AZ of Boxing 2023, Part 3: Naoya Inoue, PPV Penetration, and More!

This is Part 3 of a four-part series. For his first two installments, Click here for Part 1When Click here for the second part!

(M) is for MISFITS BOXING

KSI. Salt Papi. Swartz. FaZe Temperrr.

I’ve gotten pretty used to receiving DAZN emails with these characters’ names in them.

But the ruthless fact that the MF x DAZN series of youtuber fights is picking up the pace is hard to ignore. You will definitely see cards becoming more and more popular.In essence, it is a freak show. But freak shows are popular.

The argument that it brings a wider perspective to the sport of boxing as a whole is a bit of a moot point. Only time will tell how these events affect the professional game.

(N) is Naoya Inoue AT 122 LBS

Now that Japan’s “Monster” has swept the 118-pound division, he’s riding the bigger fish in the junior featherweight division.

Murojon Ahmadaliev and Stephen Fulton Jr. are obvious targets if the pound-for-pound star wants to become a four-division world champion.

How to beat Naoya Inoue is a question that the entire boxing world continues to ponder, and with the 24-0 superstar only 29 years old, it will be a few years before he finds an answer.

(O) is OIL MONEY

More and more sports are heading east as the lure of money tramples all morality.

Boxing has never been and will never be known for upholding moral stances on social issues, and this is not expected to change in 2023.

The FIFA World Cup heading to Qatar this winter has given everyone the green light to fill their boots in these Gulf countries, following a number of high-profile matches staged in Saudi Arabia.

“Sportwashing” will be a popular term again this year as these countries’ human rights records are ignored.

(P) is pay-per-view

Didn’t pay-per-view die a few years ago?

Well, Eddie Hearn and DAZN were quick to disagree with that statement as their platform introduced a PPV service to their streaming app.

And that’s not all. He will have to pay £19.95 in the UK to watch Chris Eubank Jr vs. Liam Smith on Sky Sports this Saturday night.

Definitely don’t buy if you don’t want to pay. However, such an attitude will continue to see boxing as a sport regress as fans are being devalued.

(Q) is for questions to the judges/jury.

A review of incompetent judges needs to be addressed in boxing.

If referees and judges are not allowed to speak to the media and are not allowed to face scrutiny after a fight, there must be a system implemented within the Boxing Commission to make sense of these decisions.

(R) stands for RINGSIDE CHARITABLE TRUST

You can’t count the number of boxers who claim to have been thrown into a scrap pile after retiring.

More support needs to be available to former professional athletes who will inevitably suffer physically and mentally after retiring from such a demanding sport.

The Ringside Charitable Trust wants to change the way the boxing family is cared for. The vision of this home is to include medical support and facilities for former boxers to be cared for in the short and long term.

(S) is for Sebastian Fundra

I’m no secret that I’m a fan of Sebastian Fundora.

The “Towering Inferno” is on the verge of becoming one of the most courteous and exciting fighters on the planet.

He is still undefeated as he continues his assault on the junior middleweight division, doubling down on his claim to fighting in the pocket despite making most of his opponents half a foot smaller. increase.

He comes from a humble background, surrounded by a fighting family, and you can’t help but support him as he strives to reach the top.

Lewis Watson is a sportswriter from London, England and a member of the BWAA. Follow him or reach out to him on Twitter @lewroyscribbles.