Actually, boxing is better off now than it was “back then”. Bro, good old days have never existed. Boxing is at its cleanest right now in history. I don’t think there is much of a La Cosa Nostra influence in boxing nowadays.

And here is a little-known fact. The titles have always been splintered. Yup, since at least the forties or so. There was always at least three or so “world” champs in each weight class. It wasn’t as big of a cluster fuck as today, but still. I think the best source for rankings and champs is Ring Magazine.

As for boxing, we could only hope they unify the sanctioning bodies. Things were a lot better in boxing when there was only one and when they had less weight classes. I’ll watch the Pavlik fight (actually I’ll d/l it because I can’t sit through HBO’s crappy undercards) but overall, I’m sticking to watching MMA and K-1. As a casual boxing fan, I can’t stand boxing these days.

Could it happen? Maybe, but the outlook is not good.

I don’t see anything wrong with the idea of an independent sanctioning body in boxing or MMA. Having ONE Unified international Sanctioning Body in MMA would settle once and for all who are the real #1 fighters in each weight class. The UFC have the majority of the elite fighters in the world but they are not the only game in town with elite fighters. Would you prefer the current system instead where the only champions recognized in the world are club champions for each promotion?

UGH!! Seriously?!?! You want sanctioning bodies in boxing?! WHY?!?! They are ruining the sport, and it would be the same thing all over again if it happened in MMA.

The UFC can learn a lot from boxing. They just need to avoid the stuff that hurt boxing. HBO PPV revenue beat UFC in 2007 but seriously, as a casual fan of boxing, I can’t sit through a boxing PPV these days. Mayweather is boring and the undercards suck. I prefer Pavlik to Mayweather any day. MMA and K-1 events (which I’ve recently started following) are much more entertaining than boxing currently by a long shot. I don’t understand how boxing fans can seriously say that MMA is boring.

I really think they need to do more “All Access” shows for guys ‘on the road’ to the event. Create some more hype and give some substance to the fighters outside of they wear an affliction t-shirt and drink energy drinks.

As an aside, there’s one thing that really hit home after reading it: I hate legislation and the legislators that create it. My God, what an obtuse document. It’s so vague that I’m not sure how enforceable it would be if anyone brought it to court. Lawyers could argue the interpretations of the terms long past the point that it would do any good if you won your case.

…besides, it’s not like it’s going to revolutionize the way the UFC does business any more than it effected boxing.

You’re right. This is the type of thing that will be “read-in” to include mma fighters by a judge or require some common-law formulaic test. That is if anyone ever brings a case against a promoter under this Act.