I think it's all about access, fashion and a good time. I think many of the kiddies I was talking about are the same as your lad. They watch live MMA/Youtubers fights as a social event round some ones house where they can all get together & have a few beers & a smoke and a jolly time. Probably using some dodgy Russian streaming channel or dongle or whateva they do nowadays. And then use social media to comment & talk about what they have seen. But only a smallish portion of these guys are serious boxing fans. Btw if your lad enjoys the history of the sport get him to check out some of John Contehs fights, he was a class act. Or read up on Randolph Turpin. And finally it's seems they added up the scorecards incorrectly.... ho hum https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...fury-fight-appeal-result-change-b2430839.html
I was mildly fascinated with MMA a few years back. But I’ve since migrated back to boxing. Out of touch with MMA now.
Don’t know how people dismiss MMA so easily tbh. Yeh the YouTubers are a pathetic generation but the “real” mixed martial artists put on an awesome display more often than not and there’s no fighters/promoters ducking the fights people want to see and have been rightfully earned. Would pay to watch it over a bt or sky sports “fight night” any day of the week.
I can appreciate MMA and the fighters but, for me at least, and my boy feels likewise, it doesn't have the finesse or class of boxing. The fact that boxing's rules are pretty restrictive means that evenly matched fighters often have to use a lot of guile and outthink the other guy. MMA's more open rules have their own benefits, particularly when you get two guys with different skillsets, ie: a grappler versus a striker, as that can lead to interesting matchups. The wrestling and BJJ elements of MMA are very skilful but it's often difficult for a non-practitioner to appreciate as the fighters are rolling around on the floor. Horses for courses, I 'spose. I’m also not sure You Tubers are pathetic. It takes some stones to step through the ropes anyway, but to get into the ring with a proper pro, as Jake Paul and KSI have both done, is impressive. Also, between them they’ve invented a whole new genre which is generating interest in the sport. If watching You Tube boxing inspires a few kids to get off their arses, stay out of trouble and join their local gym then that has to be a good thing? Sports have to move with the times and while it’s not always to our taste (I’m very sniffy about The Hundred cricket series), if it keeps it alive, then on balance it’s a positive development.
Some fair points and as you say all subjective. For me the whole fight night experience with MMA is at a higher level. The first 3 or 4 fights on the undercard (that you pay for) on bt/sky are often fighters with a handful of fights or belong in a circus. MMA have prelims (where those types of match ups belong) and then a proper card.
I think what I’m trying to say is the boxing authorities should take a leaf out of mma books when it comes to mandatory fights (and the general presentation of them). Same could be said for a lot of sports riddled with jobs for the boys making shit decisions though I guess lol.
I’d like to see boxing bodies do more to make the fights that everyone wants to watch, happen. For years, people were gagging to see Paquiaou v Mayweather, but they dodged each other for so long that they were both past their prime when they fought (plus, Manny was injured). Speaking of fights everyone wants to see - although Fury and Usyk have signed a contract, as I said a couple of weeks back, I think Fury will find an excuse to duck it.
I suppose we need to follow the money... would I be correct in thinking that MMA fights are arranged, marketed and financed by the MMA? With proceeds split between the venue, the fighters & the MMA themselves. Boxing, as we know, is rife with 'promoters' who 'own' boxers and they are the ones who arrange, market, finance & benefit from fights under the auspices of whatever governing body is happy with the kick back. And as we also know these promoters could be described at best, as sharks in disguise. So whilst the boxing world remains as disparate as it is I can't see them being anywhere as organised as the MMA.
If were talking about the UFC its a proper business/org and it made over a billion last year. Think the broadcast rights alone blow anything boxing wise out of the water.
MMA and boxing have quite different business structures and as the UFC franchise has such a dominant market share in MMA, its head honcho, Dana White, can boss the field. All is not quite as rosy as it might seem from the outside though, as can seen by Ngannou complaining about being underpaid (he only received £600k for his 2022 title fight) and crossing over into boxing in order to secure a decent purse by fighting Fury. I was also listening to a podcast in which former fighter and now pundit Dan Hardy was spilling the beans on how little most fighters, even those close to being in the top ranks, get paid. While the megastars such as McGregor and Jones are raking in multi-million dollar deals, he said he got paid, IIRC, £40k for his world title fight against George St Pierre, out of which he had to pay for training camp, coaching, sparring partners etc. The UFC franchise also take a large cut of sponsorship fees (IIRC, the first £100k goes to them), so a £150k deal is only actually worth £50k to the fighter. IIRC, there was talk of a class action lawsuit and Jake Paul tried to start a UFC fighters union, though I’m not sure if it ever came to anything. Edit: Replace £ with $, mutatis mutandis.
So there's still an opportunity for it to go the way of boxing with other organisations popping up offering better deals etc...
Well, there are other franchises, but the next most successful is Bellator, which is like comparing the Premiership to League 2, and then there are a load of others, often based in Russia, who would be equivalent to one of the semi-pro divisions and have very little international reach.
Interesting article on the topic of influencer boxing https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/influencer-boxing?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-gb
Youtube influencer boxers are purely there to get big money for doing very little. Total waste of time to many. perhaps most who enjoy top flight boxing. Sure anyone who gets in a ring to fight another guy has some stones. But so what? I don't blame these guys for milking it for everything they can. Boxing also helps them sell vile (imo) fizzy drinks too. But it doesn't impress me that much.
12 pages and not sure if it’s been mentioned, but surely John Prescott’s on the egg throwing farmer must be in there somewhere…no apology nor fucks given from him after either!
Not many tbf. A few obvious ones Ricky Hatton, Manny Pacquiao it’s a bit grainy when you zoom in… that’s my excuse anyway.
Well I expect Francis Ngannou will be back in a boxing ring fairly soon. Skip to 2.0mins to avoid the sillyness... I hope Fury is in a fitness training regime very soon. Usyk vs Fury confirmed in the ring immediately after this fight by both of them, but no date given.
It’s supposed to be December 23rd but I’ll bet it’s moved a month to the right. FN just gave Fury the fright of his career. What a strong man! Jesus, a proper force of nature… Fury very lucky to get the decision there. I think FN was instructed not to flatten him. Why didn’t he go full attack after the knock down? Fury’s been pissing about during the lead up to this fight and you could tell. He was in poorer shape than usual and blowing like fuck! Had the correct hand been raised at the end his embarrassment would have been complete.
Oh , so it's Latin now is it ? ..... you're going to pull a Latin on us , eh ? That's like bringing a gun to knife fight ! ...... just kidding around of course ( as usual ) I thought the same ..... it's been sometime since I saw him that lardy !
