But to quantify levels of popularity in terms of a split in the revenue is contentious. Usyk may have more belts, but Fury is arguably better known by the wider public. "Social media has made it easier to start a rivalry to get fans interested, but everyone getting little bits of information is not helpful in getting business done." Who is the A-side? American stars Errol Spence Jr (left) and Terence Crawford are yet to agree an undisputed welterweight fightĬontractual disputes often boil down to which fighter is considered the bigger draw - the 'A' side - and therefore deserves the bigger portion of cash. Everyone is like 'fight, fight, fight' - it's like school playground behaviour," she says. "It's easy to start having a go on social media. Unified light-middleweight champion Natasha Jonas, who recently failed to reach terms with Claressa Shields, says social media is a double-edged sword when it comes to making fights happen. "But trying to explain why two boxers can't just have a fight to the general public is very difficult," adds Christie, who says the "constant teasing of information" about fights on social media inflames the problem. "Hardcore fans are used to the disappointment. "Boxing will always survive but when there is so frequently a failure to make the right fights, particularly in the heavyweight division, it does nothing for the sport's reputation," Christie says. When Joshua was unified champion, an undisputed contest with American Wilder never materialised over purse disputes. On more than one occasion, a monumental all-British meeting between Joshua and Fury has collapsed. The Fury-Usyk saga is merely the latest instalment in an unwanted narrative becoming all too familiar in boxing. "Hopefully we can step back and say 'why is this happening?'," he says. but fell through.īoxxer promoter Shalom hopes it is a "watershed moment" and leads to much-needed change. It was almost agreed for 29 April at Wembley Stadium. 'It's going to kill the sport' WBC champion Fury (left) and former champion Joshua have been close in the past to agreeing an all-British contestĮveryone from traditionalists to casual fans were clamouring for an iconic bout between WBC belt holder Fury and WBA (Super), IBF and WBO champion Usyk. "It's the biggest turn off for fans."īBC Sport looks at why 'super fights' are so difficult to make and the impact it has on the sport's popularity and credibility. "Without the best fights happening, boxing will fall over," promoter Ben Shalom says. The biggest fights - those with the potential to capture the general public's imagination and attract new enthusiasts - are rarely being delivered. Is this just another delaying tactic to deflect the conversation away from an issue many feel is threatening the sport's future? But as we know, talking is one thing, getting fighters to agree is quite another."Īfter the failure to negotiate an undisputed fight between champions Usyk and Fury, many boxing buffs are sceptical. "It will take an awful lot of money, which is abundant in the Middle East, so it shouldn't be ruled out," says Matt Christie, editor of Boxing News, the world's longest-running active boxing magazine.
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