Boxing Popularity Increasing?
Is it just me or does it feel like access to boxing matches has increased to its highest level in its history? Thanks to movies like The Cinderella Man I've heard about the huge crowds that attended prize fights and the fact that boxing wasn't just on the front cover of the Sports sections but on the front pages of most newspapers. However, I think the current line-up of fights and the different channels you can watch them in has increased to the point that our options have completely eclipsed what would have been available 50 years ago in boxing's heyday.
Speaking from my own experience, not only can I draw upon classic boxing fare providers like ESPN and HBO which provide an excellent filtering mechanism to provide access to high quality bouts but there is also ESPN Classic and its classic bouts which is on nightly, ShowTime, FSN and even the HD network. This doesn't even include the Pay Per View fare for the really big events. I have so many fights to choose from that I'm now at the point where my DVR is full and I just don't have the time to watch every fight I want to! Adding to this are sites like FightFarm.com which provide you every Mayweather fight on DVD for $30 or Ali's entire career for $99! There might not be the coverage in the local papers (and it is depressing to see articles on Texas Hold 'em replacing boxing coverage) but its hard not to think that this is the 'golden age' for those who love the sweet science!
