Whisper it quietly, but boxing has developed something of an image problem of late.
While this is at least partially due to the rise of celebrity boxing and semi-talented YouTube pugilists, some of the sport’s leading lights are also contributing heavily by failing to agree super fights or even long-awaited unification bouts.
Of course, some will counter the latter point by pointing to Devin Haney’s recent bout with Vasiliy Lomachenko in May, while Terence Crawford and Errol Spence are also scheduled to contest the undisputed welterweight title at the T-Mobile Arena in July.
However, the latter bout should have happened at least a couple of years ago, with Crawford now aged 35 and Spence 33. Then there’s the circus surrounding WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and the defence of his WBC belt, with the Gypsy King seemingly preferring an exhibition bout with UFC giant Francis Ngannou over a unification clash with the three-belt holder Oleksandr Usyk.
But what’s behind these issues, and can boxing continue to thrive without timely super fights? Let’s find out!
The Impact of Boxing Politics
Boxing’s most publicised issue revolves around the sheer number of belts, sanctioning bodies and broadcasters in play, and this is before you factor in the machinations of different promoters and their fighter’s egos.
Remember, each body also has its own unique rankings, meaning that it can even be difficult to organise and schedule mandatory challengers when dealing with multiple belt holders such as Usyk.
Compare this to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where all fighters across every single weight class compete under the same promotional banner and organisation.
As a result, there’s only one path towards title success regardless of what class you fight in, and contracts can usually be agreed quickly and with the minimum of fuss. This delivers the best and most logical fights to fans, forcing competitors to either pursue greatness or step aside.
Fighters and Their Comfort Zones
Incentivisation can also be an issue for defending champions, with this particularly prevalent in the case of Fury.
Still on the cusp of an incredible wave after his undeniably thrilling trilogy with Deontay Wilder, the WBC champ is in control of his destiny and able to sell out huge stadiums regardless of who he fights, while claiming an 80/20 split or up depending on the opponent.
What’s more, he would almost certainly defeat Ngannou or Andy Ruiz Jr. (if the latter was confirmed as the WBC mandatory), enabling him to retain his belt and book another big payday next time out. Make no mistake; Fury offers great betting value to win such fights, in the same way that leveraging the Jack Poker promo code can unlock increased returns and bonuses online.
So, even though Usyk surprisingly agreed to just a 30% share of the purse during previous unification negotiations with Fury, such a bout would see the latter take on a considerably increased risk without necessarily banking a higher financial return in the process.
In this case (and many other instances involving champions who have a great deal to lose when they step in the ring), there isn’t always a big enough practical or financial incentive to take the biggest fights, outside of the pursuit of glory and intangible notions of ‘greatness’.
The Bottom Line
Boxing has always had an issue in this regard, with the potential super fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao happening way too late and Lennox Lewis never managing to get American Riddick Bowe in the ring at all.
However, the recent failures have been particularly eye catching, with Fury’s failure to agree a unification fight with Usyk striking a chord with most boxing fans. Remember, there has never been a four-belt heavyweight champion, and it seems incredible that there aren’t mechanisms to make this happen now that the opportunity has arisen.
There’s still time to correct this particular failure, of course, but from a broader perspective, boxing must find ways to simplify its governance and deliver more super fights if it’s to remain competitive in the future.
