Sport needs to evolve to keep interest going

It’s been almost a week since Floyd Mayweather won “The Money Fight” with a 10th round technical knockout over Conor McGregor in Las Vegas.

The jokes have been rolling in since the Irishman succumbed to the skill of Mayweather, who improved his record to an unbelievable 50-0.

The memes, suggesting McGregor’s next gig will be a few sets against tennis legend Roger Federer, 20 laps against MotoGP rider Marc Marquez or a race against swimming sensation Michael Phelps, are funny, and on point.

Boxing purists were mad at the mere thought of the multi-million dollar fight. I mean, who would have thought a mixed martial arts fighter could upstage one of the most accomplished boxers of his era? Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton and 43 other boxers before this bout couldn’t beat him. So why now?

Was the fight a farce? Did it live up to all the hype?

I believe it did live up to its billing, especially if you take all the pre-fight attention – and there was plenty – into consideration. In less than an hour Mayweather enhanced the sport’s reputation by showcasing his talent.

It also got the sporting public talking. In the week leading up to the fight I was in the changeroom of a Boksburg golf club after a round.

Someone mentioned the fight, and the next minute 15 strangers were all talking about what was going to happen on Sunday morning. Everyone had an opinion. Everyone was an expert.

Hell, even my boss admitted it was the first time she has watched a boxing bout – and probably the last, she added. But it still got a rugby fanatic to watch the fight.

I bet the same is not happening ahead of the September 16 middleweight bout between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez. People should be talking about that fight as Golovkin is undefeated with a 37-0 record and Alvarez has only lost once in 51 fights. These are impressive numbers ... impressive boxers.

What I’m saying is that the various sports need to experiment to keep them relevant.

Sport is competing with people going out for supper, to the movies or a concert. Everyone’s time is precious. If the various sporting codes continue doing things in the same manner in which they did 50 years ago, then that sport is going to fade away.

Cricket nuts hated the introduction of T20 cricket.

But just look at how the shortest form of the game has helped cricketers grow as players. Their skill levels have improved tenfold, and it has translated to Test cricket, where matches rarely play out to a draw after five days due to the increased scoring rate. The packed stadiums are also testament to T20’s popularity.

Golf is trying new ideas too. Golf is a wonderful sport, but it is time-consuming. Enter GolfSixes, a new format implemented by the European Tour which comprises 16 two-man national teams playing six-hole matches of greensomes foursomes matchplay. Is it the complete package? No, but it is a start.

Many sports are trying to evolve. Rugby has fiddled with their Super Rugby tournament, expanding it to include different countries before reducing it back to the Super 15 from next year. Even horseracing is pushing the envelope, by wanting to include cameras on jockeys.

Sport has changed, and for the better. The various sports must now find a way of capitalising on that. Boxing did.