I was thinking the other day how few people are interested in boxing these days compared to the 80s or early 90s.
There were loads of Saturday nights back then when if you went in a pub the whole pub (men and women) would be watching a boxing match (the days of Frank Bruno,Mike Tyson, Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Barry McGuigan etc).
Now there just doesn't seem to be the interest anymore...why is this, is it because the continued proliferation of new Boxing Boards, and ridiculous weight categories so devaluing the sport and killing the golden goose or what? Does anyone know?

Might it be because as a society we've become more civilised to the extent that watching two men hitting each other till one falls over is neither skillful nor interesting and just a little barbaric?

Might it be because as a society we've become more civilised to the extent that watching two men hitting each other till one falls over is neither skillful nor interesting and just a little barbaric?

I'd share that view and know that it is easy enough to be struck down with a subarachnoid bleed (hemorrhage) without people knocking 'seven-bells' out of one another.

I'm no boxing expert, but it seems to me that these days boxers seem to often duck the best challenger, or the title holders refuse to fight each other for unification (and thus maybe we avoid seeing the best in the weight fighting each other).

Add to that, some of the match ups between Benn, Eubank et al were brutal affairs and, for that reason, most vividly remembered. Before he fell from grace Tyson was worth watching just to see him enter the ring!

I got fed up watching hyped contests turn out to be turkey shoots.

Also, I ain't paying to watch a bout on TV that may last 30 seconds.

I was thinking the other day how few people are interested in boxing these days compared to the 80s or early 90s.
There were loads of Saturday nights back then when if you went in a pub the whole pub (men and women) would be watching a boxing match (the days of Frank Bruno,Mike Tyson, Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Barry McGuigan etc).
Now there just doesn't seem to be the interest anymore...why is this, is it because the continued proliferation of new Boxing Boards, and ridiculous weight categories so devaluing the sport and killing the golden goose or what? Does anyone know?

I have replied about this in the past and in my humble opinion Sky took boxing away from those Saturday nights from the masses and gave it to subscribers, for hyped up contests between no marks and who ever was in their stable. Just look at who Eubank had to fight.
Now they have boxing on ITV and I think people will soon start knowing who the up and coming British Boxers are. Plus the established ones like Calzaghe.

I don't think that people have lost interest in boxing. It is more a case of losing interest in boxers. We have had Lennox Lewis who was British when it suited him, and Canadian when it didn't. Other "British" boxers who only fought nobodies. Every division is fragmented the heavy weights alone has loads of different belts. If the last British heavy weight title fight is anything to go by I am surprised if there is any interest at all.

Boxing is as strong as ever. British boxing has nether had it so good, What with Hatton about to fight in the biggest fight since Tyson vs Holyfield. Then there is Calzaghe about to fight Keisler. Then there is loads of up and coming fighters like AMir Khan who is gonna dominate the sport for a long time to come.

Watch this Video, Its a quality video of 90s boxing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-0HYASB23w

It might be as strong as ever. Pity it's still as dumb as ever it was...

The first Danny Williams v Audley Harrison fight had 8m viewers on ITV. Boxing is still very popular. But, because they were on Sky, not ITV, the likes of Calzaghe and Hatton did not become household names the way Benn and Eubank did.

People also view things through rose coloured specatacles. Many of Benn and Eubanks fights were routine, we only remember the best ones. Also for several years they were defending WBO titles which at the time were seen as "fourth division" titles and people claimed they were not in the same league as Amercians such as Michael Nunn or Iran Barkley.

I have stopped watching boxing because there are too many versions of the belts, you do not know who the champion proper is. Also People like Fraudly Harrison set boxing back years

Might it be because as a society we've become more civilised to the extent that watching two men hitting each other till one falls over is neither skillful nor interesting and just a little barbaric?


Thats right, because we live in such a peaceful, violence free society these days, don't we?

Anyway...

I genuinely don't think that their are any characters left in the sport anymore.

People like Hatton or Khan, whilst they may be good fighters, really do little to fire the imagination, the way fighters in the past did.

Add to this the totally shoddy state of the heavyweight division, which is still seen as the standard-bearer for the sport, and its not hard to see why popularity is waning.

Thats right, because we live in such a peaceful, violence free society these days, don't we?



Exactly, To Be honest I grew up on the Parson Cross, Shiregreen estate and I now plenty of people who took Boxing up at 14-16 and it changed there outlook on life, Stopped them been litle fackers and gave them something to belive in,

But if your wanna live life looking through them rose tinted spectacles then Fair dos, But it does get kids on the straight and narrow

Boxing is a great hobby, sport, people who see it as barbaric etc, should really step into the REAL world, as for a more civilised society Basil. Now you really need to step out the front door !!!!!
I laughed my ass off at that comment !!

im looking forward to the Hatton fight