Boxing was never dead.
Boxing has been around for over 100 years and is a worldwide sport. One of the few sports that can still sell out HUGE stadiums across the globe. The accurate thing to say is that in the U.S. boxing has become a niche sport in regard to mainstream media coverage, but the fan base for boxing has always been strong. Part of the issue has been there hasn’t been a legit American Heavyweight Champion in over 20 years.
Now I don’t know if white sports editors are to blame, but Bob Arum is never one to hold his tongue on any subject and here is what he had to say to people who think Boxing is dead via Doghouseboxing.
At least week’s press event in LA., Boxing promoter Bob Arum blamed white sports editors for beating the boxing is dead drums over the years.
Arum stated: “People go crazy for the Super Bowl and the tickets go crazy. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime event. I’ve never seen anything like it. Today at the press conference, it was unbelievable. Every television and media outlet was there… from England, the Philippines, Japan. It was wild. It was mind-boggling, it really was”
Arum went on to add: “But it was really good because people realize that any talk that boxing is in decline or boxing is dead is bullsh!t. That is white sport editors that have lost track of boxing. The rest of the public loves boxing. Look at this turnout. Look at the demand for this fight. This a boxing match.”
In closing, Arum added: “It’s not a volleyball contest, not a basketball game, it’s a f—ing boxing match. It’s a really big boxing match.”
Mayweather-Pacquiao will be massive, but the question begs is after the fight and with Al Haymon’s PBC will Boxing stay on the front page and not an afterthought with a lot of mainstream media.