In most sports, there is a reliable correlation between excellence and prominence, Kelefa Sanneh writes. Boxing is not a normal sport.
, who hasn’t competed in more than two years, and who has won only one M.M.A. fight since the Obama era. Jon Jones, who dominated the U.F.C.’s light-heavyweight division for years, became the heavyweight champion after Ngannou’s exit, but most of the company’s current champions are lower-profile figures like Alexander Volkanovski, an impressive Australian who is not an American celebrity, at least not yet. Nate Wilcox, the publisher of the thoughtful M.M.A.
Fighters have figured out that the same fans who demand great matchups are nearly as happy to watch lesser ones. In the many years since boxing observers first started talking about Crawford fighting Spence, the two have made plenty of money fighting other people. Barring a draw, Saturday’s fight will mark an inflection point: one of them will be hailed, plausibly, as the greatest fighter on the planet, while the other will have his reputation diminished, probably permanently.
In the case of Tuesday morning’s fight, the American viewing figures were probably not very impressive, but those who tuned in surely did not regret it. Some thought Inoue, the smaller fighter, might struggle with Fulton’s size; at these low weights, even four pounds can make a big difference.
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