“Boxing could have staved off its decline, at least a little, with a UFC-like business plan that included a constant presence on one cable network, one loaded PPV card per month, one championship belt per division, better marketing and promotion, and a charismatic, accountable leader like Dana White. But it’s a pipe dream, and we know it: Too many dirtbags make too much money feeding off the perpetual disorganization and lawlessness, so that’s how things will stay. The sport resembles a broken-down mansion that seems as if it can be salvaged — right until the housing inspector tells you about the water-damaged walls and termite-infested foundation rotted to the core.”
– ESPN Page 2 columnist Bill Simmons on the need to overhaul the current professional boxing landscape using some of the methods implemented by the UFC, because the upcoming Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather bout on May 5 will be the sport’s “Last Big Fight.”
20 Comments »
Rofl, talk about to the point and brash.
Bill Simmons is a champ
Talk about “na na na na, na na na, hey hey hey, good bye”
I’m not really one for hating boxing, even though I find it less and less entertaining the more MMA I watch, but this guy is absolutely right. Instead of trying to trash MMA, boxing should try to cash in on the added exposure to pro fights MMA has created. Maybe they think they are by trashing it, but it’s definitely not working.
If boxing was great on the 80:s and 90:s it gonna be mma for a while now i think… But what next? Murder in the ring maybe? Folks allways looking for some new and exciting same as i do..
Maybe the money bag Ferreta’s should buy up some of the top boxing shows and turn that sport around… I’ll happily take over Dana Whites Job if they need him to head up the transformation of the boxing world.
this guy hit the nail on the head, boxing thinks they can have one big fight every 3 years and the popularity is gonna stay the same, ufc does it right by giving fans big fights monthly and not letting scumbags like don king ruin the business side of it…
Ill be honest, I watch boxing more now that Im an MMA fan. Its the baseball/basketball that fills the competitive sports time between football season.
The worst about boxing is that the guys don´t go for the kill, they hope to win the fight on points…
[quote comment=”45001″]The worst about boxing is that the guys don´t go for the kill, they hope to win the fight on points…[/quote]
seems like we’ve been getting a lot of that in the ufc lately too
Well Said
Yeah, and what about Herb Dean in the Werdum vs Arlovski fight, is that a new rule in the UFC. What did he meen actually?
Agreed to make tools in the boxing world, they could learn a lot from dana.
[quote comment=”45015″]Yeah, and what about Herb Dean in the Werdum vs Arlovski fight, is that a new rule in the UFC. What did he meen actually?[/quote]
i know, that surprised me for sure, i didn’t know he could take away points for no action, not that i disagree with that if it is a rule…
Maybe it should be yellow cards in UFC like it is in Pride…
I was watching the Contender UK yesterday on ESPN (HD.. the only reason I watched it.) One of the fights, the ref was trying to coax the guys into actualy fighting, versus dancing. Reminded me of McCarthy in the Sylvia-Monson fight.
[quote comment=”44945″]If boxing was great on the 80:s and 90:s it gonna be mma for a while now i think… But what next? Murder in the ring maybe? Folks allways looking for some new and exciting same as i do..[/quote]
Nah, the concept of boxing, had it been handled better, more UFC-like, would not have come to this. MMA might still have taken over, but the promoters and everybody is more at fault than a lack of interest in the sport. Boxing is very one dimensinal next to MMA. I doubt people will ever just go, “ah mma isnt exciting anymore we need something more”
Everybody is trying to get on the UFC bandwagon.
please bang… this is one of the best sports writers in history… ufc is lucky to be on his bandwagon
BOXING IS BORING! MAN I ALWAYS AM WAITING FOR A LEG KICK OR TAKE DOWN….LOL