We live in the age of choice.
Now choice is a word that we as a society seem to take for granted. Since the majority of us were born unto this great nation, freedom is second nature to us. The ability to choose is embedded into the fabrics of our soul, therefore we feel a sense of pride amongst our choices.
Choice breeds competition and competition breeds debate.
In every facet of our lives, we choose. Whether it’s what phone to buy, what video game system to play or what sports team to root for, we make a choice and in return defend that choice.
This could not be more prevalent than in the world of sports.
Usually these debates center around what team will stand above the rest or which player is at the apex of his/her respective sport. Rarely do we ever hear disputes concerning competition between two sports… until now.
With the emergence of UFC, their respective fans often find themselves in debates with boxing fans over which sport is better. But why? It’s easy… pride.
Now choice is a word that we as a society seem to take for granted. Since the majority of us were born unto this great nation, freedom is second nature to us. The ability to choose is embedded into the fabrics of our soul, therefore we feel a sense of pride amongst our choices.
Choice breeds competition and competition breeds debate.
In every facet of our lives, we choose. Whether it’s what phone to buy, what video game system to play or what sports team to root for, we make a choice and in return defend that choice.
This could not be more prevalent than in the world of sports.
Usually these debates center around what team will stand above the rest or which player is at the apex of his/her respective sport. Rarely do we ever hear disputes concerning competition between two sports… until now.
With the emergence of UFC, their respective fans often find themselves in debates with boxing fans over which sport is better. But why? It’s easy… pride.
Mixed martial arts and boxing are very emotional combat sports.
That’s not to say that football, basketball, baseball and hockey are not emotional, but it’s different. Most general sports fans have a rooted interest in a certain team or player more than the sport itself, but the majority of boxing and UFC fans love the sport more than its participants.
That’s why hardcore boxing and UFC fans will defend their sport with a sense of arrogance and it’s more reason why fans of the aforementioned sports find themselves quarrelling with each other.
Personally, I enjoy both sports and while I’m a bigger boxing fan, UFC has a place in my heart as well.
That’s not to say that football, basketball, baseball and hockey are not emotional, but it’s different. Most general sports fans have a rooted interest in a certain team or player more than the sport itself, but the majority of boxing and UFC fans love the sport more than its participants.
That’s why hardcore boxing and UFC fans will defend their sport with a sense of arrogance and it’s more reason why fans of the aforementioned sports find themselves quarrelling with each other.
Personally, I enjoy both sports and while I’m a bigger boxing fan, UFC has a place in my heart as well.
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| Courtesy of cagepotato.com |
UFC started in 1993 as an eight man tournament with no
weight classes.
The ascension of the sport is remarkable and in its 20 year history has turned what was once a fringe sporting event into a household name.
As of today, the sport is at its peak which is something that cannot be said for boxing in terms of popularity. Boxing’s popularity is nowhere near the status it held in the 80’s, much less the years prior, but at the same time the sport is still highly successful.
When you judge the position of both sports, it’s important to take each respective sport’s focus and approach into account.
UFC’s approach is to flood the American public with so much mixed martial arts that it becomes a way of life. There’s a UFC pay-per-view card every month, not to mention various events on local and premium cable. Their fight cards usually consist of at least ten fights that can ALL be seen either on the pay-per-view broadcast or one of its affiliates. Every pay-per-view event can be seen at a number of local bars, strip clubs and even restaurants.
They do a great job of marketing their product and the numbers show that they’ve been successful.
Pay-per-view figures show that in 2013, the average buys were roughly $470,000 per card. That’s an incredible number considering the fact that UFC schedules a pay-per-view every month.
Boxing, on the other hand, is more diligent with its pay-per-view scheduling.
It’s more of an independent sport, run by various promotional companies. Since boxing promoters have contracts with both HBO and Showtime, it can pick and choose which fights will be more suited for a pay-per-view audience.
This is a big contrasting aspect between both sports.
UFC makes the matches the fans want to see and their cards are generally better than the average boxing card.
Boxing fans don’t always get the fight they aspire for, but when they do, the event is Super Bowl-esque…
It’s a clear advantage that UFC holds and will always hold.
The ascension of the sport is remarkable and in its 20 year history has turned what was once a fringe sporting event into a household name.
As of today, the sport is at its peak which is something that cannot be said for boxing in terms of popularity. Boxing’s popularity is nowhere near the status it held in the 80’s, much less the years prior, but at the same time the sport is still highly successful.
When you judge the position of both sports, it’s important to take each respective sport’s focus and approach into account.
