But promoters, fighters and managers are encouraged by what they see as optimistic signs for the sport?s future, despite myriad problems.
Light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins is among those who believe the sport has a good future. One warning sign is that many inner-city fighters, primarily African-Americans, have abandoned the sport.
But he said if promoters do a better job of making more compelling fights and, particularly, making matches that the fans want to see, the sport will thrive.
He decried the so-called ?appearance fights? which have been so pervasive on television, particularly premium cable channels, in which a promoter?s star is given a soft touch in order to look good and pad his record.
Hopkins praised the UFC and said boxing should adopt its manner of match-making.
?You see a UFC card and they make quality fights and going in, it?s not clear-cut who is going to win,? Hopkins said. ?It?s OK if you know it?s 60-40 in favor of one guy, but if it?s 90-10 or 80-20, that doesn?t work. I think you have to put the fighters on levels and uses letter grades like we did in school.
