Thread: Good for boxing.......... Bad for boxing

Let me change those phrases, 'cause I don't think they reflect what I'm trying to say. Let's say: "Brings new fans to boxing.......... loses boxing fans."

Anyway, we've had some major fights recently. Just wondering where everyone categorizes them between "brings new fans" or "loses fans." I might forget some, so feel free to add to the list. I'm looking for recent, major, highly-publicized fights. Anyway, here's how I categorize them:

Brings new fans

Cotto-Judah:
Love him or hate him, you gotta admit.... Cotto always comes to fight. Not grab, not wrestle, not pose and look pretty..... but to fight. And Judah, to his credit, came to fight also. Everyone I spoke to after that loved the fight. Hence, my opinion.

Hatton-Castillo:
I don't personally like Ricky's grabbing and mauling style, but I respect him for being a tireless worker inside the ring and giving his 100% every time out. And it's hard to beat British fans for support. Big groups flying thousands of miles to support their fighter can only be good press for the sport. So IMO, Ricky's win was good for boxing.

Margarito-Williams:
Nowadays, just about any fight between elite 147 pounders has a good chance of being great, and attract new fans. This fight was competitive, and Williams winning IMO brings a whole new fan base to the sport and creates the sort of intrigue that boxing needs. And Margarito is still around.

Loses fans

DLH-PBF:
Gonna catch a lot of flak over this one, but this one belongs here. When you consider the incredible hype BEFORE the fight, only a few diehard fans will say that the fight matched the hype. So did it bring new fans to the sport? I say no. Did it turn off some marginal boxing fans? Probably.

Hopkins-Wright:
Boy, did I hate this fight. At least I already expected a crappy fight. And I blame Hopkins more than Winky. Winky threw punches. He wasn't effective.... and his legs didn't look at all fresh at 170, but damn it... he threw punches. Hopkins threw and held, threw and held, threw and held.... all night long. Well, he interrupted that to throw in the occasional headbutt. Personally all things considered, I would've rather gone in for root canal than watch this fight. Thank God for the undercard.

Klitschko-Brewster:
This one wasn't Wlad's fault. Until they start throwing some competitive fighters at Wladimir, the heavyweight division is going to continue to stink up the joint. Brewster really disappointed me. I guess that first win over Wlad really WAS a fluke, after all. His heart wasn't even in it. I suggest he retires and takes up fishing.


Anyway, like I said... there might be more, but these are the ones I remember most right off hand. What do you all think?

I agree with what u say. I had waited ages for the ODLH v PBF fight and after watching it on PPV felt empty. I felt the best fight was the one with bautista. Some of my mates watched it with me, and there comments were mostly about how paying to watch was a rip off.

They hyped the hell out of it. The 24/7 show, and all this other uproar. It would've been hard for any fight to live up to the hype. Even so, it was bad, IMO.

Overhyping aside, the fight wasn't all that bad. Its wasn't like byrd-williamson where both fighters just resembled a boxing match and got ready to count their money, it was a match. Oscar had his moments and there's rounds that he won and for the most part he was aggressive thruout the whole fight til the later rounds. So there wasn't a knockdown, so what (look at the end and you'll see that floyds face was marked a good bit)? Anybody expecting a knockout was just being clueless. A lot of "casual" fans who ordered the fight probably hadn't watched a boxing match since tyson was good and just figured that thats what boxing is supposed to look like. Tyson fights aren't boxing matches, that needs to be clear. One sided domination over the course of a few rounds isn't a boxing match, its a glorified televised beating.

Same thing with wright and hopkins, you know how they fight. So maybe hopkins and wright don't let their hands go as much as the more "exciting" fighters do, thats probably why they still have consistent speech and know where the hell they are in the twilight of their careers.

The klitschko-brewster fight IS wlad's fault. Didn't he fight Ray Austin as a mandatory? How is brewster promoted to become a mandatory after a loss and a long layoff? After all his talk about Unifying, i'm not buying that he's actually trying too. He's been saying this shit since the end of last year and I'm not buying that he couldn't negotiate a unification match because in the meantime Ibragimov and Chagaev have a unification match set up and both haven't been champs all that long. How do these guys have more clout in the division than Wlad (who by the way is known over here to even casual boxing fans i know) considering the fact that they've both been champions less than a year, they are first time champions at that, and neither was rated in the top three of the ring magazine for the past several months? If wlad wanted the match, he'd of had it. He headlined in the garden last november. Don't give me this crap that he's trying to get a match when he clearly has the clout to and hasn't used it.

Actually three of my non boxing friends to my suprisement all watched the De La Hoya Mayweather fight and all of them thought it was a good fight.

They didn't catch all the hype that we did, the 24/7 show and following the press conferences on the internet.

They all felt it was an enjyable fight.

I don't know why so many of you guys hate on that fight either, I really enjoyed it, it completely gripped me watching it live as Oscar was in the fight right up to the final bell.

