UFC vs. Boxing – Is Boxing A Dying Sport?

[jupiter23]

http://www.simplyshredded.com/ufc-vs-boxing-hq.html

^^ Interesting article..

my opinion is that boxing is dying.. and UFC is taking over.. but thats my 2 cents

[Darren Avey]

Boxing needs a superstar heavyweight champ to be in the public interest, We need another Tyson

[jupiter23]

well said.. but i doubt we will see this... plus correct me if im wrong but the payout = higher in UFC ?

[oldtimer1]

Every big boxing match the fighters get at least 5 plus million each.  Manny Pacquiao made 40 millon from mid 2008 to mid 2009 according to Forbes magazine.  If he fights Mayweather he will get about 30 million for that fight. 

How much are the top MMA fighters getting per fight?  The promoters are keeping the pay per view money and giving these dopes fighting chump change.

Boxing is a sport with a long history.  There will always be fans of the sweet science. 

[ATHEIST]

MMA doesnt have any athlete that transends the sport, and the pay the top fighters receive is nothing compared to that of boxing. People still talk about Ali and Tyson, i dont think people will be talking about Gracie, Shamrock, Silva, Penn or Machida 10-20 years from now.

you'll never see an athlete jump into boxing, takeover and win the championship as fast as Brock did, it takes much more precise skill that takes years of training.

MMA is great to watch being that there are more matches, but if you took the two biggest names in MMA and the two biggest names in boxing i.e Pacquiao/Mayweather boxing would get the bigger draw.

[titusisback]

you'll never see an athlete jump into boxing, takeover and win the championship as fast as Brock did, it takes much more precise skill that takes years of training.

Brock didn't exactly just jump into MMA - he had extensive wrestling background and he had to learn stand up skills to survive agaist people with good boxing experience. However, what we'll probably never see is a boxer enter MMA and win a championship. Usually wrestlers have much better chances of succeeding in 'no rules' fighting such as MMA.

MMA is great to watch being that there are more matches, but if you took the two biggest names in MMA and the two biggest names in boxing i.e Pacquiao/Mayweather boxing would get the bigger draw.

It's unfair to compare the purses when boxing is over 100 years old and UFC only 10 or so. It's only a matter of time.. anyone can see that the biggest fights in boxing history are just that - history. MMA will need time to catch up. The best fighters are supposedly earning around 2-4 million / fight. In few years, it'll be 10+ million and with some more time, par with boxing.

[ATHEIST]

Brock didn't exactly just jump into MMA - he had extensive wrestling background and he had to learn stand up skills to survive against people with good boxing experience. However, what we'll probably never see is a boxer enter MMA and win a championship.

How many professional fights did brock have before he was the champ? thats my point, you'll never see that in boxing. Brocks stand up skills isnt what people are afraid of. In the same, what are the chances of an MMA athlete entering a boxing ring and becoming a champ? none. To be the best in boxing requires more skill, in MAA simply being stronger with an average skill set can get you farther in that sport.

Dont get me wrong Im not discussing who would win a fight. Im just stating that boxing requires a greater application of a few particular skills that takes years of training, being that MMA incorporates kicks, knees, punches and subs all in synergy, one like a brute forced Brock only needs to be well versed in on aspect and he can dominate. Brocks strength alone is what has been separating him from the rest, simply being strong wont cut it in boxing.

Im a fan of MMA, its very entertaining and another great social sport thats up and coming, I just see limitations as to how far it can advance. The fighters need to get paid more of the purse, what they get paid is pathetic in comparison to what the PPV earns.

[ATHEIST]

It's unfair to compare the purses when boxing is over 100 years old and UFC only 10 or so. It's only a matter of time.. anyone can see that the biggest fights in boxing history are just that - history. MMA will need time to catch up. The best fighters are supposedly earning around 2-4 million / fight. In few years, it'll be 10+ million and with some more time, par with boxing.

this is true, if the sport continues to grow AND the fighters demand better pay. Im not aware of top current fighters earning 2-4 million a fight on the purse alone. I hope they are, also consider the fact that MMA fighters have to pay more coaches. It would only take one superior fighter that has a following and good reputation like a GSP to stand up and leave and demand that the athletes get better pay and benefits, that is also something boxing never could do.

[big man]

I don't see how people think boxing is dying? Rumble in the jungle was 40 some years ago and it generated as much interest as the Mayweather/Pac fight today. Even though it's not happening now, people are still strongly interested in boxing.
Ufc people just want their sport to be better.
My opinion, boxing is better. It's like comparing drag racing to Tokyo drifting. Just because it's newer doesn't mean it will take over and become the best.

[oldtimer1]

Top MMA fighters are getting 2 to 4 million a fight.  That's B.S.  The highest purse for a top MMA fight was around 200k.  Most name MMA fighters are getting less than 75K a fight. 

[titusisback]

Top MMA fighters are getting 2 to 4 million a fight.  That's B.S.  The highest purse for a top MMA fight was around 200k.  Most name MMA fighters are getting less than 75K a fight. 

That's the purse they publish - on top of that, they get cut from the PPV income. Top names that is. This is information that's not published but is serious dough.

Do you honestly think that for example Brock Lesnar earned $200k in his last fight? Don't be stupid.

[ATHEIST]

That's the purse they publish - on top of that, they get cut from the PPV income. Top names that is. This is information that's not published but is serious dough.

Do you honestly think that for example Brock Lesnar earned $200k in his last fight? Don't be stupid.

Im fairly certain that Dana White does not distribute the PPV earnings amongst the fighters, the fighters do get bonuses for KO of the night and what not, but no they do not get money from PPV.

[titusisback]

Im fairly certain that Dana White does not distribute the PPV earnings amongst the fighters, the fighters do get bonuses for KO of the night and what not, but no they do not get money from PPV.

sorry but you're wrong

[Pecs]

Top MMA fighters are getting 2 to 4 million a fight.  That's B.S.  The highest purse for a top MMA fight was around 200k.  Most name MMA fighters are getting less than 75K a fight. 

get your facts right before typing. Andrei arlovski got 1.5million for losing to fedor.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/13906/andrei-arlovskis-1-5-million-payday-tops-afflictions-3-1-million-payroll.mma

The full disclosed payroll figures included:

Fedor Emelianenko: $300,000 (includes $0 win bonus)
def. Andrei Arlovski: $1,500,000

Josh Barnett: $500,000 (includes $0 win bonus)
def. Gilbert Yvel: $30,000

Vitor Belfort: $200,000 (includes $80,000 win bonus)
def. Matt Lindland: $225,000

Renato "Babalu" Sobral: $90,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus)
def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou: $50,000

Paul Buentello: $90,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus)
def. Kiril Sidelnikov: $10,000

Dan Lauzon: $23,160 (includes $11,160 win bonus)
def. Bobby Green: $4,000

Jay Hieron: $45,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus)
def. Jason High: $10,000

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: $150,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus)
def. Vladimir Matyushenko: $50,000

L.C. Davis: $13,500 (includes $6,500 win bonus)
def. Bao Quach: $7,000

Albert Rios: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus)
def. Antonio Duarte: $3,000

Brett Cooper: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus)
def. Patrick Speight: $2,000

Now, the usual disclaimer: The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, which can oftentimes be a substantial portion of a fighter's income. They also do not include any other special bonuses the organization may have paid its fighters.

In other words, these are simply base salaries reported to the commission and do not reflect entire compensation packages for the event.  For example, despite Emelianenko's $300,000 reported payday, the fighter actually made an amount well into the seven figures.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/13906/andrei-arlovskis-1-5-million-payday-tops-afflictions-3-1-million-payroll.mma