Characters in boxing

In my opinion

Boxing needs more characters that will make you watch the fight.

I find myself not being able to enjoy or get hyped up for Pacquiao vs De La Hoya as much as I had hoped.

Not the way I got hyped up for Oscar's fight with Mayweather.

And it's mainly because of the personalities involved in the match.


As much as boxing gives you characters you are supposed to hate they are the reasons you get pumped up for a fight especially one they hype.

Watching two nice people go at it is nice, but boxing needs a story to truly be as interesting.

I think it has a lot to do with the media, and I know people are gonna hate me for saying this but its what I feel professional wrestling has over boxing and mma.

And hence why boxing usually or mma wants to get a story much like pro wrestling where you have the good guy and the villain the entertainer and the showman etc

These are things that can sale pro wrestling so well to the public and demographic in terms of adults, even if you know its sports entertainment you are drawn in not because of the matches but because of the storylines around those matches.

When boxing has a storyline like that where there is constant drama such as in a Mayweather build up or a Mayorga build up or Darchiniyan even Malignaggi lately with Hopkins etc


It gets you excited about the fight whether you want to see the trash talk backed up or whether you want to see the other person get beat down and you enjoy it THAT much more when one or the other happens.

In my opinion, Pacquiao vs De La Hoya has no "storyline" to it, like Mayweather vs De La Hoya, or Mayorga vs De La Hoya, or even Hopkins vs. Pavlik.

They are just the p4p number 1 fighter in the world vs Oscar De La Hoya.

I can get excited as a fan from the stand point of the best fighting and names fighting but I can't get excited over the fact of, entertainment.

90 percent of anticipation for the fight is the build up and the 10 percent was the fight itself

In my opinion the build up to De La Hoya vs Pacquiao almost seems forced, so I'm hoping the fight will be better.

Anyway to wrap this up, I think boxing needs more characters to create an interesting storyline to a fight that will make you want to tune in even if you aren't that big a fan of boxing.

I'll do a show on this probably this weekend.

But in the mean time I would like to know your opinions, they will be needed so I can address them in the show :) Thanks

Majesty

The main thing is to be a good boxer, character is secondary and Haye has it at the heavyweight division.

thats why u gotta love PBF because he was a cocky ass punk who alot of people wanted to see get KTFO but it never happened lol. all the trash talking and pissing his opponent off is wat sold his fights. i miss PBF :D

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Originally Posted by kingfrnk

thats why u gotta love PBF because he was a cocky ass punk who alot of people wanted to see get KTFO but it never happened lol. all the trash talking and pissing his opponent off is wat sold his fights. i miss PBF :D

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As much as I respect PBF in the ring, I really dont have any time for the crap he pulls outside of it. He is really such a stupid individual. He trash talks like a pissed off step child. Its pedantic and embarrassing to see. That Larry Merchant interview after the DelaHoya fight is hilarious. PBF just sounds like a retard! ;D

Mayorga and Toney are much better characters for that kind of thing IMO. Im not dissing PBF as a boxer, because his credentials are great up until 140.

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by kingfrnk

thats why u gotta love PBF because he was a cocky ass punk who alot of people wanted to see get KTFO but it never happened lol. all the trash talking and pissing his opponent off is wat sold his fights. i miss PBF :D

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As much as I respect PBF in the ring, I really dont have any time for the crap he pulls outside of it. He is really such a stupid individual. He trash talks like a pissed off step child. Its pedantic and embarrassing to see. That Larry Merchant interview after the DelaHoya fight is hilarious. PBF just sounds like a retard! ;D

Mayorga and Toney are much better characters for that kind of thing IMO. Im not dissing PBF as a boxer, because his credentials are great up until 140.

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yea PBF was kinda annoying but he did wat he had to do to sell those fights and made those PPV numbers high. i wasnt even gonna buy the fight he had with Oscar but i did it wasnt worth it but i just had to see wat happened. now when he fought Hatton that was awesome cause Hatton was coming back at him too.

but a little character wouldnt hurt these days especially since boxing is the least talked about sport now days. i hear more about fukin softball than i do about boxing.

