What has happened to boxing fans lately?

Here's a question that I've always wanted to ask...& I guess it's kind of a multi question question...but it still comes down to the same basic point:

DO THE FANS NO LONGER HAVE THE SAME RESPECT FOR BOXING OR IT'S FIGHTERS AS OUR PREDESSECORS?

By that I mean this...back in "the big time of boxing" there were fans that seemed to get behind their fighters more. People seemingly latched their hearts on to fighters years ago. People cried when their fighter lost...but they often held them up & still supported them.

Quite often on our joint here...I see a lot of people jump ship the moment their man loses. Now don't get me wrong...I'm not pointing the finger at everyone...really I'm not...but we do get a lot of new members on the site that almost seem to just come on & bash a fighter into the ground. One is Jeff Lacy of course...but that's not the point that I am trying to make...or maybe it is.

Errrrrrrrr...back to the point.

What has indeed happened to the undying loyalty & respect for boxers?

People rip apart the ones that are technically gifted & undefeated, they applaud the ones that are human stains, & often they hinge their hopes on fighters that are champions but unproven against high caliber opponents.

What is going on? Talk to me people. I'm just curious.

hey im a loyal kell brook fan....incase you didnt know lol. ;D

I think that as boxing has changed, so have the fans. For the few fighters that still represent the older generation, the fans still show the same love. Look at Hatton and Gatti. These are fighters who get the money, but seem to earn it, they like boxing. As a boxing fan, supporting a great talented fighter, it is difficult to really back them when you see them getting involved in politics and opponent picking because they are scared or because of the cash.
If a fighter with the talent of PBF was to come out and make all the fights that the fans want to see, then he would be a legend. He can do it. Even if it ment that he took a paycut, and didn't affiliate himself with anyone TV network, and stated to the boxing world that his priority was to prove himself as the greatest, then he would have the love of ALL fans. People wouldn't care if he lost, and the irony is that he would make way more money that he does now. Case in point, Gatti! Limited ability, yet still gets the love, fights and cash.
Also guys like Don King really kill boxing. It is hard to support any fighter in the King stable because you NEVER know the full story.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wacko3205

Here's a question that I've always wanted to ask...& I guess it's kind of a multi question question...but it still comes down to the same basic point:

DO THE FANS NO LONGER HAVE THE SAME RESPECT FOR BOXING OR IT'S FIGHTERS AS OUR PREDESSECORS?

By that I mean this...back in "the big time of boxing" there were fans that seemed to get behind their fighters more. People seemingly latched their hearts on to fighters years ago. People cried when their fighter lost...but they often held them up & still supported them.

Quite often on our joint here...I see a lot of people jump ship the moment their man loses. Now don't get me wrong...I'm not pointing the finger at everyone...really I'm not...but we do get a lot of new members on the site that almost seem to just come on & bash a fighter into the ground. One is Jeff Lacy of course...but that's not the point that I am trying to make...or maybe it is.

Errrrrrrrr...back to the point.

What has indeed happened to the undying loyalty & respect for boxers?

People rip apart the ones that are technically gifted & undefeated, they applaud the ones that are human stains, & often they hinge their hopes on fighters that are champions but unproven against high caliber opponents.

What is going on? Talk to me people. I'm just curious.

---

:coolclick:

i know what you mean Wacko, i must admit people hurry to jump the bandwagon so fast these days...
I noticed it happened to Gatti too, maybe not here but certainly on other websites...all this talk about Gatti was reborn and their favourite fighter and once he lost to Floyd, he just suddenly turned into a classless bum.
Maybe its because fighters are having less fights, and are more interested in big paydays rather than fighting the best out there.

