You could argue that taking away the BS lessens the skill required as one lucky punch is more likely to knock someone out, and I don't see that as emphasising skill. I also fail to see how taking away the safety gear lessens the impact of strength. I agree that talking away the equipment, rules etc would lead to more excitement, more drama, and more knockouts, I don't see that it would make boxing more skillful, or pure.
Personally I think professional boxing is dying a slow death as a major sport, more due to public apathy at a sport riddled with the corruption and mismanagement I touched on earlier than the actual in ring spectacle. The future will probably lie more in small regional organisations, and there is a good chance something close to your vision will become a reality in a number of them.
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