People have always wanted their bread and circuses. Boxing is just one more example of same. In south Louisiana, Texas, and a few other southern USA states, ****-fighting was a popular "sport" - not that it is very sporting to give roosters steel spurs and let them slash it out.
Personally, I think we should reinstate bull-fighting - but give the bull metal tips on his horns and cut the number of picadores in half. Then give the matador a dagger instead of a sword. If the bull wins, no retaliation. He lives to fight another day.
Or we could arm reindeer and give the hunters one 5-shot clip for the day. Then make sure there are at least SIX armed reindeer in the area. Make it REALLY sporting.