2020 threw a monkey wrench in boxing.
After a 2019 full of ups, downs, and surprises, 2020 was poised to keep boxing’s pop culture appeal high.
Epic. pic.twitter.com/xnrAtB9G0J
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 20, 2020
Then the sport took a nose dive as COVID-19 shut down sports in the summer. The UFC led the way with Fight Island at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
READ MORE: Boxing Classics Unearthed During COVID-19 Quarantine
However, with an ESPN subscription at the base of their viewership now, the transition was costly but with minimal risk.
A CLINICAL PERFORMANCE FROM CANELO. pic.twitter.com/6ySsgDEK3w
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 20, 2020
Major championship boxing suffered greatly as box office sales and PPV are the lifeblood of the industry.
The loss of fans destroyed the possibility of anticipated fights like Fury vs. Wilder III and more. But since boxing returned in the late summer, were the fans truly satisfied?
READ MORE: “Cool Boy Steph” Off SHOWTIME Card Due to COVID-19
If we judge from the year’s biggest matches since COVID-19, boxing had a lackluster finish to action in 2020.
Did Saturday prove that Canelo is the best in the world?@SiChrisMannix weighs in. 💭 pic.twitter.com/Ci1Zms555X
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 21, 2020
The last three big fights featuring Canelo Alvarez, Anthony Joshua, and GGG were already preconceived wins before they stepped in the ring.
READ MORE: Canelo Alvarez Broke The Levees To Face Biggest Challenge In Callum Smith
Errol Spence, Jr. vs. Danny Garcia, aside from quelling the doubters of Spence’s car crash recovery, showed Garcia has heart but that the levels shifted.
What A Weekend. 💫 pic.twitter.com/nLHKmqEAVn
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 21, 2020
Teofimo showed boxing pundits that Lomachenko was indeed human and that Lopez is making a campaign to prove he, himself is otherworldly.
READ MORE: Teofimo Lopez Executes The Takeover
Although COVID-19 has showed that fans are possible in markets like Texas, it has also stopped the progress of fights like Errol Spence, Jr. vs. Terence Crawford.
So expect more mandatory matches in 2021 as the world is still recovering from the pandemic. Boxing, however, needs to evolve from the deficiencies learned during the biggest virus since the Spanish Flu.
