I feel this is the number one reason boxing struggles at times. people simply dont know who these guys are. i doubt 1 in 1000 people could name a current australian champion.
Agree with what you've written above. Really big local fights ( a rarity these days admittedly) rely on media coverage to get bums on seats and good PPV numbers. But the newspaper media's focus is solely on selling more newspapers, nothing else matters to them, and likewise, the television execs focus only on ratings. The only way TV stations and newspapers will get behind boxing is if they clearly see something in it for THEM, and the only way that will happen is if there's a groundswell of support for boxing that drives the media to think they can ride the wave too. It's a classic chicken and the egg scenario.
Another reason boxing struggles to attract new fans is also the fact you have to pay $50 to see basically all the big fights, imagine the outcry from cricket fans if they had to pay $50 for each ashes test, nrl fans if they had to pay $50 for the grand final etc, and who could blame them.
IMO what hasn't deteriorated has become stagnant. I'm not blaming anyone because not one entity can fix it. Some problems I see are; Makeshift venues. No regularity. Ear busting music. No perihperal entertainment. Very little atmoshere. The chance of some yobbo's making a **** of himself & screwing up your night, & a high risk of an early night. (Short fights & no-shows) Weigh that up with a 50" screen in your shed/garage. Your feet on an esky full of $1.50 schooners (As was pointed out) a half dozen mates chippimg in $8-9 each to watch legends. If these young blokes today haven't got a fight club going & aren't doing this, heaven help the gates when they do. The upside of Boxing is that it still is the ultimate in scientific skill & it's easy to follow the rules. I think the Tables system is excellent because there is service. I think also that audience participation with some well thought up boxing related activities to keep the crowds warm has possibilities & stretch the night out (Between fights) I thought Matty Ropis idea of getting volunteers to send a clipboard around the venues getting email addresses to keep people in the loop & advertise events, gym workouts, meet the fighters/trainers, training sessions & even morning or afternoon runs with fighters. If we want people to come to these shows, we have to give them more than what they get from TV. A few thoughts.
Some interesting thoughts guys....looks like some catch 22's that maybe hard to sort out in the short term....good to see a promoter jump in with his thoughts. I like Rodins idea of offering something more than you get by watching it on TV I guess if the Aussie title was deemed to be prestigious we may see better matches
agree entirely with red corner promos and I hate to say it but the random celebrity that chooses to box is a good thing for the publicity of boxing,I just wish they had real desire,drive and expectations,instaed of promising the world so to speak and coming up well short.
I hesitate to post this as you seem like a nice guy but Ashley you're a Mundine fan who acknowledges that Mundine takes the easiest route to milk the Australian public of it's hard earned and you condone it and go along with his ridiculous claims of world championship status. You should be ashamed of yourself for asking this question.
Mate I don't think choc fools anybody....choc puts on a poor fight and he gets poor PPV results People that pay to watch choc are fans supporting him or hatred praying to see him get KO'ed I think choc is mr 4 time interim champ of the WBA....I have never said he's ranked higher than #5 in the world I have mentioned several times I don't agree with the way they run the undercards and that they could have done more....however I will still be a fan win lose or draw
If he gets KOed again he will really be "Mr 3 Time" lol I used to like Mundine, i have signed gloves and all, but he lost my support. Its good that you support him still, But i know under that support your just as pissed at him as the rest of us p.s Screw STG lol
I think it is boxings decline...the new style is to run out from your corner and try to bash the opponent senseless.... I think it is the dickhead boxings fans that become enraptured and support this style. Boxing as a sweet science is a rare find at any fight night for boxing purists.
boxing is alright in this country, Most of you guys live in dream land, this is a small country 21 million, you will nver compete with the like of germany,japan,USA and England when it comes to money in boxing and that is what it is all about. All this stuff is total bull****, we will always have 1 or 2 stars that it. Forget MMA that is a joke globally one company doing 15 to 20 ppv around the world, Boxing is what it is, brutality, people getting ****ed up of your entertainment. it will always be around but it will never be like it was 50 years ago.
Well said. We've got a permanent venue here in Melbourne now so hopefully it will attract a regular and growing crowd. The promoters need to get the word out about a card/fighter as much as possible. Media releases need to be sent out at the announcement of a card and as the card draws near. Stories will be picked up, especially when the journo's work has been pretty much done for him or if it's a slow news day. The collection of emails is a good idea, whether it be done during the fights or at the point of sale (say, offer a discount if a brief questionnaire/contact details are filled out). Social networking, traditional posters or bill posters, ads, promotional products, etc all need to be utilised. As it currently is, a casual fan who spends little time online would struggle to find details of upcoming cards.
Depending on which Melbourne venue you consider yourself a part of, Coburg Town Hall, Malvern Town Hall, The Melbourne Pavillion, or Knox Netball Centre- I'd suggest things are looking pretty bloody good in Melbourne. Each of the promoters for the above 4 locations does plenty to keep the fans aware of any forth coming events.
I was referring to the Pavillion as it is a dedicated boxing venue, although I regularly attend shows at the others mentioned. I agree that the promoters keep the fans informed, however it's pretty much the same crowd at each venue. The promoters need to be looking at growing their crowds with each subsequent promotion. I just don't see that happening.
I guess attracting extra bums on seats is a tough one. The first night at the Pavillion was as packed as you'd like the building to be. Murray consistently pulls in 1,500+ at Knox. Don't worry too hard, not every fight night was signed 'full house' at Festival Hall back in the day. I think the games doing ok... there's a lot of blokes on the cusp of huge things- blokes who actually fight live ones. These guys are all filtered through the local market in Melbourne, so you'd have to admit the foundations are not too bad.