Prospects of Boxing Brighter in US Despite Covid 19 Pandemic: Great News to Filipino Boxers
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Apr 2020
The prospects of big time pro boxing returning are brighter in the USA than elsewhere. If we go by pronouncements of US President Donald Trump about getting American business and general economy back to full steam as soon as possible.
This despite the fact that the current Covid-19 pandemic where the US is the most severely affected country in the world, is yet to be effectively and decisively addressed mainly through some medical science breakthrough like appropriate vaccines or drug menus.
The US remains the global boxing capital and there is no denying that the sport was contributory to helping keep its domestic economy afloat during past times of recession and difficulties. This was very evident especially during the heydays of Floyd Mayweather Jr. whose marquee fights generated billions of dollars in revenue for the state of Nevada.
If boxing indeed returns in the US in the next few months, it will be a great news particularly to our fighters with scheduled crucial and big bouts there that have been postponed due to the Covid-19 emergency.
They include Jerwin Ancajas, Johnriel Casimero, Nonito Donaire and Marco John Rementizo.
Ancajas was originally set to defend his IBF super flyweight belt for the eight time against Mexican challenger Jonathan Javier Rodriguez at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas April 11.
Casimero was originally set to cross mitts with the Monster Naoya Inoue in a high profile US championship debut for both fighters with the WBA super, IBF, WBO and the Ring lineal bantamweight titles on the line at the MGM Grand also in Las Vegas, April 25.
On the same day, Rementizo was to tangle with Thailand's legendary Wanheng Menayothin in the latter's also much awaited US debut with the WBA minimumweight title at stake.
On the other hand, Donaire was set to challenge WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali of France in a still unannounced venue in May.
Actually, a fifth Filipino was set to fight for a world title during this period - Geimel Magramo who was originally to meet Junto Nakatani in Tokyo for the vacant WBO flyweight championship, April 4. The Japanese Boxing Commission authorities though have promised to prioritize world title fights that have been postponed due to Covid-19 when the fight sport resumes in the country.
With boxing returning in the US sooner than later, these bouts will surely be among the priorities of promoters, organizers and networks there especially given the growing interest, curiosity and fascination of Stateside fans particularly with Inoue and Menayothin.
But the billion dollar question is: will pro boxing ever be the same as we know it in the US prior to this emerging new era of health related community regimentation where social and physical distancing, hence crowd restriction, is the new normal?
I doubt it very much if we will see the same live arena boxing in packed cavernous venues again in the US and elsewhere for a foreseeable time.
At most, we may see paying live spectators seated a considerable distance from each other. And that would mean lesser number of paid seats, paid attendance and higher cost of seats.
Given this possibility, organizers may either continue holding fights in spacious venues or arenas to accommodate as many as possible in line with social or physical spacing regimen while haggling for commensurate discount in venue rental. Or opt for comparatively smaller fight venues which could accommodate fewer people who would be willing to pay a higher live seat price to defray the venue rental costs.
To realize a desirable net on fights, premium would therefore be on airing or streaming fights through television or the internet through pay per view or paid subscriptions.
We will see. Soon I hope.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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