Good Guys and bad guys, the value of marketing

There are many quandaries in boxing, not least about the 'tribal' support that boxers get, especially UK boxers, some get no support because they are not media approved or friendly, others the opposite, consider the following injustices.

Brian London - hated Billy Walker loved
Henry Cooper loved, Joe Bugner hated
Chris Finnegan loved John Frankham hated
John Stracey loved Dave Boy Green hated
Benn/Eubank loved Herrol Graham hated (they were both scared of fighting him)
Ricky Hatton loved, Junior Whitter hated
Anthony Joshua loved, Tyson Fury hated
Carl Froch loved George Groves hated (including by referees)

Can you think of any more? I reckon there are loads of fighters out there that never got on the right media bandwagon and lost out because of it. Have a think.

Ali: Big mouth insulting, womanizing divorcee and arrogant- Loved.
Holmes : Hardworking fighter, faithful husband- not hated, just ignored.

Ray Leonard- frequently delayed big fights, lost his 1st title defence, got gift decisions, insulted Haglar by inviting him to an arena only to be told, Ray is retiring.- Loved.
Aaron Pryor fought whoever whenever, perpetual motion styled- Not hated just denied the spotlight payday that Ray constantly got- to this day few Americans know who he is.

Canelo is a media generated propoganda hype job.loved.

Floyd woman beater, crack ass family, arrogant, spoilt prick. Hated rightfully.

Tyson criminal, delinquent, exploited, abused. Loved.

Hopkins, early on 'hated' for his ego, brashness, the masks and the persona. Mr. anti establishment and victim. Throwing Titos flag around didn't help! Ironically went to earn, even if it was begrudgingly, respect of fans for longevity and taking on all comers. Recently the only thing left to hate may have been his style :-X

I still think Hopkins didn't get enough recognition or respect outside of hardcore boxing nerds, despite not being great to watch for most. If he had ever gotten people behind him in any way, earned a token of mainstream appeal or notoriety, you'd have to think it would have made him pretty huge. Is there anyone you can even pretend to say has done more in a proper elite sport, beyond their 30s? It's unheard of and a cool story. I wouldn't mind seeing him fight again, maybe like Chavez Jr;D

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Originally Posted by Master

Canelo is a media generated propoganda hype job.loved.

Floyd woman beater, crack ass family, arrogant, spoilt prick. Hated rightfully.

Tyson criminal, delinquent, exploited, abused. Loved.

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You're certainly getting into the intended theme of this thread, its almost 'strange but true'.

Chavez - Presidential-like embracement from his country
Camacho - Hated by the 99.97% of the Mexican community.

Bruno/ Lewis was a bit like that for a while.

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

Bruno/ Lewis was a bit like that for a while.

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Good one.

"I'm going to give him what you Americans call a good ass whipping."

-Frank Bruno

Jack Dempsey, draft dodging, wife beating tax evader. Loved

Gene Tunney, ex-Marine, decent, intelligent, happily married. Hated.

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Originally Posted by Hulk

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

Bruno/ Lewis was a bit like that for a while.

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Good one.

"I'm going to give him what you Americans call a good ass whipping."

-Frank Bruno

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Is that you Bill?;D

Ali - adored by all for the most part
Frazier - for some reason symbolized white racism against Ali (I have no clue how that fucking happened)
Foreman - Just seen as a mean bully who wasn't very bright


Holmes - Hated because he wasn't Ali
Cooney - Loved because he was hyped as "The Great White Hope", he was a good fighter but for that fight the race card was played big time and it's a shame because it was a good fight, a good matchup and Cooney didn't need to be drug through the mud of racism and Holmes deserved more respect.


Roy Jones Jr. - Pretty much appreciated by all boxing fans
Bernard Hopkins - seen as tedious to watch and volatile when interviewed

Mike Tyson - Loved even when he was being an absolute monster, people wanted to watch him wreak havoc or be beaten into submission....he was a movie monster, he was Frankenstein, the people liked watching him destroy and they liked watching him be destroyed he couldn't lose with the fans everything he did had drama to it and excitement
Evander Holyfield - Never really respected as a puncher even after he stopped Tyson, he was seen like a Joe Frazier, workman like, cagey.
Lennox Lewis - seen as too effete and Tunney-esque as in he was a smart fighter and not just some dumb brute

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Originally Posted by El Kabong

Evander Holyfield - Never really respected as a puncher even after he stopped Tyson, he was seen like a Joe Frazier, workman like, cagey.

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So true.
I can't remember who did an interview I watched sometime ago , but it started off just awful.

"Evander Holyfield, so I understand you were once the Heavy weight champion of the world"

When asked who he fought- they recognized him as the guy Mike Tyson bit.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Hopkins, early on 'hated' for his ego, brashness, the masks and the persona. Mr. anti establishment and victim. Throwing Titos flag around didn't help! Ironically went to earn, even if it was begrudgingly, respect of fans for longevity and taking on all comers. Recently the only thing left to hate may have been his style :-X

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I have Hops career exactly backwards from most. I loved him when most didn't know who he is and I grew to hate him during the portion that built his legend. What most see as taking on all comers I see as careful picking and choosing. He took on Wright at a weight he didn't belong, Oscar the same, Tito was below his best at middle, where I really turned though was after he told Dawson "beat Johnson and I'll fight you" then when Dawson did that he kept changing his story. Anyone could see Dawson was a bad matchup for him and he didn't care about that belt until the moment Pascal got it and he had the good matchup suddenly Hop jumped. In all Dawson waited more than 3 years and Hop still dicked him around. Old Hop to me was brilliant at finding flaws he could exploit. Young Hop, even with lesser names, was the take all comers guy.

And I can list more and more like never agreeing to a rematch with Roy until he was absolutely positive Roy had nothing left, hell, it's so easy to find fault I'll just stop.

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Originally Posted by X

Jack Dempsey, draft dodging, wife beating tax evader. Loved

Gene Tunney, ex-Marine, decent, intelligent, happily married. Hated.

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To date, I think this is the most illustrative of the lot, am jealous I never used it, well found!