He lost a SPLIT DECISION people!!!

It annoys the crap out of me to be honest to hear people on hear saying in retrospect, 'Floyd won easily, I scored it 116-112' as if you watched the fight live with no sense of excitement of emotion, just a flatline heart response, knowing from round 1 that Floyd was in control.

That wasn't how it was at all, it was a nip and tuck fight in which Oscar came within a whisker of beating of Floyd.

I think it's just hating in the extreme to put a fight like that in the 'loses fans' category

It was the BIGGEST PPV OF ALL TIME!!! How the hell did it lose fans

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Actually three of my non boxing friends to my suprisement all watched the De La Hoya Mayweather fight and all of them thought it was a good fight.

They didn't catch all the hype that we did, the 24/7 show and following the press conferences on the internet.

They all felt it was an enjyable fight.

I don't know why so many of you guys hate on that fight either, I really enjoyed it, it completely gripped me watching it live as Oscar was in the fight right up to the final bell.

He lost a SPLIT DECISION people!!!

It annoys the crap out of me to be honest to hear people on hear saying in retrospect, 'Floyd won easily, I scored it 116-112' as if you watched the fight live with no sense of excitement of emotion, just a flatline heart response, knowing from round 1 that Floyd was in control.

That wasn't how it was at all, it was a nip and tuck fight in which Oscar came within a whisker of beating of Floyd.

I think it's just hating in the extreme to put a fight like that in the 'loses fans' category

It was the BIGGEST PPV OF ALL TIME!!! How the hell did it lose fans

Scrolled down and read this post without even realising it was you hobbit, and I only realised when karma wouldn't let me you. I can't believe people can say that was bad for boxing. How can a fight that had so much hype it actually pulled in fans and more media coverage...be bad for boxing.

I had Floyd winning by a point....and thats only because I gave him the final round. In retrospect he was a lucky boy. If Oscar had caught him flush, then who knows what would have happened.

Bottom line, I'll bet that fight had people who don't even like boxing watching it...and that's saying something.

Originally Posted by bzkfn

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Actually three of my non boxing friends to my suprisement all watched the De La Hoya Mayweather fight and all of them thought it was a good fight.

They didn't catch all the hype that we did, the 24/7 show and following the press conferences on the internet.

They all felt it was an enjyable fight.

I don't know why so many of you guys hate on that fight either, I really enjoyed it, it completely gripped me watching it live as Oscar was in the fight right up to the final bell.

He lost a SPLIT DECISION people!!!

It annoys the crap out of me to be honest to hear people on hear saying in retrospect, 'Floyd won easily, I scored it 116-112' as if you watched the fight live with no sense of excitement of emotion, just a flatline heart response, knowing from round 1 that Floyd was in control.

That wasn't how it was at all, it was a nip and tuck fight in which Oscar came within a whisker of beating of Floyd.

I think it's just hating in the extreme to put a fight like that in the 'loses fans' category

It was the BIGGEST PPV OF ALL TIME!!! How the hell did it lose fans

Scrolled down and read this post without even realising it was you hobbit, and I only realised when karma wouldn't let me you. I can't believe people can say that was bad for boxing. How can a fight that had so much hype it actually pulled in fans and more media coverage...be bad for boxing.

I had Floyd winning by a point....and thats only because I gave him the final round. In retrospect he was a lucky boy. If Oscar had caught him flush, then who knows what would have happened.

Bottom line, I'll bet that fight had people who don't even like boxing watching it...and that's saying something.

at least someone else agrees with me. I don't understand why the fight has been remembered so negatively it was a decent fight and a fantastic showcase of boxing skills.

I enjoyed it, it was an amazing achievement from Floyd to move up all the way from super featherweight to win the 154 lb title and Oscar pushed him all the way. I'm probably the only person on this board who wouldn't mind seeing a rematch but hey :P

De La Hoya has been my favorite fight up the point this year. That fight, and the decision, had me on the edge of my seat the entire way through. It was an ebb and flow type fight. I loved it and so did everyone I watched it with. It wasn't Cotto - Judah, but it wasn't a bad fight. Not at all.

Other then that, I agree. Hopkins - Wright was painful for me personally because I saw Hopkins holding and smothering taking away from Winky's, my favorite fighter, ability to win.

Originally Posted by amat

De La Hoya has been my favorite fight up the point this year. That fight, and the decision, had me on the edge of my seat the entire way through. It was an ebb and flow type fight. I loved it and so did everyone I watched it with. It wasn't Cotto - Judah, but it wasn't a bad fight. Not at all.

Other then that, I agree. Hopkins - Wright was painful for me personally because I saw Hopkins holding and smothering taking away from Winky's, my favorite fighter, ability to win.

for being another De La Hoya Mayweather fan, us few have to stick together!

