The sweet science of boxing is alive and flourishing. That’s how you can sum up boxing’s 2023. Year after year, the future of boxing is hotly debated. The combat sport that once was the epitome of peak aestheticism has seen its reputation dwindle a bit. Not only do the fans question the fight cards but also their increasingly commercialized nature. However, 2023 was a glimmer of hope as they witnessed the likes of Gervonta Davis and Terence Crawford fighting for the fans instead of chasing money bags.

Thinly spread fight cards with high PPV prices, surging boxers safeguarding their undefeated record, mismatched bouts, and promoters trying to shield their cash cows are the issues that plague boxing. These had shaken the fans’ trust and their expectations of intriguing fights. But 2023 eased their worries as they witnessed some exciting super fights.

Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia and Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr.: The Dawn of Superfights

Boxing fans deserve fights where the best fighters fight it out to reach the top. 2023 gave them that. Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia shook up the boxing landscape as they pulled punches in April 2023. The fights captured the fans’ imaginations, and soon, other interesting fights followed.

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Devin Haney clashed with Vasiliy Lomachenko the following month. A bigger spectacle was put on when Terence Crawford fought Errol Spence Jr. in July. A fight between them was one of the most highly anticipated fights in recent memory and might even be well remembered a few years later.

Fans even had the fight of the year between Jaime Munguia and Sergiy Derevyanchenko. 2023 turned out to be a year when promoters and boxers started to cave into fans’ demands and give them stacked and thrilling fights. Fans are again at the fulcrum of the boxing world. Therefore, fans flocked in great numbers whenever the promoters put on a card with alluring fights and even shelled out money.

The booming economics of boxing

The boxing world reaped the benefits of putting on mega events as PPV numbers blew up. Notably, ‘Tank’ and ‘KingRy’ pulled massive 1.1 million PPV buys. The PPV alone generated over $100 million in revenues, and the gate also clocked $22.8 million. That made the fight the fifth largest in Las Vegas history, surpassing Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Álvarez‘s $20 million gate.

Likewise, ‘Bud’ and Errol Spence Jr. sold almost 700,000 PPVs and raked in almost $60 million. The gate also collected $20 million. You can then put Canelo Álvarez vs. Jermell Charlo in the same bracket, and you’ll realize the boxing world continues to strive and hasn’t lost the pull.

Following the demise of Showtime Boxing, the boxing world is undergoing a metamorphosis. The boxers and promoters are joining hands and are ready to put in a collaborative effort. Amid this arranging and rearranging of the boxing world, the strands of crossover boxing and the Saudi money have also tilted the axis, but only for good.

Coming to terms with crossover boxing and the Saudis’ money flex

Jake Paul and the new crop of crossover boxers have taken center stage in traditional boxing. They are a rage that can’t be separated. Crossover boxing peaked this year and will only pick up pace further. The flair, the entertainment, and the money—it has all. You’ll see more of the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou clash, and it might not be a surprise if more young boxers start entertaining crossover boxers.

The centerpiece of the boxing world is slowly shifting to Riyadh from Las Vegas, and the recent ‘Day of Reckoning’ card is a testimony to it. The Saudis are keen to throw money, and their interest decides whether a particular fight will be chalked out. They have ensured the promoters work in cohesion to put on one of the spectacular cards studded with boxing stars.

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Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and Dmitry Bivol fought on the same card on December 23. From one-star headline events to multi-star events, the boxing world marked a shift in 2023. If 2023 suggests anything, boxing is going through a change where fighters don’t pay heed to weight demarcations and are constantly moving up and down in divisions. The bigger events and superfights are getting normalized, and 2023 will go down in history as the year that started it all.

What do you make of boxing’s future? Do you believe boxing as a sport is going to flourish further? Let us know in the comments below.

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