Many would rather watch people beat, kick and choke other people into submission these days; hence the emphasis on "mixed martial arts". Big part of the reason we stink at boxing and wrestling at the Olympic level.

 

RTS is right (no pun intended). Different strokes for different folks for sure.

Many would rather watch people beat, kick and choke other people into submission these days; hence the emphasis on "mixed martial arts". Big part of the reason we stink at boxing and wrestling at the Olympic level.

 

RTS is right (no pun intended). Different strokes for different folks for sure.

Besides a few exceptions we've pretty much always stunk at wrestling at the Olympic level. The two main reasons I believe is that 1) prior to the MMA boom wrestlers were afforded no real opportunities to continue on after their collegiate career and 2) the emphasis in the U.S. is on folkstyle not the freestyle and greco-roman wrestling that is practiced in international competitions.

Agreed. I'm not usually into Bill Simmons' ideas, but his recommendation for a National Commissioner of Boxing is spot on.

I agree, if boxing has any hope of regaining it's glory it needs ONE unifying body. The multiple championships (especially lack of unification) and lack of marquee fights really turns people off.

Three letters.

 

MMA

 

Simple truth is that until I can watch it in the comfort of my own home without having to pay an extra $39.95, I'm not going to watch much of either.

Simple truth is that until I can watch it in the comfort of my own home without having to pay an extra $39.95, I'm not going to watch much of either.

Doesn't that also apply to boxing?

Doesn't that also apply to boxing?

 

Yeah, when I said either, I meant MMA and boxing.

Yeah, when I said either, I meant MMA and boxing.

Sorry, read that wrong.

Sorry, read that wrong.

 

No worries.

 

I definitely think that a good chunk of sports fans feel the same way I do and it's a big problem. UFC starting to put some events on broadcast television has been an interesting idea. I still haven't watched, but it's far more likely than if I was going to have to order a PPV or go to a sports bar.

I'm admittedly not a fan of MMA...I think really the fans are what really turn me off from it the most, but fans aside, I'd also rather watch a boxing match any day over MMA. I just find boxing WAAAAAAAY more interesting.

 

Regardless...it's pretty unquestionably the rise in popularity of MMA in the United States that has decreased our boxing prowess. No doubt about it my mind.

No worries.

 

I definitely think that a good chunk of sports fans feel the same way I do and it's a big problem. UFC starting to put some events on broadcast television has been an interesting idea. I still haven't watched, but it's far more likely than if I was going to have to order a PPV or go to a sports bar.

The FOX contract will undoubtedly help. But if UFC wants to become the "4th major US sport" it needs to put more and more championships on the FOX broadcasts. I completely agree that many feel the same way you do. I have never bought a UFC PPV personally either.

I'm admittedly not a fan of MMA...I think really the fans are what really turn me off from it the most, but fans aside, I'd also rather watch a boxing match any day over MMA. I just find boxing WAAAAAAAY more interesting.

 

Regardless...it's pretty unquestionably the rise in popularity of MMA in the United States that has decreased our boxing prowess. No doubt about it my mind.

The fans suck and there is no denying it. I don't get the attitude many MMA fans have of rejecting newcomers to the sport.

 

I'm the opposite though, once I finally gave MMA a chance I had little use for boxing. But if it wasn't for Lesnar and having watched him at the NCAA level I may never have given it a real chance -- which I'll admit had a lot to do with the fans as well.

I agree, if boxing has any hope of regaining it's glory it needs ONE unifying body. The multiple championships (especially lack of unification) and lack of marquee fights really turns people off.

 

 

I'll take 4 regional bodies but with the following weight classes -

 

Flyweight 125 56.7

Bantamweight 135 61.2

Featherweight 145 65.8

Lightweight 155 70.3

Welterweight 170 77.1

Middleweight 185 83.9

Light Heavyweight 205 93.0

Heavyweight No limit

The fans suck and there is no denying it. I don't get the attitude many MMA fans have of rejecting newcomers to the sport.

 

My biggest worries were that I don't have a tribal/barbed wire tattoo and I don't own any Tapout t-shirts. Is this going to be a problem if I want to get into the sport?

My biggest worries were that I don't have a tribal/barbed wire tattoo and I don't own any Tapout t-shirts. Is this going to be a problem if I want to get into the sport?

:lol: :lol:

 

I shared similar concerns. Though it's hard I am living proof it can be done.

I'm admittedly not a fan of MMA...I think really the fans are what really turn me off from it the most, but fans aside, I'd also rather watch a boxing match any day over MMA. I just find boxing WAAAAAAAY more interesting.

 

Regardless...it's pretty unquestionably the rise in popularity of MMA in the United States that has decreased our boxing prowess. No doubt about it my mind.

 

That's kind of my sentiment as well, and I agree that MMA has been a big killer of boxing. But the sport's decline was starting before MMA's rise. Many great athletes who might have been boxers instead opted for things such as football and basketball over the past couple decades, and I think many also got scared away by seeing how Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali degenerated as they aged. In a way, the way Ali has lingered on in his compromised state acts as a cautionary tale for other would-be boxers. Anymore, it seems like any new up-and-coming boxer that arrives on the scene is described in terms such as "but he's a young 37" as they make their pro debut after getting out of the joint.