Well, with threads popping up around here on the subjects of China and Cuba, this is as good a time as any to start this thread which I've been thinking of for quite some time.
The World is changing, and to suit it trends in Boxing are changing as well.
The biggest thing is the possibility of Cuba considering to allow Professional Boxing to any degree, or relaxing conditions for Boxer as infrastructure improves on account of Raul Castro, who has made a whole lot of headway. Here's a good thread on what's going on currently (as some of you may have already seen):
Changing Cuba may alter the face of boxing
If it comes to pass that Boxers in Cuba can make a living doing what they do, we're likely to see the Boxing ranks swell with Cuban Fighters.
Second is that as China and India both improve infrastructure and their economies jump, they become viable venues for Fights and places where Fighters can grow. China's already turned a couple heads with Amateur Fighters, as stated in this thread:
How Come there are no Chinese Boxing Champs?
Then there's the subject of Europe, with it's high finance compared to America, there's been a contingent of Fighters who not only move to places like Germany and the UK, but there's also far less incentive to come to America these days as a European Fighter aside from exposure, and the possibility for the highest paydays, but not necessarily the better pay overall. There are even cases nowadays where a budding Fighter or aging Veteran can make better money as a sparring partner in Europe than they can attempting to fight a full schedule in America.
As the World changes and economies shift, America is not necessarily the best place to hold Fights respectively anymore, it's still the largest overall, but many more avenues are beginning to open up.
Thus, this thread is dedicated specifically to the discussion of the economics and politics of Boxing. Have fun.
-SBC Representative KK