By Simon Hirst: Over the last few decades, boxers have started boxing less and less when they reach world level. As a guess, I would predict most titles are defended 2-3 times a year. As a boxing fan, I would like to see fighters fight more than this a year. I will admit that it is not always possible, due to sanctioning bodies and promoters, but there are examples of when fighters will beat someone and it will be months before there next fight is scheduled.
For example, Sergio Martinez beat Serhiy Dzinziruk in March. Three months later and they are now scheduling his next bout to take place in October, which will mean he will have been out the ring for seven months. For me, that is a long time between defences. Another fighter is Lucian Bute who over his last six fights has averaged about a six month gap between them. In fairness to Bute, the next time he fights, it will have only been a four month gap. Timothy Bradley is considered the number one in the light welterweight division . He last fought five months ago against Devon Alexander. Whilst Alexander fights this weekend, Bradley still is yet to name his next opponent. Of course there are other fighters, such as Floyd Mayweather who just fight when they please.
The problem seems to occur at world level more than domestically as fighters fight more at the start of their career, often to gain experience and because the fights are only four, six and eight rounders. When the championship fights start to happen, whether it be domestically or at world level, that’s when fighters start to slow down.
To build a good fan base, you need to either be a very good boxer with a likeable personality, very much the way Ricky Hatton was. Or you need to be fighting regularly to gain the exposure, whilst remaining in the minds of fans. If you don’t have a huge fan base and have large amounts of time between fights, it’s harder to build up a fan base, which is why fighters like John Murray and Kell Brook, despite being very good talents, has struggled to build a large fan base.
Looking at UFC, there is a young fighter called Jon ‘Bones’ Jones who fought in an eliminator and then won the world title within 42 days of each other. Admittedly it isn’t a regular occurrence in the UFC, but it shows that fighters are able to compete on short notice at such a high level.
With the confusion with titles, sanctioning bodies and who the number one is in each division, the long gaps between fights don’t help. We will have a fight and when Fighter A wins, he will be regarded as best in division. Three months later, Fighter B will win and he will declare himself the best. How can the average boxing fan know who the best is, let alone trying to attract new fans. This was the point of having world titles until there became so many. Now, sanctioning bodies make belts up for money. By fighting more regularly, that fighter can claim and showcase why they should be considered the number one fighter.
An excellent example of a fighter who fought many times in his prime is Julio Chavez Sr. He would fight 5-6 times a year, something that is unheard of in today’s boxing society. Here, we are talking in his prime against good fighters for world titles. There is no doubt about his place in history, not just because of his talents, but because he decided to make sure he was a legend of the sport. He did this by being very active.
Boxers don’t necessarily need to go to that level, but as a fan, I would suggest that fighters could be fighting at least 4 times a year, 3 at a minimum. Once ever three months seems a good amount. It allows an eight week camp, the fight and 5 weeks off to rest and organize the next fight. Fair enough if injuries or cuts are sustained and more time is needed, but some fighters taking six months to organize fights doesn’t seem very good to me. In that time, they could have taken two fights which will help them keep away from ring rust and keep active, keep their exposure amongst the fans and earn them money. Doesn’t seem like a bad idea to me. Oh, and it would please boxing fans, whilst helping in the debate who is the number one fighter in each division and if not, it would certainly keep it interesting.
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