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The latest buzz going around the boxing world is the fear that mixed martial arts will replace boxing as the number-one combat sport in the world. Since the early 80’s when ESPN introduced kick boxing; there have been various styles of mixed martial arts on television and the sport has continued to evolve in various forms.
Watching the recent debut of Gary Shaw's EliteXC on the Showtime network, I can understand it's popularity and also see it's weakness.
The real strength in MMA is in it's promotion. The round cage gives the impression of two men going in, and only one man coming out (or two women in, one woman out.) One expects Mel Gibson and Tina Turner to show up in a scene from the hit movie Thunderdome. Lights blazing, screaming fans in full arenas, and an atmosphere that somewhat resembles professional wrestling, but at the same time produces a live event worth attending.
Unlike professional wrestling, the results are not predetermined and the moves are not choreographed.
Not only is MMA growing in popularity inside the ring, it is also blossoming on the outside as well.
There was a time when a person received boxing lessons in order to quire the skills of self-defense. Now, more and more people are enlisting in academies that specialize in mixed martial arts training.
I would wager that there are more people enlisted in academies who are training for black belts in various martial arts, than amateur trying to become professional boxers.
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