Remember when people said boxing was dead?
Updated April 25, 2017 4:55 PM
By The Associated Press By TIM DAHLBERG (AP Sports Columnist)
Reprints BoxingTop 10 pound-for-pound boxers
The truth is, boxing is showing plenty of life. Even the biggest star in mixed martial arts can't wait to get a piece of it.
Conor McGregor has no chance against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Not in a boxing ring, though in an octagon, it would likely be a different story.
Still, the riches are far greater than McGregor can make in the UFC. And UFC chieftain Dana White says he won't stand in the way of McGregor making money. He believes the fight will happen.
Yes, Mayweather-McGregor is more a freak show than a fight, but there's still plenty for boxing fans to get excited about. They don't have to wait long for Saturday's fight between Joshua and Klitschko, which will be televised by both Showtime and HBO.
"Obviously, the jewel of the crown is the big heavyweight fight," said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president for Showtime Sports. "It sort of feels like a throwback to the golden eras of boxing when you had big worldwide heavyweight title fights and everyone knew who the champion was."
BoxingCanelo Alvarez media workout
The fight matches Klitschko, who dominated the heavyweight division for the better part of a decade, against Joshua, who has won all 17 of his fights by knockout. It will either mark Klitschko's renaissance after an embarrassing loss to Tyson Fury in 2015 or serve as the passing of the torch to a young and vibrant new champion.
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Either way it figures to rekindle interest in a division that has had little to captivate fans in recent years.
"It's gotten more exciting since I left the top," Klitschko said. "It's not as boring as it was with me during all these years. You can like me or hate me, but when one person conquers all it is boring. I totally get it."
In boxing-mad England, the fight is such a huge deal that all 90,000 tickets sold out quickly. Joshua owns the titles that will be at stake, and American heavyweight Deontay Wilder, who owns the WBC version of the title, will be ringside hoping to meet the winner.
Just as big for Mexican boxing fans will be the middleweight fight a week later in Las Vegas between the red-haired Alvarez, an established star, and Chavez Jr., a son of the legendary former champion.
BoxingWladimir Klitschko's open workout
If Alvarez wins as oddsmakers expect him to, it could set up an even bigger fight in the fall against Golovkin, the power puncher from Kazakhstan who now lives in Los Angeles. Golovkin sold out Madison Square Garden last month for his narrow win over Jacobs, showing some vulnerability that may help lure what has so far been a reluctant Alvarez into the ring against him.
Espinoza believes that both promoters and fighters have realized that in a competitive market for live events, boxing has had to move to provide better matchups if fans are to pay attention.
And he says that is precisely what is starting to happen.
"Without a doubt boxing is surging," he said. "We see that in our ratings and in our digital traffic. What has become clear to those in the boxing industry is that in order to attract attention you've got to have signature, high-profile events."
That includes Joshua and Klitschko and, yes, it probably includes Mayweather-McGregor. Eventually it could include a stable of Olympic fighters signed by Bob Arum and others who may turn into big stars.
BoxingGennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs
The matchups are intriguing, and the response from boxing fans has been huge.
Something to think about the next time you hear that boxing is dead.
dude was legit fat while boxing, he just XXL now
First he wasn't interested he wanted Hurd, then Hurd told him to kick rocks (and Hurd says he wants Mell Charlo),now it's DA priced himself.
$$$ in order to run with the fact Andrade turned it down.
