Cozzone's Top 10

1. Quality fights. Fight cards have really improved since the 1990s, but, in the last year, the quality of local fights have gone down the crapper.

2. Commissions. Too many wannabe athletic commissions on tribal land that arrange mismatches, use officials with as much skill as some of the opponents, and sweep the rules under the rug are hurting the sport. The worst? Santa Ana and the one at the Ohkay Casino.

3. No fan support. Seems like the hardcore fight fan base has not changed in ten years – it numbers around 1,000-2,000 people – yet many fight cards fail from attendance. Case in point: Ray Sanchez III vs. Joaquin Zamora was one of the most in-demand fights of the last decade, yet only 200 people showed up to watch it at Isleta. Sad.

4. Going pro. Amateurs are too anxious to go pro, long before they are ready.

5. Not enough amateur action. Works hand in hand with No. 4 – on one hand, can you blame an amateur for turning pro if there aren’t enough amateur fights to hone one’s skill? Far too few amateur shows these days; hardly adequate to prepare a fighter for contention level as a pro.

6. Trainers. Everyone’s a trainer these days. While there are many decent trainers around to teach the fundamentals, very few are qualified to take fighters to the next level to compete beyond the state level.

7. MMA. Mixed martial arts have taken the 18-35 year-olds who would otherwise have been boxing fans and/or fighters. Instead of competing with the fastest-growing sport in the world, boxing continues to bury its head in the sand by staging lousy fights and letting MMA take over. This is a nationwide trend – and a local one for NM.

8. Opportunities. Just not enough opportunity for young fighters who are, oftentimes, mismatched on the road. No consistent fight ops for in-state fighting.

9. Petty attitudes and unwillingness to work with one another. With casinos and promoters constantly fighting one another; and fight camps, trainers continually at war; the sport in NM suffers.

10. Overzealous fight camp fans and groupies. These days, everyone’s a “hater,” if they criticize or give a ‘keep-it-real’ account of a fight. I was called a hater for criticizing Archie Ray Marquez’s last opponent, but praised by certain pro-Fidel Maldonado peeps; but when I criticized the punching bag Maldonado last fought, I was back to “hater.” Out of the top ten, this least concerns me because any sort of drama may actually help to raise interest in a sport that continues to subside.

Rivera's Top 10

1. Not enough quality fights. One reason MMA is taking over They will on anyone. Not so, NM fighters, who want blown up records.

2. Poor fight commissions. These days anyone can make their own commission and then the poor politics take over. Case in point: Santa Ana's tribal commission.

3. Promoters - outside if Fresquez Productions many have tried to put on cards but go back to #1 on list when poor matches made. One promoter recently said "It's better then nothing." We'd rather have nothing if we already know who's gonna win.

4. Entourages. When you hit Vegas or big time fights, sure it's cool to take your peeps with you, but they do not accomplish anything and to have a bunch of fools like the Floyd Jr crew actually makes you stupid.

5. Complainers. Most email comes from the camps of the fighters not liking the truth. Don't cry because your fighter got exposed or didn't do well. What's the saying? "Excuses are a dime a dozen." Deal with it and improve.

6. Picking what media outlets get info. When you're on the good side of a fighter and his team, you're the best guy out there. Once you say something constructive, you're black balled from future info. I was always taught any exposure, good or bad, is good. Some never learn.

7. Too many boxing gyms. There was a day when there were 10 or so gyms: PAL, Henry's, SSJ to the Hideout. Now everyone is a trainer and most have never stepped into the ring. Therefore, lack of knowledge means poor fundamentals, which leads to not a lot of talent being produced in NM.

8. Venues. Outside Santa Ana- there isn't much more that has a better set up.

9. Turning pro to early. Too many fighters are turning pro too early without getting a lot of open division experience Some of the best professionals have top amateur experience.

10. All the above.