What needs to happen in order for boxing to regain its popularity of 90s/early 2000s?

[HitmanTommy]

I'm sure we've all noticed a steep drop in the popularity of the sport in the past 15-20 years, but what is causing it? I remember big fights were talked about regularly among the general public just like football and basketball are, but what happened?

The Lewis/Tyson press conference brawl for example. That was shown nonstop on every news outlet throughout the entire day.

[Scipio2009]

The simple general answer is that something needs to happen that kills off football (NFL/NCAAF); coaches doping the players with steroids, league wide illegal ******** by top officials, multiple player deaths during a season, etc.

Absent that, not too much; getting consistent exposure, the biggest fights will enter into that giant conversation.

[Toffee]

In the heavyweights, the big fights weren't quite as regular as people like to remember. And it's the heavyweights that generally capture the general public's attention.

We had ducking, we had marinating. Hell we even had prison sentences.

The difference is that the second tier fighters were turned into stars. So we got 'big fights' that the public could get on board with even though the opponents weren't top 5 fighters.

Outside of the big 3 Whyte is probably the only one out there at the moment. Miller screwed up. Ortiz is past it.

We need another generation coming through to get people excited.

[15 Rounds again]

I'm sure we've all noticed a steep drop in the popularity of the sport in the past 15-20 years, but what is causing it? I remember big fights were talked about regularly among the general public just like football and basketball are, but what happened?

The Lewis/Tyson press conference brawl for example. That was shown nonstop on every news outlet throughout the entire day.

Fans need to stop defending ducking, stop agreeing that it's ok to avoid risk. And put pressure on the duckers. Wilder is the worst ducker in boxing history- literally. It's insane that fans defend him.
We could've had some massive fights by now - he's hostaged the green belt and some fans give him a green light - I'm fed up with it all.

[Aztekkas]

We need to eliminate the 3rd world boxing weightclasses...err I mean, the 1/3rd normal adult human weightclasses so that the scales could tip towards more interest.

Do it for the sport! Get rid of the short!

[Rockybigblower]

Boxing needs to make the belts important again. The boxing organisations need to enforce mandatories and place time limits between defences. No sitting on a belt for 12 months or longer holding out for money. And no voluntaries. That will force fighters like Rios Ortiz Khan and the like into much overdue retirements and allow up and coming contenders their due chance. No more kingpin or thompson paydays. Minimum 2year bans for drug use. Perhaps even enforce a 10 loss and your out rule in order to save fighters health. I can't believe there are fighters with 2-51-5 records still being licenced to fight.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

The best aren't fighting each other and boxing is letting it slide. And surprisingy, many of the fans are doing the same, at least on here.

[Redsox]

two reasons:
1. butterbean retired
2. dana white exists.

[Ogecca MaMa]

in 90s no one ducked. Tyson stepped up and faced everyone out there. we need less of these Ellerbe teaching and praising, blurring people. Instead top fighters, champions should fight champions, unite. and don't be as greedy. simple as that

[Redsox]

but really its much more popular now. that would be a fact.