re: Popularity of boxing vs the UFC

You honestly don't think having sports fans familiar with, if not downright fans of, boxers prior to them entering the pro ranks was an asset to the sport? Is that really your contention? Sugar Ray Leonard was a bona fide star before he ever drew a paycheck. (He was on a Wheaties box) Hell, that entire 1976 US Olympic boxing team were stars. Go back to the biggest boxing icon of all time, Ali. You don't think the American sports fans wanted to see this brash kid from Louisville, Cassius Clay, after his gold medal performance in Rome?

Now, compare that to today where boxing gets minimal prime time coverage.

I stated that boxing has a lot of issues (decades of Arguments/King chicanery, too many weight classes and organizations), but losing Olympic coverage certainly hurt.