MMA Junkie reports that Top Rank Boxing is partnering with NeuLion, Inc. to offer fight fans an enhanced online PPV stream. NeuLion, a company specializing in live and on demand video via the internet, is the same company that has worked with the UFC.
This past February, the UFC entered into a working relationship with NeuLion to upgrade its UFC.tv web site. Todd duBoef, Top Rank’s president, stated that boxing is adapting to new media and believes that boxing and MMA have room to grow online.
duBoef told MMA Junkie:
“Because they [MMA] weren’t getting traditional media coverage early on, I think MMA was at the forefront for their sport at understanding the new-media perspective of where the fans are, who’s engaged there, who’s dialed in there, who’s interacting there. I think we’ve all learned a lot from seeing how that fanbase works.”
Boxing enthusiasts will have access to these things and more with the Pacquaio vs. Mosley stream, which is being offered at Top Rank Boxing’s official website, as well as Yahoo! Sports’ boxing page, for $54.99.
In lead-up to tonight’s fight, Top Rank has streamed online a Manny Pacquiao workout, press conference, the weigh-ins among other events. In the past, Top Rank, in collaboration with Yahoo! began airing undercard fights online. But this will be the first time that the main event will be shown online.
Payout Perspective:
Top Rank’s move online validates what MMA fans already knew: the UFC is ahead of the game when it comes to new media. The move by Top Rank makes sense considering the perception that boxing is losing ground to MMA in the world of combat sports. While it is believed that boxing’s demographic is older than the MMA target audience, a claim duBoef refutes in the article, it will be interesting to see how many fight fans pay for the online version of the fight tonight.
I couldnt help but to notice that this boxing match has even compied the UFC model for weigh ins. At least as far as i know boxing always had weight ins in conference rooms. It seems weigh in for this fight was done in a much bigger venue making an event out of it like the UFC has for a long time now.
That’s absolutely wrong BrianSmasher.
Take a look at the weigh in for DLH vs. Trinidad back in 99, it was in that same MGM arena with the place packed.
0:25
http://youtu.be/xauYTnt5XUE
Any idea of the size of the overall boxing vs mma market?
How many Americans actually make their living boxing vs mma? (I know both are international sports, but just for comparison I’m interested in the # of Americans who do each full-time.)
boxrec.com will tell you how many active fighters there are per division, you can also look up how many fighters by country in each division. MMA I don’t know if they have a site that organized.
dont even compare boxing with mma…boxing is way bigger worldwide…come on they have it in the olympics… mma is just big in the u.s. and maybe in canada..everywhere else its closing down…look at martial combat in singapore 24 promotions in 2010…now zero
not to mention in japan,thailand, china all promotions are folding up…a lot of new ones open but they never last
Juan,
You can look at the number of fighters licensed by the athletic commissions. It would be hard to determine “make their living” considering most up and coming fighters have other jobs to pay the bills.