What would you say is the best way to make boxing a top sport, as opposed to a sidebar "more sports" section on a website? (I'll set up a poll)
Only watch worthwhile PPV. force the promoters and networks to give the fans great fights and with great fight more fans will come
a lot of promoters will continue to pad the records of many fighters and chase a belt that has 'the path of least resistance', because a belt - any belt - allows them to increase the interest of casuals/countrymen by selling the tag 'world champion' the germans have this down to a fine art, and its not going to change
Boxing will have stars emerge from time to time but make no mistake about it, it is very unlikely for any combat sport to become a mainstream family sport. That is why the ufc doing their best Sunday Fox NFL Football impression is kind of hilarious. Not sure what the numbers are like and I don't follow MMA, but I can't imagine that it's working out nearly as well as they hoped. Kind of ridiculous to be honest.
its not ridiculous to try and make a push in popularity, but you're right, neither boxing nor MMA will ever be mainstream
Technically, watching fights on youtube or a website aren't supporting boxing in any remote capacity whatsoever. So don't get too egotistical with yourself there. Viewership for paid programming (basic cable, premium cable) is supporting boxing as is direct payment for boxing (PPV, live attendance).
I meant the NFL style presentation. Too many graphics, too many stats, etc etc. I understand trying to grow, so I agree with you there.
Watch only legit fights, boycott all Pacquiao and Mayweather fights until they fight each other, and stay away from "title" fights where someone is clearly being ducked (i.e. all MW "title" fights not involving GGG). So if Cotto defends his MW "title" against blown-up welterweight Floyd Mayweather, I will NOT be watching. Any MW championship fight should involve Golovkin at this point.
After which opponent did Golovkin beat that you anointed him the true MW champion? The MW title has a lineage that doesn't involve vacancy in recent years. Anyways, you don't make much sense. Golovkin's status as a "title holder" or "champion" is as paper as it comes. Look into his "interim WBA" title he won from Nilson Tapia (who I have never seen before) and then how it got elevated for beating the one and only Milton Nunez (who we have unfortunately seen before). And then the massive gauntlet of top 10 opponents he has faced since while "defending" his "title" something like 13 times. HORRIBLE opposition for a titlist. Literally among the very worst in boxing among active title holders. So I don't know how some people get off on their claims of Golovkin and what they say about Middleweight right now. They often times literally make hypocrites of themselves in one sentence and don't realize it (and many of them are quality posters... just a little off base on this topic, in my honest opinion).
Freddie couldn't discredit golovkin's credentials fast enough after cotto beat martinez everything about golovkin says 'intent' - and everything about anyone who has something to lose says 'get away from him' golovkin has made his name in the US, he's successfully garnered network backing, Daniel geale rejected a fight with him twice while he had a belt, but accepted once he had nothing to lose, and team cotto couldn't diss him fast enough once they acquired the belt that had true lineage how can you liken him to a quillin or a sturm ("as paper as it comes"), when anyone with anything to lose avoids him?
I do agree with what you've said. But I also agree with what you responded to. I'm not stupid or oblivious to the whole situation right now. I would pick Golovkin to beat anyone at MW right now, to throw that out there... Just that people like to ignore anything that would show inconsistencies with their opinions on other fighters/divisions/similar situations. So when I hear extreme talk in one direction without anyone reminding them of caveats and inconsistencies or anyone even speaking remotely negative when they do so for other fighters in more extremes who deserve it less, I more or less feel the need to speak up and remind them. But it comes across to many as me personally attacking their favorite fighter or thinking he sucks when I never say anything like that or something else that isn't the case.
Watch and support amateur boxing if you can , don't buy into senseless fights that are blatant money grabs. Champions should fight champions and/or their mandatory. Also make sure you consider looking at under cards more rather than focusing on main events. And if you can.. go to local fights/events.