As the replies kept coming in about boxing’s present ills, some old classics re-emerged, with many citing the political landscape and impact of the sanctioning bodies.
It came the week after Hamzah Sheeraz handed back his WBO super-middleweight title because he didn’t want to fight Janibek Alimkhanuly for what would have been around $750,000.
There are many things wrong with this fight. Janibek popped and no one is satisfied he’s had an appropriate ban. Sheeraz could have baulked at the fight for that reason, but it’s a slippery claim if his end goal is to fight Canelo Alvarez.
Secondly, he seems to think his market value is well in excess of what the market has now told him he is worth through purse bids. Last I saw, he’s not a huge draw or attraction. He’s coming off two terrible matches, in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. But he would have been handsomely paid because they were funded by Saudi Arabia.
The financial bubble those fighters are operating under doesn’t cover bouts away from said bubble.
That market is a law unto itself and no one can match that, and even those running those promotions will be doing so at catastrophic losses.
Of course, we knew they were happy to burn money, but this new problem is melded with the old one about titles.
People claim online that #beltsmatter today, but I’d suggest they’d matter a damn sight more if they are hard-earned and always won in the ring in proper fights. Then the likes of Sheeraz would find it far harder to hand them back.
“Too fragmented, too many belts, and take Conor Benn, what right did he have to get a shot at a world title? It’s fucked and fans are turning off. All this shit about AJ vs Fury, it’s 10 years out of date. It’s a payday pension for two old men,” wrote @wolfsmithbrake.
Former light-heavyweight contender John Scully chipped in on the sport’s sanctioning bodies: “The psychopathic four-time world champion, the regular term, emeritus CHAMPIONS are horrible black marks on our sport. I hate them.”
The broadcast situation is bothering plenty of fight fans, too.
“Re it reaching mass audiences, absolutely,” offered @UpTheHill14. “No terrestrial TV and it all being behind paywalls on a niche app like DAZN. It will never appeal to the casual masses if being consumed that way. Ever. Throw in boxers now holding out for big Saudi purses only and it’s awful.”
Rob Berry agreed, saying, “DAZN paywalls are killing the sport to casual fans.”
There was the occasional nostalgic lament back to Sky Sports with Eddie Hearn and, further back, to HBO.
@lukejbr04 felt Matchroom leaving Sky for DAZN was significant – and he was not the only one – but also said the International and Intercontinental titles on offer to get fighters ranked by the sanctioning bodies have caused “the decline in domestic title fights.”
That is fair. Many prospects are skipping British, Commonwealth and European titles in favour of picking up a top-15 ranking in the hope of landing a speculative world title bout.
Would Moses Itauma have benefitted from fighting the likes of Jeamie TKV, Richard Riakporhe, Frazer Clarke or David Adeleye, working his way up to a Filip Hrgovic?
@davidrobertbeal wrote: “Boxing on Sky Sports was the best for me: AJ-Fury 10 years too late pretty much sums it up. Where is the next UK big name?”
“Does not seem to be many, if any, coming up with star/crossover potential,” added Glen Fraser.
@RacingFan5656 said: “Feels like a lack of stars coming through and the ones we have/had are being milked for everything they’re worth.”
Two fighters who came up regularly in the comments, and in part that’s down to the timing, were Benn and Sheeraz.
@suepesas explained: “Commercial draws don’t fight – meaningfully or otherwise – which leads to heavily-hyped fights with zero competitive substance, like Benn-Garcia… which even in relative boxing terms stank so rancidly BEFORE the actual fight, that predictably underwhelming ending was a relief.”
@mubzy_k said the powerbrokers pushed self-interest over the greater good but added: “Boxing has always been broken. It’s just more broken today. It’s also been ‘dying’ as long as I have been alive, but at its best there is nothing like it.”
But the issue of Misfits was a constant in the feedback.
“The divide between Misfits and regular boxing is now invisible,” said @Badwah23041. He also added: “Any fight that’s even half decent is behind one or two paywalls. This means the general public isn’t being educated about the sport anymore and now thinks people like Conor Benn and Tommy Fury are top boxers.”
Michael R, like those at the start of Part 1, said boxing was neither great today nor terrible.
“Positives: UK – stadium shows, ticket sales, UK fighters at world level.
“Negatives: UK/US lack of mainstream exposure, inflated purses unsustainable and giving fighters an inflated sense of value; lack of global stars, lack of emerging talent.”
“I’m a lifelong fan,” said @DaveSunderlandx, “and have all but checked out.” He cited “greedy promoters putting on too many PPVs” and fighters avoiding one another” as his bugbears.
“Boxing has always been broken,” said Rob Berry. “Current problems. DAZN paywalls are killing the sport to casual fans. Misfits/faux boxing is misrepresenting the real sport. Small-hall boxing is dead… having an impact on the future talent pipeline.”
Ian Challis added to that: “No televised small-hall shows and therefore little to no vested interest. Sky had a show every week from leisure centres, you could pick up a fighter early and support…. Froch-Bute wasn’t pay-per-view. Imagine that now.”
The small-hall issue and the struggle of that scene have proved bothersome for many who see it as an integral but sadly faltering part of the industry.
“Small-hall shows are absolutely getting rinsed and the gap between top and bottom is so big,” wrote @rogers1875.
James Smith added: “Small-hall scene on its arse. Not enough casual footfall due to big fights being on PPV or relatively obscure streaming platforms (DAZN). Saudi and vanity project money warping the market. Sport more confusing to casuals than ever.”
The lack of activity of the big-name fighters is a turn-off for @DeanAntony, who said: “It’s the worst state I’ve seen it. Rapidly losing interest in it. Big fighters rarely fight. It’s going down fast in my opinion.”
And John Baker said it was quality as much as quantity.
“Name one present British boxer outside the heavies who the average person on the street would know. Eubank/Benn… some of the cards are dreadful nowadays, really sad.”
@paulsarts maintained that the best have not been fighting the best with anything like enough regularity.
“Started with Mayweather and Pacquiao not fighting and has got worse… Fighters desperate to protect the ‘0’. Fair play to Moses Itauma for giving it a go. Will do him good.”
Daniel Miles had an issue with there being weeks without meaningful action, and then promoters clashing on dates.
@UKRobBoxing said he was caring “less and less” and said the social media era has sucked the enjoyment out of the sport. “It’s all grown so draining and tiresome,” he said.
Matt Andrzejewski reckoned boxing fans have it harder than supporters of other sports.
“Something is different now,” he began. “First essential loss of linear TV. Apps were good as an addition but difficult to follow sport… And cost exceeds value of the product. UFC is around $10 a month for everything, boxing exceedingly more expensive.”
And another key part of the feedback about the sport was hard-working fighters not getting their opportunities or recognition because they don’t have a significant social media following or fanbase.
Gavin Stevens said: “Genuine talent doesn’t get recognition if they don’t cause controversy and get views on socials,” and @gman said: “All about ‘big names’ now rather than boxers working their way through rankings, eliminators, final eliminators etc. Far too driven by PPVs and big paydays (I know it’s dangerous and fighters deserve all the money they can get) but the money can still come as a respected, genuine fighter.”
There is a lot to unpick in these two parts. And there was enough material for a third.
Of course, you can’t please all of the people all of the time. But perhaps an audience of those willing to talk about boxing on an innocuous post on social media should be the first port of call when you look at those you should be looking to please.
Thanks Tris. Like what you’re doing and boxing really needs some independent thinking right now.
Even the latest episode of my favourite boxing podcast became a zuffa love in 😵💫