Wlad Klitschko talks about MMA

[boxingcar]

"It's a totally different sport with different fans. Boxing survived competing with karate and kickboxing-there will always be other exciting sports. Boxing doesn't have to worry about the UFC at all."

He said this in Sports Illustrated.

I have to agree that it is a different sport with different fans, but I disagree with the fact that boxing doesn't have to worry about UFC or MMA more specifically. Karate and Kickboxing were fads, while MMA isn't going to go away. The MMA fans that are emerging are the would be boxing fans. This generation is getting into MMA instead of boxing, that's why boxing is endangered. This is not to say that boxing cannot be exciting, but MMA is greatly more exciting.
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I think He's dead wrong about kickboxing.

[Rock0052]

Isn't it a bit naive/snobbish/paranoid (any one of the 3, really) to assume that people will ONLY watch boxing OR mma?

[WiDDoW_MaKeR]

Any combat sport that brings fans in.. will only help boxing. Fight fans are fight fans, and it will just open up the doors for new fans to cling onto boxing as well.

MMA has a different base of fans as well, that are MMA fans alone... and they aren't taking away from boxing either, because they weren't boxing fans to begin with. Now, there would be no reason for any people who are already fans of boxing to leave boxing, just because MMA is around. I am an equal fan of both... why the hell would I stop watching one of them, just because the other is around? This is just more fights to watch, by watching them all.

[RAMPAGE0017]

Any combat sport that brings fans in.. will only help boxing. Fight fans are fight fans, and it will just open up the doors for new fans to cling onto boxing as well.

MMA has a different base of fans as well, that are MMA fans alone... and they aren't taking away from boxing either, because they weren't boxing fans to begin with. Now, there would be no reason for any people who are already fans of boxing to leave boxing, just because MMA is around. I am an equal fan of both... why the hell would I stop watching one of them, just because the other is around? This is just more fights to watch, by watching them all.

I agree, I've spoken to many MMA fans who love a good boxing match, as well. The problem is you get some of those assholes ( like the ones at Sherdog ) who HAVE to turn it into a competition and only side with one sport or the other.

[oblate]

i dont understand why anyone would look at it as a threat. Two different sports. I enjoy both and have way more fights to watch then i would just watching one.

[Rock0052]

The problem is you get some of those assholes ( like the ones at Sherdog ) who HAVE to turn it into a competition and only side with one sport or the other.
That's where the paranoia/snobbery/naivety factor comes in. People can be free to choose whatever they please, but it's a show of insecurity to spend as much time as Dana White and some Sherdog posters do hating on boxing. To avoid a double standard, I will say it's just as pointless for boxing fans to pull a "chicken little" and say it's the end of boxing just because the UFC is popular and spend more time bashing that than just being a boxing fan.

Like many other posters, I leave it at "Why not both"? I watch the NFL and boxing, and lord knows that's been blamed to no end for the talent drain of US heavies.

Bottom line is they both are what they are, but pulling in more combat fighters is going to make the talent pool for everyone better- not just one sport or the other.

[The Whaler]

Isn't it a bit naive/snobbish/paranoid (any one of the 3, really) to assume that people will ONLY watch boxing OR mma?
Originally, I thought so, but people have to pay quite a bit of change to see combat sports. And there are some people who are only willing or can only afford to shell out the cash for one of the sports. If combat sports are going to be all about Pay-TV in the future, then I can see why fans, especially young fans without a lot of disposable income, will choose to watch only one of the combat sports.

Also, just as a good number of boxing fans disdain MMA, I know a lot of MMA fans who don't watch boxing. To them, boxers are not "true" fighters, so they watch MMA because it's "real".

[Rock0052]

Originally, I thought so, but people have to pay quite a bit of change to see combat sports. And there are some people who are only willing or can only afford to shell out the cash for one of the sports. If combat sports are going to be all about Pay-TV in the future, then I can see why fans, especially young fans without a lot of disposable income, will choose to watch only one of the combat sports.

Also, just as a good number of boxing fans disdain MMA, I know a lot of MMA fans who don't watch boxing. To them, boxers are not "true" fighters, so they watch MMA because it's "real".

Good points. I'll also mention it's alot easier to be fans of both thanks to ******* :lol:.

At the end of the day, if it means that there have to be fewer PPV bouts, I'm all for the competition. I hope the promoters are smart enough (they're typically greedy, but not stupid- so all hope isn't completely lost) to tweak the way they do things now that there is another choice for the casual fan. I have noticed better matchmaking in boxing over the past couple of years than what I did prior to that in general.

From my own personal standpoint, I think there's going to be plenty of MMA fans that go about things the same way I did- the first combat sport I was exposed to was the original UFC and I loved that, and wasn't particularly interested in boxing at the time. As I've gotten older (I'm 24 now) I appreciate boxing and would say I'm a bigger boxing fan although I do watch both. As the importance of stand-up skills in MMA continues to increase, it's only natural more guys are going to appreciate boxing over time, even if they remain MMA fans first and foremost.

