-
We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.
Is the sport of boxing dead?
Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
The issue is, there are virtually no non-ppv events, unlike boxing. And though they are still a better value than most ppv boxing events, they are getting more diluted over time. If I had to choose to buy every ppv of one sport, it would be MMA I guess, but with boxing I get everything I want to see from hbo and showtime. Even the de la hoya / mayweather fight will be on HBO this saturday.
There is a lot more MMA that is NON-PPV than there is PPV. Spike shows a lot of UFC based MMA with unleashed and the ultimate fighter. HBO will also be showing 4 live UFC events this year. Showtime is showing EliteXC fighting championships. Versus network will be the new home of World Extreme Cage Fighting (WEC). FSN has a Pride show and also televises the IFL events. MyNetwork has a new 2 hour show called IFL battleground, etc. MOJO occationally shows King of the Cage matches. The only PPV events in MMA is the biggest UFC matches and the biggest Pride fights. And the last UFC major event held in England was free on SpikeTV and UFC 72 in Ireland will also be free on Spike. ESPN is reportedly working on a deal to broadcase UFC as well.
I think you'd be hard pressed to find half the amount of boxing matches on free TV. Especially if you don't count ESPN classics.
I've never heard of MyNetwork, Versus, or MOJO and don't receive them. No idea what WEC is.
It's pretty simple, really... you get big name, title fights on HBO and showtime for boxing, and can watch ppv events a week after they occur. Neither of those is true of pride or UFC. The england UFC had no title fights. All the spike UFC content is either a reality show or editted rebroadcast fights from long ago. It's nice and all but you can't really follow current UFC events without buying their PPV or getting it illegally online.
Fern
Elite Member
I used to be a pretty big boxing fan, but I've lost interest and don't think I'll ever come to the sport.
I don't watch PPV, I'm content to see the fights when they roll around on regular TV.
I don't bother to watch any boxing matches anymore. They seem boring after MMA. Yeah, some MMA matches can be boring, but it's 3 rounds and on to other fighters. Just because they (MMA) go to the ground they are not necessarily boring to me. I like a good submission (e.g., rear naked choke) or a good "ground & pound" attack (David Loiseau and his axe-like elbows) .
MMA is not just boxers or wrestlers as some implied above, I really enjoy the kicks and the elbows/knees (Muay-Thia sp?) a lot, along with the other stuff.
The large number of MMA events allows for a pretty steady stream of events on regular TV. This seems to help us get to know many MMA fighters, some of whom we like & others we don't.
My wife, who hates boxing, even has several favortite MMA fighters.
Personally, I don't care if a fight is for a title or not, or if I'm seeing it well after it actually took place, I just like a good fight.
Fern
I don't watch PPV, I'm content to see the fights when they roll around on regular TV.
I don't bother to watch any boxing matches anymore. They seem boring after MMA. Yeah, some MMA matches can be boring, but it's 3 rounds and on to other fighters. Just because they (MMA) go to the ground they are not necessarily boring to me. I like a good submission (e.g., rear naked choke) or a good "ground & pound" attack (David Loiseau and his axe-like elbows) .
MMA is not just boxers or wrestlers as some implied above, I really enjoy the kicks and the elbows/knees (Muay-Thia sp?) a lot, along with the other stuff.
The large number of MMA events allows for a pretty steady stream of events on regular TV. This seems to help us get to know many MMA fighters, some of whom we like & others we don't.
My wife, who hates boxing, even has several favortite MMA fighters.
Personally, I don't care if a fight is for a title or not, or if I'm seeing it well after it actually took place, I just like a good fight.
Fern
Once again this is a gross generalization. I can't help it that you haven't heard of MyNetwork, MOJO, FSN, Versus, etc. They are all non-ppv channels that a lot of people with standard cable get (except MOJO/INHD which is HD). There are probably more people getting these networks than there are premium movie networks like HBO.
Anyway, You can follow MMA by watching standard broadcasts. Spike routinely shows UFC Ultimate Fight Night's which are live UFC events. They are also bringing back "Inside the UFC" which is a weekly show dedicated to whats happening in the UFC.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that you can watch the Mayweather fight 1 week after the PPV. But your arguments about only getting UFC events on PPV or illegal downloads just don't hold up.