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Originally Posted by kingfrnk

thats why u gotta love PBF because he was a cocky ass punk who alot of people wanted to see get KTFO but it never happened lol. all the trash talking and pissing his opponent off is wat sold his fights. i miss PBF :D

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:slap: Snap out of it!! ;D

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by kingfrnk

thats why u gotta love PBF because he was a cocky ass punk who alot of people wanted to see get KTFO but it never happened lol. all the trash talking and pissing his opponent off is wat sold his fights. i miss PBF :D

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As much as I respect PBF in the ring, I really dont have any time for the crap he pulls outside of it. He is really such a stupid individual. He trash talks like a pissed off step child. Its pedantic and embarrassing to see. That Larry Merchant interview after the DelaHoya fight is hilarious. PBF just sounds like a retard! ;D

Mayorga and Toney are much better characters for that kind of thing IMO. Im not dissing PBF as a boxer, because his credentials are great up until 140.

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If I hadn't already repped you this morning I would do it again.

I agree with everything you said.


And my opinion on this thread is, if the right matchups are made, you don't need a bunch of characters to force feed us a bunch of crap to sell a fight.

Did we need trash talk to sell us Cotto/Margarito? No, because is was the right matchup.

Do we need trash talk to sell us ODLH/Pac? Yes, because it's not a good matchup, and it's not one the people were asking to see.

Its kind of a double edged sword.
You need a couple of characters around to get the casual fan watching,and maybe learning enough about the sport to become a less casual fan.
But you dont want it to become WWE
Guys,like Ali and Hopkins are masters at selling a fight
Tysons fights sold themselves
You can spend all day coming up with funny Tex Cobb quotes
No matter what Warren thinks,Hattons flamboyant outside of the ring lifestyle makes him intriquing
I dare you to find me something a casual fan can latch on to about Chageav.
But at the same time,I like watching his fights,but Im not a casual fan

I think Floyd would hve had a lot more sucess ifhe was charismatic. He just doesnt posess that interesting persona like a Ali, Leonard, Duran, ODLH. He just comes off as dull and predictible outside the ring. I would say guys like Malignaggi, Hatton, Hopkins, etc. keep the sport interesting cause they come off as genuine people.

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Originally Posted by Majesty

In my opinion

Boxing needs more characters that will make you watch the fight.

I find myself not being able to enjoy or get hyped up for Pacquiao vs De La Hoya as much as I had hoped.

Not the way I got hyped up for Oscar's fight with Mayweather.

And it's mainly because of the personalities involved in the match.


As much as boxing gives you characters you are supposed to hate they are the reasons you get pumped up for a fight especially one they hype.

Watching two nice people go at it is nice, but boxing needs a story to truly be as interesting.

I think it has a lot to do with the media, and I know people are gonna hate me for saying this but its what I feel professional wrestling has over boxing and mma.

And hence why boxing usually or mma wants to get a story much like pro wrestling where you have the good guy and the villain the entertainer and the showman etc

These are things that can sale pro wrestling so well to the public and demographic in terms of adults, even if you know its sports entertainment you are drawn in not because of the matches but because of the storylines around those matches.

When boxing has a storyline like that where there is constant drama such as in a Mayweather build up or a Mayorga build up or Darchiniyan even Malignaggi lately with Hopkins etc


It gets you excited about the fight whether you want to see the trash talk backed up or whether you want to see the other person get beat down and you enjoy it THAT much more when one or the other happens.

In my opinion, Pacquiao vs De La Hoya has no "storyline" to it, like Mayweather vs De La Hoya, or Mayorga vs De La Hoya, or even Hopkins vs. Pavlik.

They are just the p4p number 1 fighter in the world vs Oscar De La Hoya.

I can get excited as a fan from the stand point of the best fighting and names fighting but I can't get excited over the fact of, entertainment.

90 percent of anticipation for the fight is the build up and the 10 percent was the fight itself

In my opinion the build up to De La Hoya vs Pacquiao almost seems forced, so I'm hoping the fight will be better.

Anyway to wrap this up, I think boxing needs more characters to create an interesting storyline to a fight that will make you want to tune in even if you aren't that big a fan of boxing.

I'll do a show on this probably this weekend.