Well,when Manny destroyed Erik in Jan,I was as close to tears as you can get,that may sound gay but I coudn't help it! I thought Erik was indestructible(heck his chin still is). I just think it is more of a society thing, people are always looking for bigger,better things,always looking for the guys at the top to take a fall. It is just how man was created I guess. I'm sure in the times of unbeaten guys like Marciano,people wanted them to have that 1 on their record,not always in a negative sense,as in to see how they bounce back from adversity?
The_One,cool click,hit the nail on the head,in relation to your last paragraph Wack,each to his own,who you see as amazing and talented maybe a waste of talent to someone else,who you see as a warrior maybe a villan to someone else etc and when guys are just going after big paydays, I really could not give a crap about how talented they are if we don't see that talent in effect. People hinge hopes on guys like you mentioned because they are the under dogs, the ones not given a shot,the one that works his ass off,may not be technically gifted but wins nontheless. If the high claiber opponents gave the hard working uys a chance, we may see a new star shine,you know what I mean? Winky's case:Mosley.JMM:Pacman etc. CC Wacko, for a thought provoking thread.

thxs man

CC back

I think a lot of it is because these undefeated highly skilled guys set themselves up to be picked apart. When a guy like PBF or Judah claims to be the greatest and doesnt respect his opponents he best not make a single mistake in the ring or someone will say something about it. If these guys kept there mouths shut and werent so cocky they wouldnt have the burden of being great all the time. You wont hear someone ever say Gatti sucks, cause he just fights and never claimes to be the best. He just does his job and peoples like him. Same thing with Pac, Winky, De La Hoya, Barrera. But the Tarvers, PBFs, Judahs of the boxing world will always be picked apart as long as they talk

well i did shed a tear when khan won his silver medal. :'( :D

Good stuff people. :coolclick:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BoomBoom

I think a lot of it is because these undefeated highly skilled guys set themselves up to be picked apart. When a guy like PBF or Judah claims to be the greatest and doesnt respect his opponents he best not make a single mistake in the ring or someone will say something about it. If these guys kept there mouths shut and werent so cocky they wouldnt have the burden of being great all the time. You wont hear someone ever say Gatti sucks, cause he just fights and never claimes to be the best. He just does his job and peoples like him. Same thing with Pac, Winky, De La Hoya, Barrera. But the Tarvers, PBFs, Judahs of the boxing world will always be picked apart as long as they talk

---

CC,good points bro and I agree, again regardless of talent, if a guys is going to have a big mouth, he best hope he backs it up and in the case of Zab for example,he doesn't so it makes look an ever bigger fool!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by emma

hey im a loyal kell brook fan....incase you didnt know lol. ;D

---

So...tell me a bit about Kell Brooks...because I honestly don't know anything ther than he's made a name for himself by fighting almost deceased opposition.

Brian Coleman (24 wins with 5 ko's, 141 losses, & 7 draws), Peter Buckley (31 wins with 8 ko's, 221 losses, & 11 draws), & Ernie Smith (13 wins with 1 ko, 97 losses, & 5 draws) twice...I mean...what the fwock?

I know he's a prospect & you seem to be all about him...but those guy's seem to be nothing more than "morgue-worthy" opponents. His other opposition is not equally as bad...but still terrible.

I'm not trying to be overly critical...just curious. Why does he not step up to someone a bit more noteworthy...Amir has & faired very well.

hahaha, is that who this Kell Brooks has faced? And is that why he is getting all this attention? For beating "Morgue worthy" opponents?! I love that line Wack!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Game

hahaha, is that who this Kell Brooks has faced? And is that why he is getting all this attention? For beating "Morgue worthy" opponents?! I love that line Wack!!

---

Heh heh heh. Call 'em like I see 'em babe. That is some bullshat! Hatton faced opposition that was better than that in his first 9 or 10...that right there...that's just ree-got-dam-dick-u-los!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wacko3205

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by emma

hey im a loyal kell brook fan....incase you didnt know lol. ;D

---

So...tell me a bit about Kell Brooks...because I honestly don't know anything ther than he's made a name for himself by fighting almost deceased opposition.

Brian Coleman (24 wins with 5 ko's, 141 losses, & 7 draws), Peter Buckley (31 wins with 8 ko's, 221 losses, & 11 draws), & Ernie Smith (13 wins with 1 ko, 97 losses, & 5 draws) twice...I mean...what the fwock?