NissanGurl
Golden Member
Ok, since this thread exists...
For me, MMA>boxing (in its current form).
It's not that boxing can't be interesting, but it can get pretty boring with the long rounds as others have said. I enjoyed The Contender when it was on, but I think that was because they didn't have nearly as many rounds so the action was pressed (or they edited it to look that way). I LOVE it when I'm flipping through the channels and ESPN is airing a "classic" boxing match such as Foreman Vs Ali. As much as I can enjoy those types of matches, I probably couldn't even name 3 current boxers if someone asked me.
MMA on the other hand, I feel delivers much more on the action. I got hooked into it via the UFC on SpikeTV. Then Pride popped up on my radar thanks to FSN. Now I know that I can watch UFC 3 times a week for free on Spike (Ultimate Fighter 5 - Thurs, UFC Unleashed - Tues, UFC Fight Night - Saturday, Ultimate Fighter 5 (Encore) - Sunday). I randomly catch Pride on FSN, but don't know the regular schedule. I did happen upon "Fedor - The Baddest Man on the Planet" on Pride over the weekend and LOVED it 😀. I really liked when they were commenting on the match and they showed Fedor's face and just had to say "You gotta wonder if Fedor's getting bored in the ring" when it really did look that way. I thought UFC70 was great even though there wasn't a belt up for grabs. I thought that the Crocop fight from UFC 70 was better than the Serra Vs GSP title fight, but that may just be me. And for those that think that the MMA always ends in wrestling/submissions I'm guessing haven't seen that much MMA. There are guys that want to stand and strike, so when two of them get together you get a great slugfest with kicks and knees thrown in the mix 🙂. The funny part is that a few years ago when UFC was still in the early years I caught the Shammrock Vs Gracie match (man did Gracie use his gi). I didn't care for it too much then (not enough action - Gracie = Judo), except when you got the unbalanced matches (huge guy Vs underdog with a 200 lbs difference). Pride will still occasionally have some matches that seem out of whack as far as weight, but as long as both guys want to fight they let them. Compared to boxing, if someone asked me to name 20 MMA fighters right now, I could.
For me, MMA>boxing (in its current form).
It's not that boxing can't be interesting, but it can get pretty boring with the long rounds as others have said. I enjoyed The Contender when it was on, but I think that was because they didn't have nearly as many rounds so the action was pressed (or they edited it to look that way). I LOVE it when I'm flipping through the channels and ESPN is airing a "classic" boxing match such as Foreman Vs Ali. As much as I can enjoy those types of matches, I probably couldn't even name 3 current boxers if someone asked me.
MMA on the other hand, I feel delivers much more on the action. I got hooked into it via the UFC on SpikeTV. Then Pride popped up on my radar thanks to FSN. Now I know that I can watch UFC 3 times a week for free on Spike (Ultimate Fighter 5 - Thurs, UFC Unleashed - Tues, UFC Fight Night - Saturday, Ultimate Fighter 5 (Encore) - Sunday). I randomly catch Pride on FSN, but don't know the regular schedule. I did happen upon "Fedor - The Baddest Man on the Planet" on Pride over the weekend and LOVED it 😀. I really liked when they were commenting on the match and they showed Fedor's face and just had to say "You gotta wonder if Fedor's getting bored in the ring" when it really did look that way. I thought UFC70 was great even though there wasn't a belt up for grabs. I thought that the Crocop fight from UFC 70 was better than the Serra Vs GSP title fight, but that may just be me. And for those that think that the MMA always ends in wrestling/submissions I'm guessing haven't seen that much MMA. There are guys that want to stand and strike, so when two of them get together you get a great slugfest with kicks and knees thrown in the mix 🙂. The funny part is that a few years ago when UFC was still in the early years I caught the Shammrock Vs Gracie match (man did Gracie use his gi). I didn't care for it too much then (not enough action - Gracie = Judo), except when you got the unbalanced matches (huge guy Vs underdog with a 200 lbs difference). Pride will still occasionally have some matches that seem out of whack as far as weight, but as long as both guys want to fight they let them. Compared to boxing, if someone asked me to name 20 MMA fighters right now, I could.
