Ali versus Fraiser, Tyson versus Hollyfield, Lewis versus Rahman – some of the biggest heavyweight bouts. Not to forget the Rumble in the Jungle – a titanic battle between brains power and heart. It was probably the biggest fight in boxing history.
Fast forward to now, and a new sleeping giant has awoken – the UFC juggernaut – which doesn’t just have Aussies but the world gasping for more.
The upcoming bout – Alistair Overeem versus Junior Dos Santos – could be potentially the biggest payday in UFC ‘s small but illustrious history. This is the type of fight that we are used to seeing in the heavyweight boxing battles of yesteryear, but is the tide turning?
It’s been over a decade since Tyson versus Lewis, the last genuine heavyweight bout that had the world talking. These day’s you ask someone of the street if they know who Vitali Klitschko is and they wouldn’t have a clue. But you ask them about Rampage Jackson and everybody knows.
I remember when UFC first came to Sydney – it was huge. So huge that even Jeff Fenech said that MMA could be the death of boxing.
The problem with boxing is there is so much politics – it’s no wonder everyone is switching to MMA.
You never get to see the fights you want, like Maywheather versus Pacquiao. How long have the fans been waiting for this fight to happen?
Guys like Mayweather have too much power in the sport and should be told who they are fighting, not asked. If these guys were fighting in the UFC they would have fought long ago.
UFC CEO Dana White must be licking his lips thinking about the Overeem-Dos Santos fight; two big men, two big hitters, boxers rather than wrestlers. It has the making of a genuine headliner, once Dos Santos’ knee gets better.
I just hope it lasts longer than the Lesner versus Overeem and the Valasquez-Santos fight.
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January 17th 2012 @ 7:32am
The Grafter said | January 17th 2012 @ 7:32am | Report comment
Thats a couple of big calls james.
‘Everyone’ is switching to MMA? I know a couple of blokes that follow it, but as far as boxing people changing their allegences? The often heard comments are, ‘who wants to watch two blokes lying on each other’, ‘if I want to watch that rubbish I will go to the local pub’, ‘what is this tapout crap all about’?
You seem to judge boxing by the current heavyweights. As the Americans are light in that department, and have been since the late 90′s the big boys dont get the recognition they should. Even a great fighter like Lennox Lewis didnt get the kudos in the Sttes he deserved as he wasnt an American.
I will concede that politics, and promtors in boxing have been to the detrament of the ‘sweet science’. Greed and egos have long been a ban of the fight game.
In the US this weekend there are 11 different fight nights ranging from the unbeaten Mike Faragon fighting in Staten Island, New York to the WBA Super Batamweight title fight in Palms Casino, Las Vegas. Thats 11 different events, some of which have 10 fight undercards. This happens every week in the US. Australia’s ‘season’ starts next month, and every fights every week will happen through until Xmas.
If thats a sport on its way out, then it’s heyday must of been pretty big.
January 17th 2012 @ 9:34pm
Damien said | January 17th 2012 @ 9:34pm | Report comment
Boxing isnt going anywhere.
There is no denying that boxing has a rich history and alot of hardcore fans. Some of them look down at MMA but they wont be able to do anything about it eventually taking over as the biggest full contact sport on the planet.
Boxing has history but is struggling to get the 18 – 34 year male hooked. MMA has this market hooked. It used to be that if your father was into full contact sports he would raise his son on boxing coz thats what his father did and so on. Now these 18 – 34 years old will be raising their sons on MMA.
Another thing that MMA has got going for it is that because it is the combination of so many martial arts from around the globe its an easy step to become a fan. Say you’re from Korea and a big fan of Tae-kwon-do, its an easier step to become a fan of MMA than boxing.
Boxing and MMA have their place in the market and neither will be going anywhere soon..
January 17th 2012 @ 9:28am
Mals said | January 17th 2012 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Eh? My mates & I aren’t switching to MMA. The reason is simple, boxing is the sweet science & not as The Grafter says “2 guys lying on each other”.
January 17th 2012 @ 9:45am
Uncle Phil said | January 17th 2012 @ 9:45am | Report comment
Key issue 1- Ali, Frazier, Holyfield, Tyson etc were all American. The fact that heavyweight is a flagship division and there hasn’t been an American Heavyweight champ/challenger for years has been the major downfall of boxing (not to mention other divisions). And us being from Australia, basically rely heavily on American news and hype service….has a significant knock on effect to boxing’s popularity here.
You said it yourself “the last genuine heavyweight bout that had the world talking”..what just because they were from USA….anyway…..I’m sure boxing is bigger news in eastern Europe than previously.
Key Issue 2 – As soon as UFC fighters become as famous as some of the boxers, well I’ll look into the future and say that they will demand more money/become more political and eventually break away from the UFC with similar promoters as currently in boxing…with the possibility of the boxing alphabet soup (WBA,WBC etc) getting involved…if their not already.
January 17th 2012 @ 2:20pm
James31 said | January 17th 2012 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
Dude Cmon Jon Jones you have never heard of him what about GSP don’t ring a bell
January 17th 2012 @ 10:05pm
Damien said | January 17th 2012 @ 10:05pm | Report comment
The UFC is run by Dana White who has a boxing background and is well versed in the politics of the fight game.
Dana White has said that he has taken alot of the mistakes from boxing into account when running the UFC. One of the best things the UFC has done (from their POV) is that basically all their contract have ‘championship clauses’ meaning that you can’t leave the promotion as champion. If you do they can basically take you to the cleaners.
