Off The Beaten Record: A Jolt For the Sport of Boxing
By ROSS BISHOFF
Error, group does not exist! Check your syntax! (ID: 15)I’m not a fan of complimenting ESPN, especially after what has become of Sportscenter, but I am a massive fan of what it’s doing for boxing.
In June, ESPN went to Australia to broadcast the Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn welterweight championship match—which not only turned out to be a thrilling fight but was loaded with controversy.
Boxing has always thrived off of that controversy. And because it was on ESPN, a basic cable channel, a lot of people got to see it.
In August, ESPN will broadcast two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world when Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence Crawford put up their respective titles on different nights.
So, anyone who has ESPN can see two of the best fighters in the world on championship nights. They’ll see up-and-coming fighters and get constant updates of the world of fighting.
Sports fans don’t need an HBO or Showtime subscription.
They don’t need to pay $60 to $100 to see the fight.
In other words, they don’t need to be hardcore fans to enjoy really good fighters.
This delivers boxing to get to a mainstream audience. Sure, ESPN, FoxSports. NBC and NBC sports networks have regularly broadcast boxing in recent years but most of those fighters were boxers trying to build their careers, or boxers ready to make the jump to the major fighting networks.
I’m all for that, but this is entirely different.
These are established champions.
I credit not only ESPN for making this happen but for the fighters themselves being willing to help the sport by fight on a basic cable network.
Floyd Mayweather would never in a million years do this. He’s not alone, I’m guessing.
Error, group does not exist! Check your syntax! (ID: 15)But those who are willing to do it should get some extra credit because whether they’re getting paid more or not, what they’re also doing is helping the sport.
If there’s an early knockout? So be it.
If the fight’s no good? Big deal.
You lose nothing by tuning in. But the day after the Pac-Man fight happened, I saw a lot of friends who don’t necessarily care about boxing showing a ton of interest.
That’s a good first impression.
Boxing used to be one of the biggest sports in the world and the impression most people have is that it’s not a big deal anymore. The fighters aren’t as interesting as Ali, Frazier, Tyson.
It’s not true. In fact, there’s better boxing going on than ever, perhaps not in the spotlight heavyweight class but certainly overall. And on a worldwide level, boxing is thriving.
In America, however, Pay Per View and pay channels instantly put up a wall to mainstream sports fans who can choose between the NFL, college football, baseball, basketball, soccer and any other number of sports out there.
Boxing only needs two things: A wider audience and, possibly, an interesting American heavyweight.
ESPN can’t do much with the second item, but it can play a big role in the first. If it continues to do that, I’ll forgive what’s happened to Sportscenter.
Number of the Week: 4
– Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor began a four-city tour Tuesday in Los Angeles to promote their August 26 fight.
Quote of the Week: “When he got his boxing license in California, I was one of the guys calling him out and talking crap. I admit that. So I was really surprised they called me. He’s putting his pride aside to maximize his opportunity to win this fight. They wanted me for my boxing ability and my boxing brain.”
– Paulie Malignaggi, the former two-time boxing champion is working with Conor McGregor as a sparring partner.
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Spot on. I hadn’t watched a boxing match for a long time. Tuned in to this one. WATCHED IT ALL, Enjoyed the fight, saw the questionable decision, became a Manny Pacio fan because of the classy way he handled himself throughout the post fight proceedings and saw a young outclassed fighter show true grit. I’ll be watching for the rematch if it’s on ESPN