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Originally Posted by amat

De La Hoya has been my favorite fight up the point this year. That fight, and the decision, had me on the edge of my seat the entire way through. It was an ebb and flow type fight. I loved it and so did everyone I watched it with. It wasn't Cotto - Judah, but it wasn't a bad fight. Not at all.

Other then that, I agree. Hopkins - Wright was painful for me personally because I saw Hopkins holding and smothering taking away from Winky's, my favorite fighter, ability to win.

for being another De La Hoya Mayweather fan, us few have to stick together!

I really enjoyed it, and I was actually stood up during the decision with my head in my hands hoping Oscar had won. Because I only gave it to Floyd by a point, I thought there was room for judgment either way. I'd watch a rematch, but I want to see Oscar vs. Ricky more than any other fight in the world. That to me is the dream and the fact that if it happened it'd be at Wembley has pretty much made me piss my pants with excitement at the very thought.

I agree it was a good fight and pretty much no fight could live up to the hype it had. I too wanted Oscar to win (mainly cos i don't like Floyd) but i thought Floyd edged it by a round or 2. If only Oscar hadn't tired the fight would have been his! oh well.

Floyd-Oscar was a better fight than I expected. It wasn't great but wasn't boring either.

I can understand how people took the bait of the 24/7 show and then felt letdown they didn't get a blood-and-guts fight.. but to be fair most fans that know their arse from their elbow knew that would never happen.

Brings new fans - Miranda-Pavlik
Loses fans - Taylor-Spinks

Originally Posted by NotGuilty136

Same thing with wright and hopkins, you know how they fight. So maybe hopkins and wright don't let their hands go as much as the more "exciting" fighters do, thats probably why they still have consistent speech and know where the hell they are in the twilight of their careers.

Nicely said! So many fans appreciate only one style of fighting, and everything else is crap, in their opinion. CC

Originally Posted by Bilbo

It annoys the crap out of me to be honest to hear people on hear saying in retrospect, 'Floyd won easily, I scored it 116-112' as if you watched the fight live with no sense of excitement of emotion, just a flatline heart response, knowing from round 1 that Floyd was in control.
That wasn't how it was at all, it was a nip and tuck fight in which Oscar came within a whisker of beating of Floyd.

Me too! No way was that a shutout. Not even close. CC

Originally Posted by bcollins

Originally Posted by NotGuilty136

Same thing with wright and hopkins, you know how they fight. So maybe hopkins and wright don't let their hands go as much as the more "exciting" fighters do, thats probably why they still have consistent speech and know where the hell they are in the twilight of their careers.

Nicely said! So many fans appreciate only one style of fighting, and everything else is crap, in their opinion. CC

Originally Posted by Bilbo

It annoys the crap out of me to be honest to hear people on hear saying in retrospect, 'Floyd won easily, I scored it 116-112' as if you watched the fight live with no sense of excitement of emotion, just a flatline heart response, knowing from round 1 that Floyd was in control.
That wasn't how it was at all, it was a nip and tuck fight in which Oscar came within a whisker of beating of Floyd.

Me too! No way was that a shutout. Not even close. CC

thanks buddy returned

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Originally Posted by bzkfn

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Actually three of my non boxing friends to my suprisement all watched the De La Hoya Mayweather fight and all of them thought it was a good fight.

They didn't catch all the hype that we did, the 24/7 show and following the press conferences on the internet.

They all felt it was an enjyable fight.

I don't know why so many of you guys hate on that fight either, I really enjoyed it, it completely gripped me watching it live as Oscar was in the fight right up to the final bell.

He lost a SPLIT DECISION people!!!

It annoys the crap out of me to be honest to hear people on hear saying in retrospect, 'Floyd won easily, I scored it 116-112' as if you watched the fight live with no sense of excitement of emotion, just a flatline heart response, knowing from round 1 that Floyd was in control.

That wasn't how it was at all, it was a nip and tuck fight in which Oscar came within a whisker of beating of Floyd.

I think it's just hating in the extreme to put a fight like that in the 'loses fans' category

It was the BIGGEST PPV OF ALL TIME!!! How the hell did it lose fans

Scrolled down and read this post without even realising it was you hobbit, and I only realised when karma wouldn't let me you. I can't believe people can say that was bad for boxing. How can a fight that had so much hype it actually pulled in fans and more media coverage...be bad for boxing.

I had Floyd winning by a point....and thats only because I gave him the final round. In retrospect he was a lucky boy. If Oscar had caught him flush, then who knows what would have happened.

Bottom line, I'll bet that fight had people who don't even like boxing watching it...and that's saying something.

at least someone else agrees with me. I don't understand why the fight has been remembered so negatively it was a decent fight and a fantastic showcase of boxing skills.

I enjoyed it, it was an amazing achievement from Floyd to move up all the way from super featherweight to win the 154 lb title and Oscar pushed him all the way. I'm probably the only person on this board who wouldn't mind seeing a rematch but hey :P

Karma has ended... #1045 for Baggins