During Sunday’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” on ABC, ESPN reporter Jeremy Schaap appeared as a guest to discuss the sport of boxing’s future, as well as Saturday’s boxing match between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao in which Mayweather emerged as the victor.
According to Schaap, the sport of boxing will not continue to exist for the average fan if the average fan has to pony up a large amount of money just to be able to view it.
“The mainstream sports fan is alienated from boxing and events like last night’s mega fight are the problem,” Schaap said. “It doesn’t help. They get a few more people into the tent for the night, for the few weeks building up to the fight, but you think the NFL would be more popular, George, if the Super Bowl cost $100 in your home to watch? Do you think the NBA would be more popular if you wanted to watch the playoffs, you had to pay $100 for a playoff package? That’s not the way it works.”
He went on to say, “The system we have in place means that all the wealth, all the attention accrues to the very top of the sport, but the grassroots have been dying out in this country for a long time.”
Follow Trent Baker on Twitter @MagnifiTrent
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