There is NO chance of any of the fighters breaking away and starting their own promotion. Getting one up costs so much money and the UFC does not co promote with anyone so you’d have a tough time taking on UFC fighters. The UFC has actually been swallowing up all the big competition and no one is going to come even close to beiong able to compete. There are Billlionaires out there trying and they haven’t gotten anywhere.
Also while the UFC isn’t by any means perfect they do treat their fighters well most of the time. Fighters get locker room bonuses for if they put on a great show, even if they lose. Also all UFC contracted fighters (about 250) get health insurance, unheard of in the fight game.
January 17th 2012 @ 10:18am
Mark said | January 17th 2012 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Boxing is rigged. Full stop!
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January 17th 2012 @ 10:28am
John Davidson said | January 17th 2012 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Good name, but who the hell is Rampage Jackson?
January 17th 2012 @ 10:43am
James31 said | January 17th 2012 @ 10:43am | Report comment
the dude who plays mr T in the a team
January 17th 2012 @ 10:33am
Chris said | January 17th 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Mals, you say boxing is the sweet science, but MMA incorporates boxing (plus other styles). In that case, MMA = advanced sweet science because it incorporates more styles? Saying that boxing is sweet science is flawed because other styles incorporate boxing plus more. Another example is Muay Thai. There is a large number of MMA fighters that have competed in boxing.
2 guys lying on each other? The ground game is known as a chess game. Anyone that watched the UFC on the weekend would know that it was far from just two guys lying on each other. Do yourself a favour and find the Barboza KO of Etim. There is a reason why many people are turning into MMA and it’s not because ‘two guys lying on each other’ haha
Uncle Phil, fighters have tried to break away. However the big thing going for the UFC is that the brand is big, and not just the fighters. Most fighters that have broken away have ended up coming back because no one else could compete with the money UFC is paying. Example is the UFC in Sydney 110. It has sold out before any big fights were announced. It sold out on brand alone. I like it that UFC has a control over the MMA market though. At least fans get to see the fights that need to happen, more often than not.
and on the article, i actually hate the boxing vs mma discussion. I strongly believe that there is room for both sports (as well as Muay Thai/kickboxing). MMA is definitely doing stuff which boxing could learn from but it’s far from killing the sport of boxing. Boxing will survive as will MMA. If anyone thinks im attacking boxing, then they are wrong. I love boxing. Love MMA more though give me boxing, kickboxing, kyokushin, BJJ, MMA over any of hte other sports we see commonly see on aussie television.
Doubt Dos Santos vs Overeem will be the biggest payday in UFC history.
January 17th 2012 @ 12:22pm
Uncle Phil said | January 17th 2012 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
Chris, I understand that fighters have tried to break away, but the industry has no real mainstream stars as boxing has over the years, due to infancy (and probably it’s “brutality”..but that’s another story). Brock is probably the only one. If and when MMA generates massive amounts of dollars, then bigger players will come, and then we will see how the UFC Corp deals with it. Anyway love ‘em all, MMA, Boxing, K1 etc.
And I like the UFC but did prefer Pride, as I’m not a huge fan of the “cage”, as this promotes wrestling (as well as it’s current rules and scoring system). Pride rules and the “ring” favoured strikers.
So I will say it here, “death to the octagon”….please…
January 17th 2012 @ 10:53am
James31 said | January 17th 2012 @ 10:53am | Report comment
What makes MMA so fun to watchi is it’s not just about punching. In boxing If two guy’s fight the one who is faster stronger usally wins. But you chuck in other sports like wrestling Muai Thai bjj karate judo and all these other arts and you just don’t know who will win everyone from any background can do well in this sport. Your not just limited to using just your hands. Ps Bring back pride!!
January 17th 2012 @ 12:25pm
Uncle Phil said | January 17th 2012 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
“Hear hear” Bring back Pride.
January 17th 2012 @ 11:45am
Mattwa said | January 17th 2012 @ 11:45am | Report comment
As a boxing fan turned MMA fan, I can attest that the quality of fights and matchups in the UFC is one of it’s great strengths. The best fight the best. No excuses, no politicking, no squabbles over money.
Most of the guys I watch UFC with were never boxing fans. It has very little mainstream media coverage unless Green or Mundine are fighting, and even then it’s sketchy. UFC is starting to break into free-to-air in the US on Fox, and here on OneHD, which can only raise it’s profile. What is Boxing doing?
As to lying all over each other, the ground game is a lot more complex than most first time users probably appreciate. Most of the Refs in UFC are very concious of fights grinding to a halt on the ground and will stand up a fight if nothing is happening. I quite like the ground/grapling aspect of UFC, because I have some idea of the strategies involved. Listen to Joe Rogan, he knows his stuff.
January 17th 2012 @ 12:37pm
John Davidson said | January 17th 2012 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
I guess that’s the new version, not ‘Clubber Lang’ from Rocky III
January 17th 2012 @ 1:14pm
turbodewd said | January 17th 2012 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
Without a doubt UFC/MMA has exploded in appeal leaving boxing in its wake. In the past year the number of people I know or have bumped into who follow UFC is huge. The spectacular kicks and knockouts are amazable! Recently I visited Melb and found an inner city bar which was utterly full of people watching UFC 141.
While I do remember the Mundine v Green fight of about 2006 pulled GINORMOUS crowds. Thats it, its not going to happen again in this country. Green didnt help himself by fighting some invalid 2 yrs ago in some farcical bout. And Mundine is just an angry man whose best days are behind him.
MMA is the future…boxing is the past. In boxing you can watch Sonny Bill Williams walloping some unknown fat bloke?!?!