The greed in boxing has once again came to the spotlight with news tonight that Ricky Hatton’s fight against Manny Pacquiao is off over money. Surprise surprise. The split of the purse was the arguing factor after both boxers had agreed on a 50/50 split only for Pacquiao to turn round and want 60/40. Whatever the figures and whoever is to blame doesn’t really matter. The only people losing out here are the fans — what is left of them — in the greediest sport on earth.

It has long since been a problem in boxing. Money for the fighters has been in boxing throughout its history but only in recent decades has it really spoiled things for the fan and taken away from its global audience. Some of boxing’s biggest fans no longer watch the sport anymore because every proper fight went pay per view.

Money for fights, boxers not fighting enough, paying to watch it on TV, it has all driven the casual fans to Mixed martial arts and many of the hardcore fans away from the fighting game altogether.

Of course many still remain, after all they can justify putting fights on PPV, but when the fighters pull out of fights because of the split of a multi-million pound pot in the middle of world recession it will do nothing but further alienate fans from a sport than has long since became a business first and foremost.

When the fights do happen they are great to watch but the road to get them into the ring is a long one and never a fun one. It would be falling on deaf ears if I said something needed to change about the way the sport is run, the number of belts, the lack of fights and the fact that with it on PPV there are a lot of great fighters the casual fan just hasn’t heard of. I’ve said it anyway and now I’ll go find something else to watch.

Read more about: Greed in Boxing, Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton | ALL SUBJECTS |

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