Wonder Why The TV Ratings For Boxing Are So Bad? Ask Radivoje Kalajdzic

You don't need a great education to notice the problem

So, ESPN's Dan Rafael has just reported, via Twitter, that the ratings for last night's PBC card on NBC were most certainly not good. This, of course, is too bad. For Errol Spence made his mark on the world this past weekend by besting a game name opponent like Chris Algieri in fantastic fashion. If you haven't seen the fight - and it appears that billions haven't - then by all means, check it out. It's good stuff.

Having said that, the numbers were still disappointing, as viewership for primetime PBC cards seems to be declining these days. People will undoubtedly scratch their heads and wonder aloud why this could be, but the answer - or at least one of the answers - is pretty clear. No one trusts the powers that be in boxing. It really is that simple.

Boxing is now at the point where there's so much bad judging, so much unsportsmanlike maneuvering and so many BS titles that casual fans literally don't have a clue what's happening. Seriously. We watched the card with a friend last night who wasn't a fan and he had no idea how things worked outside of two people throwing punches. Why doesn't the better fighter always advance on to bigger and better things? How could judges give incompetent rulings? How in the world can anyone tell who the best fighter in a division is if the best can't or won't face off?

My friend is not a stupid man and these were not stupid questions. What other sports fans in the world would be as sure of an impending  bad decision as boxing fans were after the final bell rang for the Marcus Browne -  Radivoje Kalajdzic bout on last night's undercard? Browne got the decision after holding and being dropped and absolutely no one I know was surprised that the judges gave him the nod.

Wonder why the TV ratings for boxing are so bad? Ask Radivoje Kalajdzic.

Why Chris Algieri Deserves Huge Props

Algieri is always going in for a big piece of the pie

That's right, Chris Algieri deserves huge props. Sure, everyone had a good laugh for a short spell with the whole "out of the cage" silliness - but no one should be laughing now. For word's out - according to Dan Rafael over at ESPN - that Algieri may be fighting none other than rising star Errol Spence on an NBC primetime PBC card in April.

What's there to like about Algieri? The fact that he takes risks. That's right, a fighter in this day and age actually takes risks - when he could possibly make solid money going easy for a while, nonetheless. Yup, Algieri has been a work in progress since falling under the tutelage of top level trainer John David Jackson, yet he's going to put it all on the line, yet again, against the supremely talented Spence. Algieri likes to let online followers know what hes been eating - but it's doubtful he marinates anything.

Think about it - the odds here are clearly going to be in Spence's favor. For Spence is a fighter who some have marked to be the next big superstar - and not without sound reasoning. Indeed, there's a lot to like about Spence - and a lot to like about his chances against Algieri. No matter, Algieri is going for it. Because that's what Algieri does. Whether it's Ruslan Provodnikov, Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan or now Spence, Algieri steps up to the figurative plate over and over again.

This time, however, things may be different. For another loss may put Algieri in the same category as Robert Guerrero has now found himself in - that of the solid opposition. The fact that Algieri may indeed go forward with this regardless of the obvious career risk not only shows his confidence, it shows that he takes boxing seriously for what it ultimately is - a sport.

Other known fighters should take note.