Boxing fans...

[Rasmuth]

If you are a boxing fan...please go here and respond!

Thanks,

Ras

link

[PittPanther]

Friday night fights just aren't that good. Ok--the Pemberton fight was, but they are usually few and far between. I hope I'm not disappointing you, but I don't see this as a big deal.

I think it was more disappointing when the Champ (Sean O'Grady) said goodbye and the USA Network dumped Tuesday Night Fights. They had good cards.

I find the cards on HBO and Showtime to both be pretty decent. I also, unless I'm somewhere else, buy the PPV events. Occassionaly I go to some of the fights, either here in Pittsburgh when they have cards or to the bigger venues out in Vegas and Atlantic City.

Unfortunately, and because of circumstances that we as die hard, true-blue fans of the science can't control, boxing is just not that appealing to the mainstream sports fan. The questions about sanctioning bodies, promoters, judges, refs, and fighters always seem to destroy any progress the sport might have made to win over new fans.

In my opinion, if boxing really wants to shed its image of being a garbage sport, it needs to have one giant sanctioning body that could oversee the divsions so that the best can fight the best on a regular basis. As is, the best get to pick and choose who they fight and usually the only factor is deciding that is money rather than skill. This type of scheduling just doesn't make sense to fringe fan who is used to seeing the "two best teams" go at it.

In other words, who wouldn't want to see Hopkins vs. Eastman?

Hatton vs. Gatti? and on and on and on

[Rasmuth]

better to have Friday Night Fights...than no fights at all on Friday...hell...what else is there to watch

[PittPanther]

Unless it's a good prospect, I don't watch anyway. That's just the truth, and it doesn't make me less of a fan.

[gin_nseven]

I have to agree with Rasmuth. There is so little coverage on boxing that it really is a big thing to lose Friday Night Fights. Wether you watch it or not it is still ther for the hardcore fans or casual channel surfer who might watch and get hooked.

What if they decided to drop 50 percent of NBA coverage? The sport would take a big hit in revenue and popularity. Now translate that to a sport like boxing that is on the bubble anyway and it is more like 75 percent just because it is ESPN.

True, if they want to keep viewers you have to put out a quality product but at least support the sport for better or worse. Every little bit helps and sending an email to ESPN is better than nothing at all.

[PittPanther]

My feeling is that boxing is not even on the bubble. It burst awhile ago.

[darthpb]

PittPanther is right...boxing -- or at least the coverage -- is pretty much over. Not to lament again BUT I remember the networks showing big-time fights every weekend, now that's who we should be writing, not ESPN. Those fights are nothing compared to what we used to get...Oh, and Pitt, here goes...GO ORANGEMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rasmuth]

I understand that alot of the fights on ESPN are lame but they also show some great ones now and them...and to tell you the truth I'd rather have the opportunity to see them then just sit back and talk about how lame it is.

I just put this here so in case you DO enjoy having the opportunity to watch these fights that you might contact ESPN and say something...

Pay-per-view...Showtime and HBO have stolen all the good fights...and I'm afraid we can't really change that.

But I still like having the opportunity to see fights on Friday nights...thats all, plain and simple. Without out Friday night fights I wouldn't have seen Mickey Ward vs. Emanual Burton nor the memorable Pemberton fights among others.

I don't believe we are better off without these bouts being televised.

So if you care...take a little bit of time...probably won't help...but I felt I should at least make my opinion heard to ESPN. And I believe there are others too.

[crusadecat]

my take is to take the time and write them whether you will personally miss it or not. If they get enough of a response maybe it will help . Certainly can't hurt.