We’ve heard Dana White say, “this division is stacked” many times, but rarely, if ever have we heard him say that about the heavyweight division. This actually is time to point out why MMA (the UFC in particular) have overwhelmed their principal rival, boxing.
Let’s admit it, boxing has two things going for it right now: Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. These guys have fought a total of five times in two years. That’s not enough to keep fight fans satisfied.
When boxing was king, Heavyweights ruled.
The popularity of boxing can be directly linked with the success and prosperity of the heavyweight division. Be honest, who wants to see the Klitschko brothers beat up another terrible opponent? This establishes my point.
MMA (once again the UFC in particular) is wildly successful in spite of it’s heavyweight division. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there are no good fighters in the heavyweight division, because there are. There just aren’t the number of good fighters that are in the light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight, and lightweight divisions.
(Notice I left out bantamweight…We’ll save that for another article)
The point is this: MMA is successful in spite of its overall heavyweight division. Why is it weak? I’m glad you asked…