How long before gimmick boxing dies for good

[Bobby Boulders]

This exactly. It will always be a thing because something about it captures people including those that aren’t interested in the sport itself. Popularity of it will come and go depending on who is involved.

Can't even understand the bloodlust of Roman society lol.

"OK, so on the west end of the Colosseum we will have a guy. We will give him, oh...a shield! On the east end, we will have a LION! Crowds gonna love it! This will be the prelim for the main event, dude tied to a post vs Rape Giraffe!!"

Nothing catches a crowd like spectacle and violence (and sex), and especially if the names involved are known commodities, and especially if those names aren't generally involved in any of it on a normal basis.

 

[Andy Capp]

Not a boxing fan, but FWIW, I think it's more likely gimmick fights will be the only survivors of the sport eventually than that they'll die out before the "more serious" competition.

 

[mahavishnunj]

Danny Bonaduce and Donny Osmond would like a word

Side note: completely forgot Oleg Taktarov boxed Dolph Lundgren

What the shit? I had to look up that Lundgren/Taktarov thing to see if it was real. How the hell did I miss that?

 

[ArmanHypeTrain]

Gimmick fights have always been a thing and always will be, people are drawn to the absurd. Jack Johnson was fighting fixed exhibitions 100+ years ago. Dempsey fought a wrestler. Tony Galento fought a bear and an octopus. Foreman with 5 guys in one night (pause). Ali v Inoki. Every Japanese wrestler v MMA killer matchup in Pride. Bob Sapp's entire career. As long as we have fights, gimmick fights are natural as a counterbalance to highly-skilled world class competitors, some people just want to be entertained by some wacky shit.

 

[Tweak896]

I think people are getting burnt out. After awhile people are going to realize it's a dumb prospect where both guys beat each other in their respective sport. Even Ngannou/Fury right now doesn't have anyone who says Ngannou has a chance. It's cool to see fantasy matchups, but no one is going to be interested if it's all predictable. I will say eventually there will be boxers to MMA as the next what if (I know Toney and Mercer did it). I just think it's pretty stupid myself.

 

[jx820]

It'll come and go, but the era of it being treated as anything other than a circuis is going to be short lived. Already people are getting tired of it. And the all the attempts to pivot to a legit boxing match with a boxer of similar size ended in pretty savage beatings.

 

[Neck&Neck]

Should be quick, now that Slap Fights has taken over

 

[NoStoneUnturned]

Watching Jake Paul destroy MMA “legends” and seeing it ruin the facade of MMA being a legitimate sport will always be gold.

How does a boxing match ruin MMA as a sport? If he wanted to ruin all of MMA shouldn't he actually participate in MMA against at least one active professional?

 

[leatherf4ce]

I think we can all agree that it's a great thing that they don't have Snoop commentating on these events anymore. At least makes it less of a joke. Not fully, but less.

 

[Corrado Soprano]

How does a boxing match ruin MMA as a sport? If he wanted to ruin all of MMA shouldn't he actually participate in MMA against at least one active professional?

A Youtuber is wrecking MMA fighters in combat sports.

 

[ninja boot]

i suppose it depends what you mean.
James Toney vs Randy Couture was in 2010 and after a brief break here we are again. I expect it'll stay around a bit and eventually fizzle out again but never completely.

 

[ColombianFist]

when people find an excuse to watch it, it will continue. the youtubers in boxing isn't going away when teens and kids are expecting to see Mr Beast or whoever win. Me, i prefer fight circus and the tomfoolery of gimmicks that things has in every match, i am expecting a drunken muay that fight where every guy drinks one shot between rounds.

 

[The Bloody Nine]

OP genuinely believes Askren, Woodley (x2, one occasion allowed himself to be knocked cold), Silva and Diaz all took dives. Lol.

 

[jimmy dakine]

How long before the profit bubble pops? When will people get wise to the gimmick and when will promoters like Jake Paul stop making money from these shitty entertainment events?

is entertainment here to stay? Most people would pay a dollar to watch a monkey fuck a football, so, its here to stay.

 

[HavokHarmon]

A Youtuber is wrecking MMA fighters in combat sports.

Doesn’t ruin it for me. Does it ruin it for you?

 

[NoStoneUnturned]

...sports.

Plural? Isn't it singular as in one sport, boxing? Which isn't MMA and if he thinks he can beat these legends in MMA then shouldn't he fight them in MMA?

 

[HaulParris]

It will ebb and flow but never fully go away.

I do think that bare-knuckle might get the ban hammer sooner or later.

 

[Felis]

A Youtuber is wrecking MMA fighters in combat sports.

Doesn’t ruin it for me. Does it ruin it for you?

Kinda does for me tbh. At least a bit.

But by now he should be called a boxer, shouldn't he? Not a super high quality one, but not just a youtuber anymore.

 

[skylolow]

It's always been around or at least for a very long time. Just never had people in it that anyone really cared about buying PPV's for until Jake Paul and KSI came around and boxers taking on a guy like Conor or Triller bring back vets and staging a big show. In the past it was Danny Partridge fighting some radio personality or something.

 

[jsbx45]

It will be around for a while, and as long as MMA pay remains low, MMA fighters will venture into the "Circus Boxing" realm to make more money. Diaz Prolly just matched what he made for most of his MMA career in his "Circus Boxing" match (I don't know the exact monetary figures here..;.anyone?). Can't blame these MMA guys for wanting to get paid. People are watching Power Slap FFS. The Circus fights will sell.