By Babatis Banda: It is amusing to hear how common some section of boxing fans are calling boxing dead or a dying sport. It is indeed hilarious just how, all over a sudden boxing has died or on the operating theater table. Just in the recent past, boxing was booming, boxing was exciting and boxing was the sport!

So, how does this come about and who is it that has comfort in such thoughts? I have listened and read about the reasons being advanced, I have keenly but disappointingly followed the flawed reasoning. The biggest problem is not boxing, it is the fans. Yes, it is those fanatics that call themselves ‘boxing fans’ when in actual fact they know nothing about boxing, all they know is Pacquiao, Mayweather and Khan.

A good example is on this website. If there is an article without Pacquiao and Mayweather’s names, there will hardly be any comments. Just have a look at how many comments a Mayweather or a Pacquiao article will get in comparison to others. Now I will be blunt and call a spade, a spade. When Pacquiao rose to ultimate fame after defeating Oscar ‘the Golden boy’ De La Hoya he cemented a cult-like following from his homeland. He was extolled to the level of a small god, and that is understandable, he represented a proud nation. The bad thing however was that this group of ‘worshiping’ supporters became over-night experts of boxing. A new type of support for boxing has emerged such that pure reason and common sense has become extremely uncommon.

When Pacquiao was all guns blazing, which is not so long ago, boxing was very alive. This time around, Pacquiao has looked nothing more than his shadow, and the sport is suddenly dead. I then would like to pose a question. Is boxing dead because Pacquiao is clearly on the decline? The most reason that is pointed to as the clear sign of the dying sport, is the controversial decision win of an injured Bradley over the once fiery fighter. Was this the first ever bad decision in this sport? Was the decision the worst of its kind in this sport before? Obviously the answer is a big NO.
How then do we reconcile our wish to clean the sport, when we vehemently refuse that boxers should undergo rigorous drug testing to ascertain that they are not cheating? Do we only need to deal with ‘corrupt’ or ‘inept’ judging and close our eyes in other areas of concern?

The sport of boxing is far from dead. Real boxing fans know this. Even when Pacquiao and Mayweather leave the sport, it will live-on. The first and second highest paid in all manner of sport are boxers. Some recent fights have generated historical PPV draws, and the fan-base has actually grown. How then is this sport dying? You are either hurting about something, or really disillusioned to believe boxing is dying. Be positive and truthful and you will enjoy the sport.