Boxing Rolls With the Punches

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Keith Thurman, left, defeated Robert Guerrero last year as part of the Premier Boxing Champions boxing series. The bout marked the first time in 30 years that NBC had aired a boxing match in prime time. Photo courtesy of K2 Promotions

By Greg Mellen

Every few years, someone comes along claiming that boxing is down for the count. That someone will cite the rise of mixed martial arts, a lack of network television exposure, an inherent brutality, or the decline of homegrown stars in the sport. There are always those ready to start the count. But each time, loyal to its fighting spirit, boxing rises back up, wipes the sweat and blood off its face and walks back into the middle of the ring.

From amateurs to professionals, proponents of boxing say rumors of its demise are overrated. “I think the sport is doing better than a lot of people realize,” said Brandon Dyett, director of events for USA Boxing. Lou DiBella, a boxing promoter, goes further, saying there’s never going to be a death of boxing. “It ebbs and flows, but it’s not going anywhere,” he said.

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