From BBC Sport:

Barry Hearn says boxing's popularity could dwindle unless it pays heed to the rise of mixed martial arts (MMA).

"MMA attracts a younger crowd who want fast, physical action delivered in an entertaining style. Boxing promoters can't bury their heads in the sand."

Finally, somebody who knows something about boxing has something intelligent to say about MMA. I think Hearn recognizes a key point -- boxing and MMA can co-exist. However, it must be a co-existence. I'm not talking about cards that feature both MMA and boxing, I'm talking about a true co-existence. Boxers box and MMA fighters fight mixed martial arts, and with each recognizing the other's sport to be a valid combat sport, the two can almost live in peace.

Let me say that I think it's mostly boxing "authorities" trash-talking the UFC, as opposed to the other way around. Sure, Dana says that the UFC is on its way to overtaking boxing (which I think is true, but it won't happen within the next couple years), but Dana still acknowledges that boxing is a valid combat sport. The boxing people who think MMA is a joke are a joke themselves as they refuse to adapt to the evolving world of combat sports.

Then you have guys like Hearn -- and we need more guys like this -- a solid boxing promoter, who recognizes the need to adapt to the changing times, and take a cue from MMA, which is sweeping across the world and gaining thousands of fans along the way. In fact, Hearn has gone so far as to do this (while dinosaurs like Frank Maloney make moronic comments):

British boxing's most high-profile promoter Frank Warren has repeatedly stated that his sport has nothing to fear from UFC, while fellow promoter Frank Maloney has said it will have "15 minutes of fame".

"Twelve-round fights can sometimes be painfully boring and young kids today want a quick adrenaline fix. UFC and Prizefighter give them that and are the future.

I love MMA and I love boxing, but I've always liked MMA more because a 12-round boxing match puts my patience (of which I have very little) to the test. I'm not suggesting an all-out change to the rules of boxing, but things like Hearn's Prizefighter tournament are a good idea, because it gives you quick matches, which I think do better towards getting fighters to leave it all in the ring, because they have less time with which to act.

I don't want to see the UFC completely wipe out boxing, but I do want to see boxing supporters and idiot sportswriters and sports personalities like Michael Wilbon (for proof of Wilbon's idiocy, see here -- Thanks Pramit) acknowledge that MMA is here to stay, and it's not just a bunch of morons trying to beat the crap out of each other in a cage. I think if any of those guys would stop and think (like Hearn clearly did) they'd realize that there is much more to MMA than they initially thought.

-PreView

(Thanks to UFC.com for a heads up on the article.)