By Marquise Bullock: The deal is finally finalized. UFC signs a seven to eight year deal with Fox 5 network, and FX. This is…well this isn’t the news that the boxing world wanted to hear.
Fox can reach way more homes than HBO. As a matter of fact probably 5x more homes. For those who have basic cable, and for those who have no cable at all, but you want to see someone get knocked out on a day to day basis, blood, and brutality, then this deal is right up your alley.
Dana White is genius to pull this off. I think it’s something the boxing commissioner, or the promoters should’ve jumped on. A deal with fox means TONS of exposure, more fans, endorsements, and most important…more money! Fox has way more Money than HBO and every fighter “will eat” says UFC president Dana White. People who can’t afford HBO or Showtime, are very, very excited about this move. Now all you need is a simple antenna and a converter box to watch action for free!
But what does this all mean for boxing! When Ali, Leonard, Tyson, Duran, and many other greats from the 70s and 80s fought on ABC sports on Saturdays and Sundays it was then boxing was at its peak. Boxing had the most fans out of any major sporting event that is shown nowadays. I can still remember me having no cable (but then again I don’t think it even came out yet, but I could be wrong) when I tuned in on a Saturday afternoon watching Jim Lampley host the Tyson-Frazier fight, which only lasted about 45 seconds by the way. It was amazing. And I didn’t have to worry about a steep cable bill. It was me the TV and free boxing.
Will the UFC become the primary combat sport of the new era? Will UFC become New York and boxing become New Jersey? Or UFC the Yankees and boxing the Mets.? Or UFC the…well you get the point as a fan where do you see boxing’s future? With so many greedy promoters, paper titles, protected fighters, unorganized system to pit fighters together where does this sport go? Because even a Mayweather-Pacquiao can’t save boxing in my opinion. It would be just one great fight, on one electric night. What’s your take boxing fans, share your deepest thoughts!
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