Boxing PPV Undercard Problems Are Killing the Buzz
You know the feeling. You’ve just paid £25 for a pay-per-view event. The hype around the main event is electric — but the rest of the card? Forgettable. It’s a growing issue, and one that’s hurting the sport. Boxing PPV undercard problems have become so common that fans barely bat an eyelid anymore. But we should.
Whether you’re watching from home or in the arena, you’re paying for the whole experience. And promoters seem to have forgotten that. Instead of quality build-up bouts, we get filler. One fight worth watching followed by three hours of mismatches, prospects padding records, or fighters no one asked for. It’s quantity over quality — and boxing fans are paying the price.
More Fights ≠ Better Fight
The logic behind today’s bloated PPV cards is baffling. Just because you pack in more bouts doesn’t mean it’s good value. If anything, it dilutes the entire night. A great undercard should build excitement, not drain your patience.
Ideally, a proper PPV should offer:
- One high-level co-main event
- One eliminator or title fight
- A strong British or European title clash
Instead, we get the same predictable format: two hot prospects battering journeymen, a fringe-level “grudge match” no one cares about, and maybe — maybe — a halfway decent scrap before the main event.
The Standard Used To Be Higher
Let’s not pretend boxing’s always been this way. Go back to cards like Froch vs Groves II at Wembley — not only did the main event deliver, but the undercard was stacked with meaningful fights.
Nowadays? You’re lucky if one other bout even gets a highlight reel. Compare that to the UFC, where it’s standard to get three or four quality matchups before the headliner. They understand what “event” means. Boxing, unfortunately, seems to have lost that.
The Knock-On Effect
This is where boxing PPV undercard problems start doing real damage. Fans feel ripped off. Broadcasters lose goodwill. And worst of all, casual viewers — the ones we need to grow the sport — stop tuning in.
Why pay for something when you can just wait for Twitter clips? Why bother buying a ticket when you know you’ll spend half the night on your phone waiting for the main event walkout?
And with rising costs, economic pressure, and streaming alternatives, boxing is walking a dangerous tightrope.
What Needs to Change?
Promoters need to stop treating PPVs as one-fight shows. The entire card matters. The night should feel like a journey — not a long wait for the only bout worth watching.
A few things would help:
- Prioritise competitive matchmaking
- Guarantee at least one more major title fight
- Scrap meaningless showcase bouts and invest in rivalries with stakes
Above all, give fans a reason to care from the first bell to the last.
Tired of One-Fight Cards?
You’re not alone. Boxing PPV undercard problems aren’t just annoying — they’re damaging the sport’s future. Let us know what you think in the comments, share this post with your fellow fans, and head over to CMBoxing.co.uk for more honest takes on the state of the game.