Joe Calzaghe: Boxing on the ropes
The Welsh fighter voiced this opinion in London today.
Joe Calzaghe believes boxing is on the ropes, with too many champions and few real stars.
Still weighing whether he’ll retire after beating Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. this year to remain unbeaten in 46 fights, Calzaghe said Wednesday he was glad he was almost on the way out of the sport instead of just starting out.
“I think boxing is a dying sport. Globally — in America for instance — you’ve got UFC, which has taken a lot off boxing, business-wise,” Calzaghe said, referring to the mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The Welshman who held the WBO super middleweight world title for more than 10 years before moving up to light heavyweight to fight Hopkins and Jones also said boxing has its own problems.
“There is too much politics in boxing, too many belts and too many champions, which dilutes real champions like myself,” he said. “There are four world champions in each division and it’s bad because there are no stars any more. It’s a big problem.”
First of all, who is Joe Calzaghe? Never heard of him before today. I probably just make this fighter’s point.
Boxing has found PPV profitable but at the same time it has dwindled the fan base. I’ve only once paid to watch a fight. As no fighter is high profile enough, because I have never seen or even heard of them, I just don’t feel obliged to pay $50-60 to watch 36 minutes of boxing. I make a bet many sports fans feel the same as I do about the sport. What ever happened to the days when there fights on prime-time network television? They’re gone, I don’t think they will coming back.
- Wladimir Klitschko retains WBO and IBF heavyweight belts
- Bernard Hopkins, 48, wins IBF Light Heavyweight title
- Coming to a theater near you- Mayweather-Marquez fight to be shown in cinemas
- Japan boxing authority suspends Daiki Kameda
- Boxer Oscar De La Hoya announces his retirement
- Former Gold medalist James DeGale wins pro debut
- Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion Greg Page dead at age 50
- Evander Holyfield Making Another Comeback at 43
- Nevada Boxing Commission votes to allow instant replay
- Chico Corrales Killed in Motorcycle Crash
- Eight is Enough- Edmonton beats Chicago 8-4
- Lydia Ko wins New South Wales Open
- The Comeback I- Pittsburgh Penguins beat NY Islanders 5-0
- Seattle Mariners Outfielder Greg Halman stabbed to death at age 24
- Hee Young Park wins CME Titleholders Championship
- Oklahoma State Women’s Basketball Coach Kurt Budke dead at 50
- Costly mistake- Blackhawks waive Rostislav Olesz
- Manager Tony La Russa announces retirement
- Puck Drop- Florida Panthers start the 2011-12 NHL season
- 13-time PGA Tour winner Dave Hill dead at 74
Comments are Closed