World Series of Boxing - What do you think?

ZroC · 11-06-2012, 07:11 PM

It sounded like a good idea when it started but I don't know now. The WSB has now snatched up most, if not all, of Ireland's Amateurs who were about to turn pro, now they're moving into the UK and taking fighters from there.

What the hell is going to happen to the pros if all the best amateurs decide to enter the WSB instead of turning pro? Here in Ireland alone boxing went from potentially being the number 2 sport in the country to going back to the same old ways just because the popular fighters aren't turning pro.

Sure it's good for the fighters to get a taste of the pros before stepping in but what's going to happen to the sport itself now? It's in a constant need to get young people in. It's bad enough that fighters today seem to be waiting longer before turning pro, but now they have a new distraction to make them take even longer. As is some of the best boxers in the world aren't even in the pros.

consortium11 · 11-06-2012, 09:41 PM

Good intentions pave the way to hell...

Abandon hope all ye who enter here... the sad story of the World Series of Boxing.

Oldie · 11-07-2012, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZroC

It sounded like a good idea when it started but I don't know now. The WSB has now snatched up most, if not all, of Ireland's Amateurs who were about to turn pro, now they're moving into the UK and taking fighters from there.

What the hell is going to happen to the pros if all the best amateurs decide to enter the WSB instead of turning pro? Here in Ireland alone boxing went from potentially being the number 2 sport in the country to going back to the same old ways just because the popular fighters aren't turning pro.

Sure it's good for the fighters to get a taste of the pros before stepping in but what's going to happen to the sport itself now? It's in a constant need to get young people in. It's bad enough that fighters today seem to be waiting longer before turning pro, but now they have a new distraction to make them take even longer. As is some of the best boxers in the world aren't even in the pros.

WSB is AIBAs way of fixing amateur boxing without having to admit that they are the ones that ruined it. Through their WSB league they hope to profile amateur boxing and make it popular with the masses again. Won't happen imo.
What is more concerning is that AIBA wil also be launching their own pro league next year, essentially making them a sanctioning body, but with a UFC/WWE sturcture.
I've heard they are lobbying the IOC to put pressure on different goverments to pass laws that prohibit any pro boxing that's not AIBA related. I doubt they will be successsful at that, but you know it's not a good sign when the AIBA bosses have gone on record saying that their goal is to govern all forms of boxing world wide. Personally, I'd rather not see boxing at all than some AIBA garbage.

Read more here http://insidesports.ph/boxing/wbc-condemns-aiba-plans/

ZroC · 11-07-2012, 10:20 AM

I'm more concerned with the talent being taken away from the pros. If they want to launch their own UFC style side show in boxing but for amateurs only then that might be a bit of fun, the problem appears when they start taking away and hoarding any potential pro fighters for themselves. The amateur system has always fed the pros, now it looks like this WSB will be running in competition with the pros. I don't think boxing fans really know how big it is that the best amateurs aren't turning pro right now. The WSB are snapping up pretty ALL of the boxers who the potential to become stars. All the pro circuit can do is throw money at them, but as in the case John Joe Nevin that just might not be enough.

I know they expressed an inertness in taking over boxing. I don't think it'll happen. As I said it'll likely be another side show to the rest of boxing. It'll be just another org albeit with a bit more structure.

consortium11 · 11-07-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZroC

I'm more concerned with the talent being taken away from the pros. If they want to launch their own UFC style side show in boxing but for amateurs only then that might be a bit of fun, the problem appears when they start taking away and hoarding any potential pro fighters for themselves. The amateur system has always fed the pros, now it looks like this WSB will be running in competition with the pros. I don't think boxing fans really know how big it is that the best amateurs aren't turning pro right now. The WSB are snapping up pretty ALL of the boxers who the potential to become stars. All the pro circuit can do is throw money at them, but as in the case John Joe Nevin that just might not be enough.

