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[QUOTE="JAXCUSE, post: 3036013, member: 516"]
There are talented boxers today.  But, unlike during the 70’s and 80’s (even 90’s), the current crop of best P4P fighters (Spence/Crawford, Wilder/Joshua, Loma/Garcia) DO NOT FIGHT regularly or EACH OTHER...  I term it the “Mayweather effect” (Promoters stockpiling fighters and protecting the business brand rather than daring to fight the best and prove you are the best)...

My thesis - this risk aversion (fighter and promoter) has killed “average fan” interest in boxing.  And MMA has taken allot of the market share accordingly.

You would not have Ali/Frazier, SRL/Hearns or even Barrera/Morales in today’s “promoter aligned protectionist environment.”

Canelo is the only exception in today’s fight game (Oscar has something to do with that - De La Hoya, his promoter, ducked no-one and made the best and regular fights).  GGG is another.  Holyfield (maybe Pacquiao) was probably the last “get me this guy to fight” pugilist I’ve seen.  HBO made it happen for guys like Evander, Lennox, Roy Jones, Oscar, Pac.

I’ve followed Boxing closely since the early 70’s.  1st fight I saw in person was Duran/Kenny Buchanan in the Garden.  Watched allot of film of the old timers from the 30’s/40’s/50’s.  Here’s the difference (when compared to today) - the best fought each other and fought regularly.

Not nearly as much “marination” (Arum’s term).  I do not think we’ll ever see Crawford/Spence or Mikey/Loma; at least anytime when the fighters are prime.  Which is a shame...
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