By: Sean Cross
I believe this headline should read “Even those who still love the sport are into boxing.” That would probably be more accurate. no matter. For years I waited for the sweet science of those who told me (always with a smile) that boxing was dead. Indeed, I am constantly pointing out that these happy endings are wrong. That’s not to say boxing is dead…now boxing is rolling into complete irrelevance by 2022. sounds good? not at all. Boxing was the fourth most popular sport in America in the 80s (and probably a good chunk of the 90s). Nobody even knows who the top heavyweights are here in the United States right now.
This is indicative of a serious decline, if ever. Sure, you could argue that no one knows who the UFC Heavyweight Champion of the World is, but the UFC has a rabid and satisfied fan base. The current mood of boxing fans, however, is confusing. Don’t you believe? Take a trip to the virtual city known as “Boxing Twitter” and experience the feeling for yourself. Of course, wrestling fans are especially upset right now, as two major — and I do mean major — feuds that were supposed to go down this year just fell through. I’m talking about the heavyweight title shot between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and the world welterweight championship fight between Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford.
Instead of taking part in the fight fans have been hoping for, Fury will fight twice-beaten Derek Chisora, while Crawford will face the lesser-known David Avanessian. Who knows what Spence and Joshua will do for the rest of the year? No. Spence and Joshua are responsible for not necessarily signing contracts for mega fights. The truth is, no one knows for sure why these fights aren’t happening…or what’s behind the rapid decline of the sport in general.
Behind the scenes, the percentage of the fan base that prefers boxing drama to fighting may have something to do with it. Indeed, some fighters refuse to fight serious competition for anything less than pipe dream money (which unfortunately follows a nationwide trend of potential egomania). Of course, there is the fact that no one knows who the main fighters are. Boxers do not fight on the basic ropes to be truly recognized by the general public. The news, then, is not what is happening in the world of boxing, but what is not happening.
And that’s not a good sign. Fortunately, women’s boxing and at least some of boxing’s lighter divisions are on fire. Now the question is whether or not the rest of the sport will be successful.