My argument was about important events, in other words, title fights. Ultimate Fight Night has never been a title fight to my knowledge. Spike's UF coverage consists of B-level fighters or old footage of A-level fighters, with the exception of the UFC in england event, which though called UFC had no title fights.
Inside the UFC is hardly the same thing. Having some dude summarize what's going on in the UFC with limited footage is hardly the same thing as watching a fight. It's basically like watching inside the NBA aftewards versus watching the actual game.
As I said, I like MMA about equally but boxing has some advantages, the main one being that you don't have to shell out $40+ to watch title fights. Your initial post was basically an MMA love fest where you claim to have lost interest in boxing but do not specify why except a possible reference to grossly exaggerated corruption issues and "value per hour" which UFC is slowly diluting with too many PPV events.
We'll agree to disagree then. Having a title fight is not a necessity for a successful and entertaining event weather it be boxing or MMA. The majority of title fights in both boxing and MMA never live up to their hype. It's all the other fights that usually make the events great. It just so happens with MMA you get to see a lot more of them then you do with boxing.
I'm not anti-boxing, I just think that with it's lack of charismatic fighters, widespread corruption, and lack of unity it's not nearly as entertaining as it used to be.
Icanoutsmokeany1
Senior member
MMA is a lot more fun to watch and when the top level fighters take each other on the matches are simply amazing.
I'd rather see the best MMA matches than the best boxing matches any day.
I'd rather see the best MMA matches than the best boxing matches any day.
Icanoutsmokeany1
Senior member
The development of MMA is very recent.
I know I definately would choose UFC or Pride over watching a boxing match.
I have to agree that boxing is really a gentlemens sport now more than ever with Pride and UFC fighting to compair it too.
Pugilism is like the british lining up for battle while the americans use gorilla tactics (UFC/Pride) in the revolutionary war.
Pride and UFC merged recently yes? UFC bought out Pride?
I have to agree that boxing is really a gentlemens sport now more than ever with Pride and UFC fighting to compair it too.
Pugilism is like the british lining up for battle while the americans use gorilla tactics (UFC/Pride) in the revolutionary war.
Pride and UFC merged recently yes? UFC bought out Pride?
alkemyst
No Lifer
UFC will eventually get to where boxing is now.
It's about profit instead of 'fighting'.
You can't get your moneymaker's getting fuxored every bout. There is always a better fighter out there.
Pro Wrestling had it right though until everyone found out it was fake, still they bring in some decent money.
It's about profit instead of 'fighting'.
You can't get your moneymaker's getting fuxored every bout. There is always a better fighter out there.
Pro Wrestling had it right though until everyone found out it was fake, still they bring in some decent money.
I think the pulse that everyone is trying to put their finger on is this: The MMA crowd wants to see fighter A go at it with fighter B. We do not care about belts, championships or organizations. Would you pay to watch Matt Hughes fight Georges St. Pierre even though neither is champ? I bet that there would be a boatload of PPV's just to see that fight. No title, just two great fighters going at it. Mirko vs. Randy Couture, Ninja vs. Anderson Silva , Big Nog vs Tim Sylvia or any other HW. These fights become compelling not because of title ramifications, but of the desire to see these fantastic fighters just throw down. In boxing, if it aint a title fight, it aint on any kind of tv anymore.
Then there is the HW division in boxing. It used to be the glamour division and now its just a shambles. Who really wants to see Valuev fight again? Probably not many people. As a matter of fact, can you name more than five hw's in boxing right now? I know I cant.
Whereas the MMA community has its lighter weight class fighters as their superstars, with good reason. I would take a whole card of 155 lb fighters, who probably put on the best fights, before I would even consider watching a cruiseweight snoozefest on Versus.
My .02 for what its worth.
Peace
Lounatik
Then there is the HW division in boxing. It used to be the glamour division and now its just a shambles. Who really wants to see Valuev fight again? Probably not many people. As a matter of fact, can you name more than five hw's in boxing right now? I know I cant.
Whereas the MMA community has its lighter weight class fighters as their superstars, with good reason. I would take a whole card of 155 lb fighters, who probably put on the best fights, before I would even consider watching a cruiseweight snoozefest on Versus.
My .02 for what its worth.
Peace
Lounatik
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 24K
-
-
