Boxing has always been a popular sport in the US. Big names like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson have gone down in boxing history. However, the popularity of boxing events in the US has grown immensely in recent years. Let’s explore why.
One of the most recent USA boxing events was Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson. For this match, Netflix reported 60 million households tuning in to watch live. 50 million tuned in for the match before between Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor. This is a prime example of just how popular boxing matches have become.
The Social Media Era: Revolutionizing Boxing
This is one of the main reasons behind the increased popularity of main boxing events. Social media has played a huge role in connecting the sport with a wider audience. Boxing was once limited to TV broadcasts. Which meant it had to compete with other traditional sporting leagues and events, such as the NBA and NFL. Social media has helped to break down these restrictions and barriers. There are now a number of social media platforms that offer coverage of many boxing events through social media. Many platforms like TikTok and YouTube will often stream boxing matches and events. This also means that fans are also able to watch smaller events and matches too.
Social media also provides a platform for athletes too. Now fighters can directly communicate with their fans through social media platforms. They are able to use platforms like Twitter and Instagram to build their personal brands outside the ring. Social media provides the chance for a fighter to showcase their personality and lifestyle. It can also be used to share training routines in the lead-up to a match. As well as the drama surrounding their fights. It’s the perfect platform to build anticipation for a fight. This includes fighters engaging in trash talk. This has become a huge part of the boxing culture. It also helps to generate interest and excitement in the lead-up to a boxing event. This has helped many fighters who are up-and-coming reach a global audience. These streams are particularly popular for up-and-coming fighters, who use the platform to reach a global audience. This kind of accessibility ensures that boxing is no longer confined to niche audiences or high-cost broadcasts.
Many fighters, including Jake Paul and Teofimo Lopez, regularly use social media to promote their brand and connect with their audiences. There are a number of fighters who have also found their way to the industry through social media. A great example is Jake and Logan Paul. They both gained fame from their YouTube content and later on found their way to the world of combat fighting. This helped to introduce a whole new fan base to the sport. Growing the audience even further.
Improved Accessibility to Boxing Events
Another reason why boxing has become more popular is because it’s now a lot more accessible for fans. Most boxing matches used to require you to have a cable subscription. Or you had to attend the event in person. Both of these methods can be expensive. And for some fans travelling to a match just isn’t possible due to distance and many other factors. The rise of streaming platforms has changed this. There are now a number of platforms such as ESPN+, DAZN and Showtime that make accessing a boxing show even easier. All you need is a connection to the internet. This includes being able to watch matches from your smartphones and tablets too. There’s no longer any need to rely on cable TV or pay-per-view to watch a fight. Live streaming platforms will often show a match for free or at a significantly lower cost than traditional pay-per-view events. A lot of streaming platforms will also offer additional content too. This includes interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. This also helps to improve the overall fan experience. This combination of streaming platforms and social media has helped the sport become more relevant. Even between matches.
Boxing as a Complete Show
The sport has evolved. Boxing is no longer just about the fight itself. Boxing now puts on a whole show. Of course, the fight is still the main event, but now there are other aspects too. The pre-fight hype and post-fight celebrations. Every second is entertainment. Even when the athletes enter the ring. They are putting on a performance. This has added a whole new layer of excitement for fans. A boxing event now features music and celebrity appearances. Bigger events will often feature entrance music and visual effects. All of this excitement has attracted a whole new audience. One that views boxing as a form of entertainment on top of just being a sport. This added excitement has helped to attract a wider audience. In particular younger fans. This generation enjoys more immersive experiences like concerts, movies, and even eSports. Boxing has now evolved into something that’s more suited to this generation. It still offers the same experience for fans of the sport. But also something extra for those looking for more of an experience.
Marketing plays a huge role in this too. For example, the 2017 fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor. This fight was marketed and built up with the same excitement you would see at a blockbuster movie premiere. It was an international media event that transcended the sport of boxing. The lead-up to the fight featured a highly publicized press tour and trash talk. The excitement in the lead up to this fight ended up making it an event that has gone down in history. It encouraged millions of viewers to tune and watch the excitement play out. This promotion has been crucial in introducing boxing to new audiences. Which is why boxing events have become so much more popular in recent years.
There are a number of factors that have contributed to the rise in popularity of boxing events in the USA. Social media has connected the sport with a wider audience. Whereas streaming platforms have made the sport a lot more accessible to fans and casual viewers. And finally, boxing’s shift towards a broader entertainment experience has made it more appealing to casual fans and younger audiences. As these trends continue to evolve USA boxing events will continue to grow in popularity.