What would you do if you were in charge of boxing...?

Question

Let's just pretend boxing finally gets it together and has ONE Association/ Federation/ League i.e MLB, NFL, NBA, etc. and you are chosen as the comissioner. What changes would you make to the sport? Here are my first two items:
1. No more entourages accompanying or entering the ring with fighters. In case they didn't get the memo, no matter how loudly you talk on your cell phone during the postfight interview in the ring, you just don't matter.
2. Restructure the PPV mess. Look PBF, Jermaine Taylor, all current heavyweights, NONE OF YOU has PPV appeal (not if we want boxing to go back into the mainstream). A card that features a "main event" which has been preceeded by several events pitting the John Smiths V. John Doughs just won'tcut it. Look at the UFC PPV (an event which is leaving boxing behind). Generally any of their matches could be staged as the Main Event. Boxing PPV events need to be handled in the same way.
None of this will happen, and I'm sure boxing doesn't care!!!

Answer 1

I use to love boxing but rarely watch anymore. I would have better fight cards, make the champ defend the belts more often 4 to 5 months against a top 3 contender, promote better, give better less expensive access to top fights. Don't know if I will ever love boxing the way I use to now that UFC and Pride are around

Answer 2

Thing I would change would be the following: 1. Protective headgear for boxers that are not yet ranked or main eventers. 2. There would be only one World Champion in each weight division. 3. Championship fights would go back to 15 rounds again. 4. Someone who has lost too many fights in a row would be supended and looked at medically. 5. There would be no more super or junior weight classes. It would be Heavyweights 180 and over, Light Heavy 175-179 Middle 155-165 Welter 145-150 Lightweight 135-140 Bantam 125-130 and Straw 115-120. 6. There would be a mandatory standing 8 count, no being saved by the bell and the 3 knockdown rule for every match. 7. Judges would be under close scrutiny to judge fights fairly.

Answer 3

1. I have no problems with the entorages as they can bring some excitement to the ring (i.e : Tyson, Golota, Judah, Prince Naseem) It's annoying but exciting at the same time.
2. Although I do not have an exact answer, this special scoring for some fighters in some cities is crap. For e.x, just because ODH fights in LV does not mean he should 'get extra points.'
3. This mandatory fights is idiotic too. Not eveyone wants to see the #1 fight the #5 just because it's in the contract. Put #1 against #2
4. Back to the scoring thing--What really ticked me off? MABarrera gets a draw...No wait, wrong scoring! He gets a win. Something fishy there. Get rid of all that crap. Get judges who consistently score 'correctly' with a review committee. Have them judge the fights.
5. Go back to the old school. I know that there is $$$$ in PPV, but $49 a pop? WTF?
6. For health reasons, the stopped the 15 rounders. But THAT was boxing @ its best.
7. Enforce the weigh ins. If a guy is weighing @ 115 on a Friday, he should be 115 on fight night.

I'm sure that I will think of other things that annoy me when Tarver fights Hopkins.

Answer 4

Get rid of all the boxing organisations and have a health care, insurance and superannuation or retirement fund package for every boxer. Stringent medical check ups and have records scrutinised before a boxer gets in the ring. A health and safety issue. Every champion should be unified before making a defence and fighting only the top contenders or a champion who wants to make the step up from another division. Get rid of dodgy managers, promoters, trainers and clubs who want to rip of the fighter or throw them into the ring too fast or people who keep them boxing for far too long.

Answer 5

A couple of things I would change.

The sparring helmets would be used in real fights. It would lessen the risk of brain damage.

Boxers would be judge on how good they fight , not on KO's and etc.

Answer 6

I put Ruy Johns Jr. and Mick Tisen in a fight for Champion!