But in the mean time I would like to know your opinions, they will be needed so I can address them in the show :) Thanks

Majesty

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Go watch UFC the ultimate fighter if you like soap opera and gossip stuff instead of fights.

I kinda get sick of Mayweather same shit my dad didnt love me and all this crap.

This is why I love Ricardo Mayorga. You'll find no bigger character in the sport than him.

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Originally Posted by Hulk

This is why I love Ricardo Mayorga. You'll find no bigger character in the sport than him.

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Mayorga now that is a character! but this floyd jr is a fake and studders and pre rehearses his lines.

Majesty,
When you say "characters" do you mean like how you have Alt. accounts as Starr and PGH Angel Eyes?
Or are you talking about different kinds of "characters"? :)

The best personality in combat sports IMO is Quiton Jackson, that guy is funny.

My favorite in any sport has to be Lebron James, right amount of swager, still funny, and not cocky.

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Originally Posted by Taeth

The best personality in combat sports IMO is Quiton Jackson, that guy is funny.

My favorite in any sport has to be Lebron James, right amount of swager, still funny, and not cocky.

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i didnt know u watch NBA Taeth?? Chris Paul is becoming my favorite player quickly or KG and Paul Pierce

Golata: Combustable persona equals unpredicatbility equals interesting character. Never know what will happen. :angryxo4:

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Originally Posted by holmcall

Golata: Combustable persona equals unpredicatbility equals interesting character. Never know what will happen. :angryxo4:

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Yeh your right.Like a live action train wreck.Watched that fight with Sampson Po'uha again last night,man that was foul and brutal :fight:

I think Jorge Paez epitimized the word "character" for boxing.
Truely and genuinely an entertainer. In every sense of the word.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/5754...0A659CEC4C8CB6


http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/2281...4831B75F48EF45


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1196/...316bd9.jpg?v=0



"Terrible" Terry was a very colorful character throughout his career.
"Macho" Camacho was another one.

[quote=CutMeMick;644703]I think Jorge Paez epitimized the word "character" for boxing.
Truely and genuinely an entertainer. In every sense of the word.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/5754...0A659CEC4C8CB6


http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/2281...4831B75F48EF45



I once saw him leave his corner and crawl after the card girl. LMFAO!!

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Originally Posted by Spicoli surfs 'Nawlins

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Originally Posted by holmcall

Golata: Combustable persona equals unpredicatbility equals interesting character. Never know what will happen. :angryxo4:

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Yeh your right.Like a live action train wreck.Watched that fight with Sampson Po'uha again last night,man that was foul and brutal :fight:

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Took a good chunk out of Po'uha's shoulder if memory serves me correct. Then he headbutted Doc Nicholson and Doc looked at the ref as if to say WTF and then after about 10 seconds, dropped down like he was unconcious from the butt. A circus I tell you. But I still like him.

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Originally Posted by holmcall

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Originally Posted by Spicoli surfs 'Nawlins

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Originally Posted by holmcall

Golata: Combustable persona equals unpredicatbility equals interesting character. Never know what will happen. :angryxo4:

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Yeh your right.Like a live action train wreck.Watched that fight with Sampson Po'uha again last night,man that was foul and brutal :fight:

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Took a good chunk out of Po'uha's shoulder if memory serves me correct. Then he headbutted Doc Nicholson and Doc looked at the ref as if to say WTF and then after about 10 seconds, dropped down like he was unconcious from the butt. A circus I tell you. But I still like him.

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Haha,O'Grady said he was showing his 'survival instincts' with Po'uha ;D

sorry im not on as much, warcraft and college takes alot of my time(should be graduating by June)

But I like the way this thread hasnt become a hate one.

The bringing up of Cotto and Margarito, you didn't need to sale that fight :)

But thats what you'd call a smark fight. "Smart marks" people that have followed boxing and followed these two fighters for quite a while.

But to the casual boxing fan who has no idea who these fighters are it may not be as appealing.

At my college you have boxing fan smart marks, and then you have people who don't really watch boxing but can name some people in it and would watch a fight.

Boxing needs a way to reach a younger demographic, because us as boxing fans won't be there forever. So how is boxing going to bring in a younger crowd or audience of people to get people interested in boxing, thats where my point about the outrageous people can come from.

Kudos to the guy who mentioned James Toney as one.

