The Thrilla in Manila, undoubtedly the greatest night in boxing history. The scintillating fight between Mohamed Ali and Joe Fraser set in history a precedence that would never be matched in Boxing history. The last of a trilogy of captivating fights, Fraser and Ali marked the highlight world boxing. However, the modern day sport of boxing is a far cry from the standards and legacies set by the likes of Mohamed Ali, Joe Fraser, George Foreman, Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson. The 21st century boxing sport is a shadow of the fights by these great icons. There are a number of issues that can be associated with this recent dip in boxing quality.
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Write My Essay For MeCommercialization of the Sport
While each great boxer has been identified to have their unique fighting style, there have been a number of boxers of recent past have had their methods and tactics critiqued by many. Some of the most outstanding include Mike Tyson. While “Iron Mike” Mike Tyson was always feared for his intimidating and ferocious boxing style, today’s boxers have all but failed to live up to the name and glory of the sport.
Some of the fights that were pegged to be the greatest fights of these generation have all but failed to live up to their hype. One of the most recent fights “A Fight for the Ages” between undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather, with a 47-0 record, and technical fighter Manny Pacquiao (Castillo). While the fight had received much hype initially as a result of over marketing for high ticket fees, it largely failed to live up to its price tag as both fighters put on a drab display of technical uninteresting boxing. After the fight, it was realized that Pacquiao had suffered an injury during training and never disclosed this information to the promoters. This raises questions on the potential commercialization of the sport.
No Pride and Honor
Modern-day boxers largely ply their trade for the financial benefits they stand to enjoy. With the influx of boing sponsorship, boxers stand to receive a considerable payout regardless of their victory or loss. Most boxers opt for the easier way to ensure steady income I the long-term. The sport has thus lost the pride and honor it had during its early years. As depicted by the table below, the boxers are inclined to be motivated by the big payouts as opposed to the love of the sport.
| Fight | PPV Revenue | PPV Sales | |
| 1 | Mayweather vs. Pacquiao (Expected) | $270-$300 million | 3,000,000 |
| 2 | Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez (September 2013) | $150 million | 2,200,000 |
| 3 | Mayweather vs. Oscar De La Hoya (May 2007) | $136 million | 2,480,000 |
| 4 | Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield II (June 1997) | $100.2 million | 1,990,000 |
| 5 | Mike Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis (June 2002) | $112 million | 1,950,000 |
| 6 | Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield I (November 1996) | $77.9 million | 1,590,000 |
| 7 | Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeeley (August 1995) | $96 million | 1,550,000 |
| 8 | Mayweather vs. Shane Mosely (May 2010) | $94 million | 1,400,000 |
| 9 | Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad (September 1999) | $64 million | 1,400,000 |
| 10 | Evander Holyfield vs. George Foreman (April 1991) | $80 million | 1,400,000 |
| 11 | Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III (November 2011) | $75 million | 1,250,000 |
Trivialized Championship and Status
One of the biggest problems the sport faces today is the availability of too many championship belts, each with its own status and value. When boxing was arguably at its renaissance in 1949, there were 8 classes that defined weight categories, each with a single champion. However, as of February 2015, there are 17 distinctive weight divisions, with the possibility of over 100 championship holders (Gibson). Using foundational principles of economics, when a good is in high supply within the market, its value will eventually diminish. As the number of championship titles increase, the value of the sport is watered down. Boxing is an age-old sport that requires dedication and passion. The sport has realized a considerable decline in quality. How will stakeholders in the sport work to rejuvenate quality within the sport?
Works Cited
Gibson, Paul. “Boxing loses credibility with every new champion. Can the sport be saved?” 2 February 2015. TheGuardian.com. Internet Source. 22 July 2015. <http://www.theguardian.com/sport/the-balls-of-wrath/2015/feb/02/transnational-boxing-rankings-board-sport-titles>.
“Mayweather vs. Pacquiao results: Not for the Ages – Floyd and Manny’s disappointing last caress.” 3 May 2015. BloodyElbow.com. Internet Source. 22 July 2015. <http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2015/5/3/8540033/mayweather-vs-pacquiao-results-not-for-the-ages-floyd-manny-last-caress-analysis-opinion>.
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