Why Boxing Is Coming Back (or Not)

Pacquiao fight raises excitement in the sport
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted May 8, 2011 2:28 PM CDT
Why Boxing Is Coming Back (or Not)
Filipino world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, left, trains with coach Freddie Roach.   (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Last night's big fight between Manny Pacquiao and “Sugar” Shane Mosely turned out to be a dud, with Pacquiao winning an easy decision, reports AP. But the fight had generated much buzz, leading Atlantic to ponder whether the sport might be ready to burst back into the mainstream. Some pros:

  • Sports are global now: Sure, there aren’t any dominant Americans, but these days American fans follow English soccer teams and root for baseball stars like Ichiro Suzuki and Albert Pujols.
  • The Internet: Newspapers don’t cover boxing anymore, but you can get plenty of news—and video—online.
  • Pacquiao: He’s at the top of the sport, he’s exceedingly likeable, and has a rapid-fire style that’s a joy to watch. As his biographer once said, Pacquiao “has essentially been carrying the sport on his back.”

But don’t get too excited. Some reasons for concern:

  • Pay-per-view: It’s hard for new or casual fans to jump in when a big-name fight can cost $60.
  • Promoter feud: Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya won’t do business with each other, quashing some big fights.
  • Sanctioning bodies: They’re considered corrupt, their rankings are a joke, and they can’t agree on a champion.
Click to read the full list of pros and cons. (More boxing stories.)

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