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:
- The culmination of one of boxing's greatest all-action trilogies in Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez III. This was an amazing fight in its own right.
- A rematch of one of last year's most important fights in Jermain Taylor vs. Kelly Pavlik II
- A rematch of an all-time classic draw in Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao II. Following an amazingly hard fought draw up with an action bout ending in a split decision that could have gone either way? To take it a step further it was a bout between two pound-for-pound top five fighters.
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?
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?
by Luke Thomas on Mar 16, 2008 7:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 16, 2008 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
by dropkick101 on Mar 16, 2008 7:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
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?
by Tha Realness on Mar 16, 2008 8:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 16, 2008 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
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?
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?
by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 16, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
by dropkick101 on Mar 16, 2008 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Is Boxing Outperforming MMA in 2008?
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?
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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