UFC’s approach is to flood the American public with so much mixed martial arts that it becomes a way of life. There’s a UFC pay-per-view card every month, not to mention various events on local and premium cable. Their fight cards usually consist of at least ten fights that can ALL be seen either on the pay-per-view broadcast or one of its affiliates. Every pay-per-view event can be seen at a number of local bars, strip clubs and even restaurants.
They do a great job of marketing their product and the numbers show that they’ve been successful.
Pay-per-view figures show that in 2013, the average buys were roughly $470,000 per card. That’s an incredible number considering the fact that UFC schedules a pay-per-view every month.
Boxing, on the other hand, is more diligent with its pay-per-view scheduling.
It’s more of an independent sport, run by various promotional companies. Since boxing promoters have contracts with both HBO and Showtime, it can pick and choose which fights will be more suited for a pay-per-view audience.
This is a big contrasting aspect between both sports.
UFC makes the matches the fans want to see and their cards are generally better than the average boxing card.
Boxing fans don’t always get the fight they aspire for, but when they do, the event is Super Bowl-esque…
It’s a clear advantage that UFC holds and will always hold.
 |
| Courtesy of espn.go.com |
Where boxing has the distinct edge is in its fighters and
anticipation.
Boxing does an amazing job of getting the fan emotionally attached to their fighters. From behind the scenes shows like 24/7 or All-Access to the library of boxing events on HBO GO or Showtime On-Demand, boxing entraps the audience by captivating their attention with back-story. That’s not to say that UFC doesn’t build up its fights, it’s just not in the promotional league of boxing.
Boxing can make a fighter like Ricky Hatton appear to be a superstar and whether or not his skills are of that quality, the public will tune in to find out. I’m just not sure UFC has the ability to capture the hearts of sports fans the way that boxing can.
A key statistic is looking at its biggest stars.
Prior to Anderson Silva’s most recent loss to Chris Weidman, the sport’s biggest star has never generated a million pay-per-view buys.
Silva’s pay-per-view numbers are only a fraction better than the average UFC pay-per-view card.
UFC has had seven pay-per-view events generating over a million buys since 2006 with Brock Lesnar leading the way headlining three of them. UFC’s other superstar, George St. Pierre (GSP), has never headlined a million buy pay-per-view.
UFC fans love the sport more than its participants. Boxing fans are the same way, but they have individual rivalry entrenched in them as well.
There’s no better example than boxing’s mega-star Floyd “Money” Mayweather. He’s a villain that the majority ofAmerica
wants to see lose, so much that his last bout against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez
generated 2.2 million buys, ranking it 2nd
all-time only behind Floyd’s bout with Oscar De La Hoya (2.5 million).
That’s where the emotional aspect of boxing comes into play.
Floyd Mayweather is boxing’s version of GSP, yet they are on different levels of marketability. Manny Pacquiao’s knockout defeat to Juan Manueal Marquez in their 4th fight drew a million buys, as did their third fight.
UFC produces matchups, boxing produces stars.
I have always said that UFC provides a better overall card, but boxing’s main event will always reign superior. Emotion… Anticipation… Passion… Rivalry… That’s where boxing stands apart from the rest.
Boxing does an amazing job of getting the fan emotionally attached to their fighters. From behind the scenes shows like 24/7 or All-Access to the library of boxing events on HBO GO or Showtime On-Demand, boxing entraps the audience by captivating their attention with back-story. That’s not to say that UFC doesn’t build up its fights, it’s just not in the promotional league of boxing.
Boxing can make a fighter like Ricky Hatton appear to be a superstar and whether or not his skills are of that quality, the public will tune in to find out. I’m just not sure UFC has the ability to capture the hearts of sports fans the way that boxing can.
A key statistic is looking at its biggest stars.
Prior to Anderson Silva’s most recent loss to Chris Weidman, the sport’s biggest star has never generated a million pay-per-view buys.
Silva’s pay-per-view numbers are only a fraction better than the average UFC pay-per-view card.
UFC has had seven pay-per-view events generating over a million buys since 2006 with Brock Lesnar leading the way headlining three of them. UFC’s other superstar, George St. Pierre (GSP), has never headlined a million buy pay-per-view.
UFC fans love the sport more than its participants. Boxing fans are the same way, but they have individual rivalry entrenched in them as well.
There’s no better example than boxing’s mega-star Floyd “Money” Mayweather. He’s a villain that the majority of
That’s where the emotional aspect of boxing comes into play.
