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Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?

I think I've said it enough to not have to remind everyone...but I'll say it again: I don't believe in the idea that boxing and MMA are in some sort of competition.  But, I do think that the rise of MMA is directly responsible for the much improved matchmaking throughout the world of boxing over the past two years.

MMA fans by and large seem to hold onto the idea that the sport has been putting on much more competitive bouts than boxing, but a conversation with Scott from BadLeftHook earlier this evening really had me questioning which sport has been featuring the best fights since the start of the year.

This year alone boxing has been witness to:

Admittedly Taylor/Pavlik was a bit underwhelming so it could be left off the list but I can't think of a single fight in the MMA arena this year that has delivered the combination of action and importance of the above fights.  Maybe Sylvia/Nogueira in that it was two top level heavyweights while also delivering an exciting fight.  But other big fights like Silva/Henderson haven't exactly delivered a steady flood of action.  The middleweight title fight was certainly good, but not great.

The one place where MMA remains much more consistent is the undercard bouts.  The biggest boxing main events are still generally topping cards featuring mismatches and fights between guys who will never factor into the big picture of the sport.

Am I right?  Has this been the year of boxing's top fights outperforming MMA or am I just forgetting some great fights from our sport in '08?

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Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
I just watched the Marquez vs. Pacquiao bout.  I thought it was a pretty great fight.  With that being said, the only time I ever watch boxing is when a big fight happens.  

To answer your question, perhaps your right but MMA historically always had the biggest events happen at year end.  Examples include Shockwave event in Pride.  Liddell vs. Silva last year and Liddell vs. Ortiz the year before.  Jackson vs.  Griffin will be a pretty big fight in my opinion but that is a long way off.  Penn vs. Sherk is big in terms of importance.  Lastly, a possible Fedor vs. Barnett or Couture would be important and large.  

Silva vs. Henderson was a very big and important fight and I thought it delivered since Henderson won the first round before Silva submitted him in the second.  I guess you say it would have been better if Henderson could have survived and gone to decision but that asking alot against Silva.  

by Nate414 on Mar 16, 2008 7:12 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
We're barely 3 months in. We still have Penn/Sherk, Serra/GSP II, Griffin/Rampage, and probably Nog/Arlovski all on the immediate horizon within the next few months. And that's just the UFC. Shamrock vs Cung Le is a big fight in my book. Boxing has been becoming much more competitive as of late but the year has just started. Open this discussion at the end of the year and we can talk.

by dropkick101 on Mar 16, 2008 7:39 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
It was more just me wondering aloud and figuring it was a decent conversation piece on a slow day.

Boxing also isn't done this year as there is Bernard Hopkins (48-4-1) v. Joe Calzaghe (44-0) on April 19, Oscar de la Hoya (38-5) v. Steve Forbes (33-5) (admittedly only one fighter matters...but he is probably still the biggest draw in all of combat sports), Ricky Hatton (43-1) v. Juan Lazcano (37-4-1) (#1 vs. #7 in the 140 lb division), on May 14, Shane Mosley (44-5) v. Zab Judah (36-5) May 31, and the likely de la Hoya/Mayweather rematch in September.  And other than DLH/Mayweather we're only looking at the schedule through May.

Again, this isn't so much a boxing vs. MMA thing as a "when I thought about it I was shocked at how well boxing is doing for itself this year" thing.

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 16, 2008 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
Come on now.  Do you have any reasoning behind your opinion.  Not saying you're right or wrong, I'd just like to hear why you feel the way you do.

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 16, 2008 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
I think a big point is that MMA is putting on a larger number of interesting, entertaining fights that aren't the headliners or for titles.  There have been some great fights in the lead-in matches of UFC PPVs, and some even better fights as dark matches.  That, of course, assumes you're judging by the quality of the fight itself rather than the significance of the fight in the larger scheme.  It's two separate questions, and with respect to the second, yes boxing has had more significant fights so far, but MMA has a number coming up.

Also, if we're talking the sport as a whole and not just the big promotions, I have also been impressed at the improving quality of small MMA promotions, like HCF (based in Alberta).  I can't say whether or not boxing at that level (where "significance" is obviously not a particularly useful criteria) is featuring a high level of skill and providing good entertainment, but the MMA shows I've seen definitely are.

by AJB on Mar 16, 2008 8:43 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
Not that MMA (UFC) doesn't do go overboard with them, but all three of the fights you mentioned are rematches. Something to consider.

Also something to consider are other "landmark" fights, e.g. Mir vs. Lesnar. This fight has nothing to do with the best fighting the best, but it has a lot to do with growing the sport and expanding the fan base, something (ostensibly) some of boxing's mega fights are supposed to do.

by Luke Thomas on Mar 16, 2008 8:53 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
Yeah, that came up in my discussion with Scott too.  As he pointed out...boxing is still waiting for the "new" great fight...rather than rematches

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 16, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
The last MMA fight that garnered anywhere near the attention of boxing's big fights (ie Mayweather v De La Hoya) was Liddell vs Ortiz. Fedor vs Couture had the potential to be that as well , as does a Liddell-Rampage III later this year if other things happen accordingly.

by dropkick101 on Mar 16, 2008 9:12 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
As a huge fan of BOTH sports I'd have to say that it depends on how you look at it. I don't think there have been any instant classic MMA bouts this year while boxing has already given us two instant classics in Vazquez/Marquez III as well as Pacquiao/Marquez II.

But with that said, the sheer number of quality undercard bouts we've had from various MMA events this year blows boxing undercards out the water where there has yet to be a single great undercard fight on any of the boxing ppv's to date. I agree that boxing has stepped up it's match making (ie the end of the Top Rank/Golden Boy cold war) due to MMA's surge in popularity, but until they start giving us halfway decent boxing undercards the promoters still have a lot to learn.

by soulrise on Mar 17, 2008 7:41 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
Yeah, the undercards by and large suck for boxing events as promoters see it as a place to stick their guys regardless of the quality of the matchup or if there are better, and more important, fights available.

The fact that there are so many good fighters and so few "major" MMA events mean that promotions have to try to make much more competitive cards from top to bottom.  Now that the amount of UFC cards (and other top level cards) is increasing promoters have already learned that fans want a higher quality of fights top to bottom, so I don't think that mentality is going anywhere in the near future.

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 17, 2008 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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