Let’s Compare Boxing Vs. MMA
The sport of professional boxing requires life support for sustainability. Who cares, seriously? I mean, how many people do YOU know currently keeping up with boxer’s statistics? Hard to find.
Whatever happened to inviting buddies while attending a good brawl? Truth is, today’s media developed and projected a more profitable contact sport. With today’s top paid boxers profiting so well from their contractual earnings, the sport still limps along. And limp along badly does it ever. Boxing’s pay-per-view numbers and statistics don’t lie.
When I asked several boxers (pro and amateur) about the current state of the sweet-science I got differing opinions. One of the pros even mentioned that boxing right now is just going through a “Dry spell” and will return to the pinnacle of brutal combatant-like sportsmanship of which it has lost vigor. Before determining why boxing fell off so should a person research exactly the sport’s demographic. Corporate entities involved eventually jumped ship. The mass media marketing campaigns took a hike for better opportunity, aka Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
So what’s that tell you? It’s about the money.
Without Floyd Mayweather fighting, we may very well witness the funeral of a sport with such a flamboyant history. His remaining boxing career is the sport’s sole stock in its entirety. Sure, I hear it everywhere I go because everyone already knows that when Mayweather retires as a boxer so will the professional sport.
A younger Floyd Mayweather even predicted this by saying, “MMA is for beer drinkers, (while) Boxing is for everybody.”
What young Floyd meant by that speculative comment is that the corporations had latched onto a new market. Seriously, just look at everything projected on television now. The new “tough guy” is in, and this time hand speed and punches just aren’t tough enough. Just observe how various MMA organizations now dominate the sports industry awhile Floyd Mayweather fights healthy and actively.
“Floyd is the bread of boxing. Everybody comes out to watch him fight. When he leaves, his current supporters will flock to MMA.”
~Jonathan Percy, Professional Lightweight
Many pro fighters in boxing and MMA feel like Floyd Mayweather is the only hope left.
Why? Because no other fighter frequents his militant training regimen; Mayweather Jr. today at 36 years old endures daily physical sparring sessions. Floyd’s sparring make his actual fight night bouts seem like a 1/4 speed light practice warmup, literally! So much for others such as Manny Pacquiao to carry on such greatness. No offense, Manny.
Here’s Proof That “Money Talks”
People jokingly describe boxing soon becoming bankrupt because of MMA and Mayweather’s enormous payouts. But that’s just how vital this single man is to his sport.
“No athletes in any other sport hold value like Floyd Mayweather’s family name does in boxing today. Not anywhere even close.”
~Andre Preneur, Sports Analyst from TrickingisTricking.com
MMA is still yet a potentially experimental and ever-growing market. Afterall, it’s only been at the forefront of brutality sports in the mainstream now since 2007. Though not as flourishing today there will always be at least a small margin of dedicated individuals who will preserve the science of boxing. Perhaps if the MMA organizations further capitalize in marketing I would even foresee a boxing underground. For some really are boxing fans and not temporary Mayweather bandwagon wannabes due to his overall professional record.
Mark my words: When Mayweather is gone, so is the fundamental elements in boxing.
Need proof?
The proof is in Mayweather’s paychecks. Why would an entire corporate-owned conglomerate pay a single athlete so much money? That’s simple. It is because “Prettyboy” Floyd “Money” Mayweather is boxing’s sole saviour, period. Style, charisma and hand speed never blended so well.
Rumor has it that Showtime is considering a decrease in business once Mayweather retires which is why they offered Floyd such a huge contract. Showtime’s bid for Floyd was pretty sweet. It guarantees a minimum $32 million + per fight. Both parties agreed to a 6-fight deal. All fights must occur within a 36 month (3 year) period.
Hidden from the public are the stimulative agreements withstanding should Floyd retire, get knocked out or otherwise fail to meet the contract clause. Is that a smart move for Showtime? You bet. Especially since its main competitor and rival HBO has now lost its one-man boxing franchise. Perhaps Mayweather Jr. himself said it best, “I box for money, belts just collect dust in the end.”
Doubt him if you will but the entire sports community will shatter upon this one man’s departure of the sport that he so devoted his entire life. Greatness is alike. And so the idea of Floyd’s lasting retirement only stirs thoughts remnant of Michael Jordan. He’s secured his legacy in the boxing ring many times over for many years undoubtedly.
What Is Mayweather’s Final Decision?
It seems that retirement is definitely on his mind within the next 4 years. Just evaluate the outrageous but actual figures of his recent contract. Never has a modern day athlete been by far the #1 highest paid without receiving any mainstream commercial endorsement and sponsorship via contractual agreement. The Mayweather Family name carries its own particularly distinctive brand of superiority and personality, altogether.
Is charisma worthy of challenging that of the OTHER “Greatest of all-time”?
Don’t doubt it.
Pay-per-view records shattered… Check.
Worldwide pandemonium… Check.
All the money essentially a hard working honest young man could ever dream for… Check.
Solidifying and reshaping the dynamics of a traditionally manifested, once culturally-enriched physical art-form only to exit under-appreciated and forgotten for a lost cause… Check.
“Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will soon again retire from the professional sport of boxing.”
When this does ensue, I’ll attempt so desperately NOT to grow wild facial hair, get covered in tacky meaningless tattoos, boastfully flaunt my wealth, add gel and spike my hair, nor wear Ed Hardy clothing and “Affliction” t-shirts. No thanks, I’ll stick to watching reruns courtesy of Floyd Mayweather.
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