What is needed in boxing for it to return to its glory days?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, Sep 25, 2018.


  1. chatty

    chatty Boxing Addict Full Member

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    There's many ways it could be improved but tbh on the most part I think boxing is at its healthiest it's been since the nineties.

    There's no way I ignore the many flaws the sport has but you can say the same from any era, just the circumstances differing.

    But let's look at the pros:

    British boxing is booming, we are probably getting the biggest influx of top level fighters coming and fighting on our shores than in any other time in history - in recent years we've had fightsfwith the likes of Golovkin, Spence, Crawford, Usyk, Wladimir, Linares, Rigondeaux, Wilder we had the Olympics with Lomachenko, Beterbiev etc.

    We've also had a lot more champions, now the spate of belts has aided that but in Joshua, Fury, Froch, Groves, Brook, Khan, Frampton etc we've had champions who were genuinely in the mix at the top.

    The rise of the ex Soviet nations/middle Asian boxers has really added another element to the mix, many didn't turn over in years gone by but I think boxing is much improved with them in the mix at the pros - Kovalev, GGG, Beterbiev, Breidis, Lomachenko, Usyk, Gvozdyk, Gassiev, Povetkin etc have all aided in boxing being much more exciting in recent years.

    The heavy's - we went through a spell of Klitschko domination in which fights were really dull and turned a lot of fans of. The heavy's is of course the premier division division even if it isn't always the best but it's a lot more exciting now with Joshua, Fury, Wilder, Parker, Whyte etc we've had better fights, it's bringing more fans in and it's a great talking point for fans as well.

    Super fly, the little uns often get ignored but we definitely have an era on oour hands where they've been getting a lot more attention and it's been great - Gonzalez, Estrada, Srisaket, Inoue, Cuadras Ioka, Arroyo, Yafai, Ancajas, Nietes etc awesome division

    WBSS - well this has been awesome for boxing, Cruiserweight tournament was brilliant, SMW not as much but still got some decent fights made out of it. The new tournaments look to continue the trend and we get a constant run of competitive fights that leads to something.

    Unifications - this is always going to be a problem with four belts but we have had an increase in unified champions, with three belts or more recently we've had Cranford, Usyk, Wlad/Joshua/Fury, Kovalev, Golovkin and plenty of other unifications between two belt holders. It's not perfect but I do feel there's more emphasis on trying to clean up belts these days rather than hanging on to one title and getting what they can out of it.

    Yeah, it's not a perfect sport, never has been and never will be but the last couple of years have been great and next year looks like it could be too. I'm happy with how we are currently, any improvements are welcomed but I'm not complaining too badly.
     
    JoffJoff, Bukkake and Pat M like this.
  2. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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  3. SambaKing1993

    SambaKing1993 Don't do it Zachary! Full Member

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    It can never get to the levels of mainstream appeal as it once did because of the PC/soft culture we now live in today.

    Not many people want to see human cockfighting, and who can blame them?
     
  4. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    I'm not convinced that's what's turning people off. People haven't just grown consciences in the last 20 years. I think it's everything else that's the problem.
     
  5. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Things I think would bring people back to boxing:

    1. Free access to fights. But even if that didn't happen, putting together decent undercards. Particularly with PPV, you're really banking on the headline act to deliver. Which they rarely do.
    2. A limit on the proliferation of belts. Even a reduction to two - and frankly I'd take 3 right now - world titles per division would be a huge step forwards (or back in terms of time). But 4 would be bordeline okay if they didn't have all these bull**** diamond and Super titles. How can you have two world champions in the same weight division for the same organisation? No wonder people think titles are meaningless.
    3. The Olympics - ties into number one because it's about access and building a narrative around a fighter. The more free exposure, the more casual fans.

    Things I don't think will bring back fans:

    1. 15 rounds - sorry, I'd love to see this as a fight fan, but things are moving across sports to shorter, not longer formats.
    2. Reducing weight divisions:
    What would you rather have - two world champions per the original 8 divisions or one world champion for each of the 17 divisions? Fewer world titles provides greater clarity to the casual fan than fewer weight divisions.
     
  6. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Legit changes could be simplified but not sure our love of boxing will ever see a return to mainstream appeal.

    A single global sanctioning body with a set of rules that are mandated for each bout, single champion per division with mandatory defenses so the best truly face the best. More accountability for judges etc. but for the most part the changes in my post and others would only enhance the enjoyment of boxing fans and might induce a handful of fringe followers to join in...

    But I don’t see a recognizable tool to return us to the glory years