[Shotgun]

He's right. MMA isn't "stealing" fans from boxing. Boxing's not doing any worse now than it was 5 or 6 years ago before MMA really took off. The highest selling PPV event happened this year. Calzaghe-Kessler's going to take place in front of 60-70,000 fans. There have been great fights made left and right

The reality is boxing has been a "niche" sport since all the elite fights were moved to HBO/Showtime/PPV. But it's just as popular as it was before this MMA craze/fad happened and it'll remain popular with its true fanbase as long as there are still great fights being made

[Amsterdam]

There's a little secret among combat sport fans.... you can like both.:lol:

[brooklyn1550]

There is room for both sports - just ask Bernard Hopkins and Randy Couture

[ajohnfp]

People act like MMA and boxing are mutually exclusive, like you can't enjoy one and enjoy the other.

[Amsterdam]

People act like MMA and boxing are mutually exclusive, like you can't enjoy one and enjoy the other.

Exactly, I tune in to both, I also tune in to K1, ISKA and other kickboxing shows whenever I see it on the TV.

I'm normally entertained by any good bout of any combat sport. I even like to watch college wrestling.

Boxing is and always will be my favourite and it is because of the epic format.

[PIRA]

Am I on the right forum? Actual reasonable posts instead of the us and them approach.

My house my father and grandfather are former boxers and myself and my boys Muay Thai / MMA fighter's. Guess what - we each enjoy the others sports and the old boxers have actually learnt a submission or two.

[Chileno606]

This is not to say that boxing cannot be exciting, but MMA is greatly more exciting.


In your dreams fuckface. :hi:

[Beebs]

He sounds pretty dead on, he is a reasonable guy.

[Beebs]

I think He's dead wrong about kickboxing.

I think he is reffering to the oddly misnamed "full contact" (aka shiny pants) kickboxing which had no low kicks and a minimum number of kicks to be thrown a round, which his brother Vitali did for a brief peroid before boxing. Shiny Pants kickboxing has fallen out of the mainstrem in favor of k1 rules and full on muay thai, I don't think he was talking about Muay Thai, I doubt he would consider the national sport of Thailand a fad. Full Contact is still alive, but it is no longer anywhere near where it was.

[Farmboxer]

Vitali Klitschko was a six time world kickboxing champion both pro and amateur!!!!!!!

[madpup]

I think MMA has actually helped to give a shot in the arm to boxing, look at how many quality fights are on offer this year

[Stone Lion]

I love to watch almost any kinde of combat. Sport or not. And I also like to try it, not just watch it.

[dublynflya]

There's a little secret among combat sport fans.... you can like both.:lol:

:good A great fight is a great fight, whether it is boxing or MMA. I have been a fan of boxing since I can remember and i've been a fan of MMA since UFC1!!

[dublynflya]

Vitali Klitschko was a six time world kickboxing champion both pro and amateur!!!!!!!

I knew he had been world Kickboxing champ. Wouldn't it have been cool if he had learned the art of grappling?

[ufoalf]

This thread is so 2007.

[AJAX]

Am I on the right forum? Actual reasonable posts instead of the us and them approach.

My house my father and grandfather are former boxers and myself and my boys Muay Thai / MMA fighter's. Guess what - we each enjoy the others sports and the old boxers have actually learnt a submission or two.


I'm surprised as well, people think you have to pick sides but you don't. I liked boxing growing up as a kid and have always watched it. I've just been gravitating more towards mma lately but I will always watch boxing and like the sport no matter how good/bad mma becomes.

[sugarngold]

I love both sports equally. They're the most exciting fighting sports on the planet. What more can one ask for?

[sugarngold]

I think he is reffering to the oddly misnamed "full contact" (aka shiny pants) kickboxing which had no low kicks and a minimum number of kicks to be thrown a round, which his brother Vitali did for a brief peroid before boxing. Shiny Pants kickboxing has fallen out of the mainstrem in favor of k1 rules and full on muay thai, I don't think he was talking about Muay Thai, I doubt he would consider the national sport of Thailand a fad. Full Contact is still alive, but it is no longer anywhere near where it was.

"Shiny Pants kickboxing."

Coolest name for a fighting style ever. :lol:

[Beebs]

I knew he had been world Kickboxing champ. Wouldn't it have been cool if he had learned the art of grappling?

Somewhat cool, because he could have been a great MMA fighter with a life of grappling, but then we would also be missing out on the best HW boxer since Lewis.

[James23]

After reading OP, I could tell a shitstorm was going to be going on below and will likely continue on after...

[achillesthegreat]

I'm a combat fan. People want to see good fights no matter which sport it is. The fans are not totally different.

[JMK]

Is there any love for Oil Wrestling in the house?

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[Only registered and activated users can see links]

If so, let me know, and I'll give it it's own thread with LOTS more pics.