Whats going to hurt boxing the most this year?
I'm going to UFC 118 in Boston tomorrow, and I'm just preparing myself to have to defend boxing to all my buddies and random guys at the bars before and after - I think we has fans have to just take a deep breath and accept that a punch to the gut is coming for boxing by the end of the year. My question is what is the most devastating part:
1. James Toney likely getting embarrassed in an MMA match (boxing is fighting to seperate itself from the UFC and bring in younger fans, this hurts)
2. Manny v. Floyd no go - clearly the biggest fight out there not happening, and with both guys appearing to not be planning being around much longer, along with possiblities of losses for either before it comes off - time and place was set, NO GO
3. Still pretty dormat heavyweight division - Wlad and Vitali continue to dominate sub-sub- par competition. Haye talks and talks but won't fight - or maybe Sam Peter KOs Wlad and further sinks the division by cementing the horrid era of the heavyweights
4. Nothing on the horizon - PPVs for Marquez v. Diaz 2? Mosely v. Mora? Kessler sucks the wind out of the Super Six? Clottey and Mosely disappoint in mega-fights?
Boxing looks like it has painted itself into a corner - there are 2 guys anyone outside the hardcore base cares about - they don't fight, and every sports fan under 30 watches a "big-name" boxer (as billed) get completely dominated by a UFC superstar....what could possibly save this?