Arreola's loud shout out of mutherf---er last night signals character potential. Yep. I see him embarassing the HBO team down the road and that will qualify him for my Hall of Fame.

Boxing doesn't NEED characters...seeing how it's an individual sport it does attract them though.

I don't care to see any more jerks than I have to in a given day...I especially don't want to pay to see them

My favourites are always the characters...or usually the people I hate the most. I used to want to see Haye knocked out so badly.

Floyd and Eubank were my 2 favourite boxers...for me I loved how they pissed people off and no matter how hard their opponents tried they couldn't shut them up or prove them wrong.

I think characters are extremely important for the sport of boxing. If you don't have character how can the people care about you? Characters are very important if the sport is to attract more casual fans and keep them imo.

I think the important thing to keep in mind is that "having character" does not necessarily mean you're a jerk; it could mean that you're a nice guy, much like ODLH or Pacman. PBF doesn't seem to know how to do anything but be obnoxious once he steps outside the ring. While I can't fault his boxing skills, I can say he would be the last one in the boxing world that I would like to share a meal with.

The problem with the ODLH/Pacman match is you've got two very similar characters getting in the ring together - they've both fought their way to the top, have a vision for life after boxing, and believe that they need to help out the less fortunate along the way. There s no reason for these two to fight, other than money. There are plenty of other fights for Pacman, fights that could advance his career, and ODLH doesn't need to fight anymore, his career is nearly over.

I think this quote really does sum it up well -

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Originally Posted by Violent Ds Next Baby Mama

And my opinion on this thread is, if the right matchups are made, you don't need a bunch of characters to force feed us a bunch of crap to sell a fight.

Did we need trash talk to sell us Cotto/Margarito? No, because is was the right matchup.

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I have to agree with this. Sometimes, you just KNOW that a fight is going to be a good one. That the fighters are well matched, or that fighter A has a grudge against fighter B. And if that's there, you don't need to generate the PBF style hype to sell the PPVs.

Fess up - who got the PPV for the too-short Pacman-Morales fight just because there was a grudge to settle? As soon as the fight was scheduled, we decided to get it. The promise of a good fight was there, no hype needed. (Or, at least it was until you saw the fight, right? But by then, your money was in and it was just too late.)

Taylor-Pavlik II? It was a fight we all wanted to see. And both fighters had a lot of character, they both had strong personalities and a desire to win.

Calzaghe-Jones? After Hopkins took Hatton, we all wanted to see if Roy would do the same to Joe, even Joe's fans were biting their nails after Hopkins-Hatton. And all four of these fighters have character, too.

It's sort of like the baseball movie quote - If you build it, they will come.

If they build the better fights, we will come.

Without the hype.
Because they won't need it.

seems like when we have a charcter he's hated

but my fav. toney/prince naseem/eubanks/casyamor and a couple of more

Amongst the hardcore boxing alumni were never going to NEED these type of personalitys amongst us but....

For the sport to survive these types of cocky, flashy stars make the sport what it is


I personally feel we need a tyson esque ticking time bomb back within the scene. The sort of guy who from his entrance to what he does in the ring to whether he kicks off at the post fight conference nobody knows what is gonna happen with him!!


If only Mayorga was a decent boxer ;D;D;D;D;D

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Originally Posted by hattonthehammer

Amongst the hardcore boxing alumni were never going to NEED these type of personalitys amongst us but....

For the sport to survive these types of cocky, flashy stars make the sport what it is


I personally feel we need a tyson esque ticking time bomb back within the scene. The sort of guy who from his entrance to what he does in the ring to whether he kicks off at the post fight conference nobody knows what is gonna happen with him!!


If only Mayorga was a decent boxer ;D;D;D;D;D

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Yeah thats the point I was getting at, that these characters can draw new people into boxing that don't really follow it.

Because us the "smart mark" boxing fans will know a good matchup when we see it, but the casual fan that doesn't really watch boxing wouldn't know a good matchup. So yes for the sport to survive and draw in new people there needs to be an attraction like that, whether it be to a boxer to hate or to love or a story, it has to be beyond just a good matchup to snag in some new people to the sport of boxing. It's a reason I think the contender was so successful.