Floyd Mayweather is boxing’s version of GSP, yet they are on different levels of marketability. Manny Pacquiao’s knockout defeat to Juan Manueal Marquez in their 4th fight drew a million buys, as did their third fight.
UFC produces matchups, boxing produces stars.
I have always said that UFC provides a better overall card, but boxing’s main event will always reign superior. Emotion… Anticipation… Passion… Rivalry… That’s where boxing stands apart from the rest.
 |
| Courtesy of openwalls.com |
Let’s break ‘em down further.
Boxing takes some of the greatest aspects of the three major American sports, incorporates them into one and adds the element of surprise.
No other sport has the history of Major League Baseball, the physicality of the NFL mixed with the superstars of the NBA. Names such as Ali, Marciano, Duran and Tyson are fixated in our minds in the same sense as Ruth, DiMaggio, Aaron and Clemens. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are as recognized as any superstar in the NBA. A matchup between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather would create more buzz and trump any Super Bowl since the NFL-AFL merger.
It’s a deadly combination and when it’s at its paramount, the sport’s untouchable.
Now UFC has the physicality aspect more than boxing, and it’s understandable why they exploit that feat. On the contrary, UFC does not have the superstars or the history just yet, so it focuses on its money maker; fierce brutality. That is where UFC shines.
The variety of knockouts from tap outs, broken limbs, kicks, elbows, knees, punches and backhands assure fans they will get their pound of flesh. UFC also gives fans the “on any given night” aspect much more than boxing does. Great boxers are less vulnerable than great UFC fighters.
On one hand, it makes the likelihood of an underdog victory in UFC more prevalent but also makes an upset in boxing more astonishing.
Fans can’t go wrong either way and the fact that a fight in either sport can end at any time makes the element of surprise intensely fascinating!
Boxing takes some of the greatest aspects of the three major American sports, incorporates them into one and adds the element of surprise.
No other sport has the history of Major League Baseball, the physicality of the NFL mixed with the superstars of the NBA. Names such as Ali, Marciano, Duran and Tyson are fixated in our minds in the same sense as Ruth, DiMaggio, Aaron and Clemens. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are as recognized as any superstar in the NBA. A matchup between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather would create more buzz and trump any Super Bowl since the NFL-AFL merger.
It’s a deadly combination and when it’s at its paramount, the sport’s untouchable.
Now UFC has the physicality aspect more than boxing, and it’s understandable why they exploit that feat. On the contrary, UFC does not have the superstars or the history just yet, so it focuses on its money maker; fierce brutality. That is where UFC shines.
The variety of knockouts from tap outs, broken limbs, kicks, elbows, knees, punches and backhands assure fans they will get their pound of flesh. UFC also gives fans the “on any given night” aspect much more than boxing does. Great boxers are less vulnerable than great UFC fighters.
On one hand, it makes the likelihood of an underdog victory in UFC more prevalent but also makes an upset in boxing more astonishing.
Fans can’t go wrong either way and the fact that a fight in either sport can end at any time makes the element of surprise intensely fascinating!
 |
| Courtesy of hailstormsports.com |
The biggest difference to me is the
history and it's the reason I prefer boxing over UFC.
Legends have passed through the sport of boxing that have impacted society for over a century.
From the likes of Jack Johnson to Joe Louis and “Sugar” Ray Robinson to the modern age of Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, boxing history is deep enough to relate to every generation of fan.
With the constant regeneration of fighters, it has something that UFC will take decades to manufacture.
Fortunately, we as fans are rewarded most because we don’t have to make a choice. Boxing and UFC are not in competition with each other, even though their fans seem to think they are.
We’re talking about two very different physical sports and similar to the NFL and NHL, there’s enough combat to go around for everyone. So let’s embrace both sports for their unique qualities and understand that the freedom to choose does not necessarily mean we have to choose one over the other…
Legends have passed through the sport of boxing that have impacted society for over a century.
From the likes of Jack Johnson to Joe Louis and “Sugar” Ray Robinson to the modern age of Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, boxing history is deep enough to relate to every generation of fan.
With the constant regeneration of fighters, it has something that UFC will take decades to manufacture.
Fortunately, we as fans are rewarded most because we don’t have to make a choice. Boxing and UFC are not in competition with each other, even though their fans seem to think they are.
We’re talking about two very different physical sports and similar to the NFL and NHL, there’s enough combat to go around for everyone. So let’s embrace both sports for their unique qualities and understand that the freedom to choose does not necessarily mean we have to choose one over the other…
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