I'm not particularly bothered about WSB stealing pro-prospects. Any amateurs who join it and ever intended to go pro themselves are shooting themselves in the foot so badly that I don't see removing stupidity like that (and that includes their advisors/managers) from the pro pool as a massive blow.

The bigger issue s the "semi-pro" league they're running where the bouts themselves are professional (and the boxers are paid) but the organisation is run more akin to an amateur tournament and boxers can still get Olympic places. They've already picked up Vasyl Lomachenko and most of the rest of the Ukranan amateur boxing team and seem to have a lock on Eastern European prospects and most prospects who come through from countries without a strong boxing infastructure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZroC

I know they expressed an inertness in taking over boxing. I don't think it'll happen. As I said it'll likely be another side show to the rest of boxing. It'll be just another org albeit with a bit more structure.

While I don't expect them to cause too much mess, never underestimate the power of faceless men in blazers who sit on committees and have the backing of Eastern European/ex-Soviet billionaires to fall back on. If they can get the IOC on side (and there's nothing to suggest they won't) then that's an awful lot of pressure that can be put on governments.

Oldie · 11-07-2012, 01:36 PM

There are 20,000 active pros in the world and more than 100,000 amateurs. There is no way WSB is going to change today's pro boxing as we know it. The IOC thing could do more damage, but I doubt they will be able to force laws all over the world when free trade laws and laws against monopolies already are in place. Also, few people actually want AIBA as a global governing body.

ZroC · 11-07-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldie

There are 20,000 active pros in the world and more than 100,000 amateurs. There is no way WSB is going to change today's pro boxing as we know it. The IOC thing could do more damage, but I doubt they will be able to force laws all over the world when free trade laws and laws against monopolies already are in place. Also, few people actually want AIBA as a global governing body.

way more than 100k AMS. I remember reading there were something like 70k in the UK, 19k in Cuba and 40k in Canada alone. Cuba

It's pretty clear they are already effecting the pros. The WSB have now prevented most if not all of Ireland's top amateurs from turning pro. If even John Joe Nevin turned pro there would have been a revived market for boxing in the country. The amateurs just don't get the kind of attention pros do. Instead he decided to drop his pro contract with Khan promotions and join the WSB. I also looks like, according to a few articles out there, that the WSB have been telling amateurs that there's no future in the low paying pros in an attempt to scare them away from that direction.

Oldie · 11-08-2012, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZroC

way more than 100k AMS. I remember reading there were something like 70k in the UK, 19k in Cuba and 40k in Canada alone. Cuba

It's pretty clear they are already effecting the pros. The WSB have now prevented most if not all of Ireland's top amateurs from turning pro. If even John Joe Nevin turned pro there would have been a revived market for boxing in the country. The amateurs just don't get the kind of attention pros do. Instead he decided to drop his pro contract with Khan promotions and join the WSB. I also looks like, according to a few articles out there, that the WSB have been telling amateurs that there's no future in the low paying pros in an attempt to scare them away from that direction.

Yes, 100K is the low estimate. I'm talking about competing amateurs. While I don't doubt that the UK has 70K registered amateurs, the number of actual boxers having official amateur fights, taking part in tournaments, etc. will be a lot lower than 70K.

But you do have a point about WSB when it comes to Ireland. It appears WSB has made a much bigger splash there, which is unfortunate. Any boxer who joins WSB should know though, that he will never make huge amaounts of money like the top pros do. Maybe after a few seasons on WSB they will start to realise that and, hopefully, ditch it. The best paid boxers will always be in the pros.

Speaking of amateurs, I'm surprised Anthony Joshua didn't join WSB. I assume that means he will sign up for AIBA's pro league when it starts in 2013, if AIBA are able to compete with offers from Matchroom, Hennessy or Warren.

Blue Mercury · 11-08-2012, 02:13 AM

It failed in the U.S.

NikkiNeversleep · 11-08-2012, 02:33 AM

It didn't get far here in the US. But I could see how it could be a benefit to boxers but also it kinda cuts into the pros. Would be nice to see more of these young fighters from the UK go pro, most of them are really talented boxers.