My ex partner is a martial arts instructor. And while we were together I watched quite a bit boxing, thai boxing etc.
First I wasn't too delighted, but after I started kickboxing myself and started to identify certain punshes and techniques it became much more interesting, but actually only those fights which were technically interesting.
On Eurosport they sometimes showed the youngsters and as they were rather "bad" in technique it was less interesting.
I think as in any sport you will find corruption and abuse, but to get to the top, you have to train really hard and need a lot of ambition, no matter where (class) you are coming from.
My ex partner was quite good in competition in his "prime time" (long ago), but is not really from working class back round, nor are the guys he started to run a club with.