Boxing has witnessed numerous changes over the past couple of years, not just as a sport but also as a business. This has come through an understanding of the tradition and history of the sport and the diverse backgrounds that have increased its popularity over the years. The evolution of boxing has also birthed many boxing legends over the years.
When dissecting boxing as a sport and its evolution in the past decade, it is essential to understand how the sport is being promoted in recent times, along with the boxing legends that have recently become popular.
The evolution of boxing has witnessed as much evolution outside the ring as it has inside. In fact, the business of boxing has been impacted multiple times by many different boxing legends who, through their unique skills and talent, changed the sport forever.
The Evolution of Boxing and Rise of the Boxing Legends
Here are some factors that led to the evolution of boxing;
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The Leaders
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During the start of the 20th century, the business of boxing was dictated by a couple of big names. These included controversial figures such as Oscar De La Hoya, Don King, and more. Although the allegations surrounding them were serious, they did not stop them from impacting the business of boxing.
These figures were one of the first to create a persona for their players, engage in extensive publicity, and negotiate some of the biggest contracts to date. In fact, they set about a revolution that triggered the evolution of boxing and led to many more boxing legends in the future.
From this emerged legends like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson (Don King), Sugar Ray Leonard, and many more who struggled to keep up with the fame and fortune they were being introduced to daily.
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The Viewing
Watching boxing in the 1900s was nothing compared to the present. People might have had to go to boxing events in the past and access live boxing rings to be able to watch the game.
Not anymore! Today you can munch on popcorn and watch the fight in your living room. This technological revolution has its roots in the rise of pay-per-view services in the 1980s, which allowed people to pay to watch their favorite boxing matches whenever they wanted.
The start of the 20th century also introduced one other thing to our world. This was the accessibility of the internet, live TV, and basically, anything that allowed people to watch boxing from the comfort of their homes in HD.
Accessibility of viewing boxing legends in their element didn’t just make them popular but also paved the way for other legends to make a name for themselves in the industry.
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Other Boxing Legends
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Boxing legends have not just benefited from leaders but also gotten a jumpstart on their careers through other boxing legends over the years. Emerging legends have either inspired boxers to go out and invest in their own promotion or opt for bigger fights at events that get them more recognition.
This has led to global champions such as the PacMan, also known as Manny Pacquiao, the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, Oscar De La Hoya, and more, gaining more and more fans throughout the country and also globally over the years and adding to the popularity of the sport.
As global champions put themselves on the map, the world turned their attention to the sport of boxing, which increased the players’ popularity. It has led to more investment which is the greatest contributor to the evolution of boxing as a business.
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The Mayweather and Pacquiao Event
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If you follow and keep up to date with the latest boxing news, you will know the influence the famous Mayweather and Pacquiao fight had on the world of boxing. For Mayweather and Pacquiao, this fight may just have been another event. However, it smashed boxing records for the world and amplified the sport’s global popularity.
In fact, it isn’t just the addition to the popularity of boxing but also what the players gained from the matches that mattered. Be it a win or a loss that they received, they walked away with a lot more, including the publicity they received as a result of the event. This was an opportunity to learn for many other boxers in the region.
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The 21st Century Technological Boom
The boom in technology of the 21st century has led to an increase in the popularity of boxing legends. While the earlier days had boxers like Muhammad Ali struggling to gain popularity through word of mouth or TV, today’s boxers can depend on their fans on social media to boost their following.
Boxers today can connect with their fans on multiple platforms and publish posts to keep these fans updated. In fact, they can do their own marketing too at times!
It is important to follow reliable sports news sources if you want to keep up with boxing legends. Here’s a great space to keep you updated!
Final Thoughts
The evolution of boxing as a business and as a sport can be attributed to boxing legends around the world. Boxing legends have not just increased the popularity of the sport in the present day but also acted as a catalyst that encouraged the world to give importance to boxing as a sport in the first place.
Today, not just fighters in the ring but also their publicists work hard to promote their image, reach more fans, and increase their viewership on screens around the world. The technological revolution has made it easier than ever before for boxers to get famous and showcase their talent globally.
We can only hope that the sport gets more accessible and inclusive as the years pass. Perhaps the coming decades have even more surprises in store for us fans!
