxing there are promoters, sanctioning bodies all wanting a piece of the pie.
Isn't there any way to solve this? It's a huge detriment to the sport and it's really stifling it's growth. It seems right now boxing is hanging on by reputation, but that isn't going to last forever. The sport needs to find a way to make these fights that need to happen, happen. But I notice it with the boxers too. They always threaten to pull out of fights for silly reasons. What's that about? That's no way for a competitor to behave. :?
I always believe that the tv stations could force great fights if they had long term vision, yet they are as bad as promoters and sanctioning body chasing the quick dollar.
Ultimately, it's up to the fighters to make great fights happen. If nobody wants to fight anyone and everyone wants the easiest fight possible and never wants to challenge themselves, the great fights will never get made. In boxing it seems to be that every fighter is looking for a way out of a fight instead of looking for a way in. This guy's fingernails are too long! FIGHTS OFF! Stuff like that. It just seems so silly.
Boxing has always been this way. Sanctioning bodies, promoters looking after their fighters, politics, etc. We all know it's a serious problem. There's no way to just change all of this.
haha yea because nobody wants to fight 10 rounds against someone who going to give them eventual brain damage and it has to equal their marginal utility otherwise whats the point?