I know he's a prospect & you seem to be all about him...but those guy's seem to be nothing more than "morgue-worthy" opponents. His other opposition is not equally as bad...but still terrible.

I'm not trying to be overly critical...just curious. Why does he not step up to someone a bit more noteworthy...Amir has & faired very well.

---

if you wanna know more about him checkout his website www.freewebs.com/kellbrookfansite ;D

I think it's just one of those things where certain sports lose their mass appeal over time. Mens tennis for instance, was huge back in the '70s and '80s, and now not only is it irrelevant, it's even overshadowed by women's tennis. Lack of charismatic athletes who also happen to be the best will cause a sport to lose fans, and that's what's happened to boxing. It's only when the best guys also happen to be the most beloved and fun to watch that a sport will be popular. The guys with the charisma (Mayorga, Toney, etc.) are not the elite, and the guys on top are boring mutherf@ckers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by emma

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wacko3205

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by emma

hey im a loyal kell brook fan....incase you didnt know lol. ;D

---

So...tell me a bit about Kell Brooks...because I honestly don't know anything ther than he's made a name for himself by fighting almost deceased opposition.

Brian Coleman (24 wins with 5 ko's, 141 losses, & 7 draws), Peter Buckley (31 wins with 8 ko's, 221 losses, & 11 draws), & Ernie Smith (13 wins with 1 ko, 97 losses, & 5 draws) twice...I mean...what the fwock?

I know he's a prospect & you seem to be all about him...but those guy's seem to be nothing more than "morgue-worthy" opponents. His other opposition is not equally as bad...but still terrible.

I'm not trying to be overly critical...just curious. Why does he not step up to someone a bit more noteworthy...Amir has & faired very well.

---

if you wanna know more about him checkout his website www.freewebs.com/kellbrookfansite ;D

---

by the way did you make that website yourself? 8)

I think that part of the problem is the number of different world champions in each weight class and the lack of any consistently good match ups. Back in the day it didnt seem like the most popular fighters took so many "tune ups". And it seemed like they did fought the other top boxers of the day more often.

I think that it is weird thou, that people will complain about the violence that boxing is, but then they will watch the violent shows that are on the TV and not complain about that violence.

Part of its just that overall boxing fans place more of an emphasis on being undefeated these days, one bad performance and a guys exposed or done. Fighters use to fight so often that they were gonna rack up some losses, look at Ezzard Charles' record, Hank Armstrong's, guys like that had a bunch of losses and not all of them were at the end of their career. Still all time fighters.

Seems like a lot of people like a guy only if he's a great fighter, then as he starts to fade or maybe is shown to not be as good a fighter as they thought he might of been then sometimes people will jump ship. Being a fan of a boxer is different than being a fan of, for example, a football team. If a football team has a few bad years they can get better by bringing in different players. But once a boxer starts getting older and going downhill he's not likely to turn it around. But fans sometimes jump ship too early before a guy's really done, Lacy's not done unless he's mentally done, I mean Barrera lost twice to Junior Jones and came back from it. And that's just one example. But I try to stick with a guy, I've been a fan of Toney since the Nunn fight and its hard work being a loyal Toney fan.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The_One77

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by emma

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wacko3205

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by emma

hey im a loyal kell brook fan....incase you didnt know lol. ;D

---

So...tell me a bit about Kell Brooks...because I honestly don't know anything ther than he's made a name for himself by fighting almost deceased opposition.

Brian Coleman (24 wins with 5 ko's, 141 losses, & 7 draws), Peter Buckley (31 wins with 8 ko's, 221 losses, & 11 draws), & Ernie Smith (13 wins with 1 ko, 97 losses, & 5 draws) twice...I mean...what the fwock?

I know he's a prospect & you seem to be all about him...but those guy's seem to be nothing more than "morgue-worthy" opponents. His other opposition is not equally as bad...but still terrible.

I'm not trying to be overly critical...just curious. Why does he not step up to someone a bit more noteworthy...Amir has & faired very well.

---

if you wanna know more about him checkout his website www.freewebs.com/kellbrookfansite ;D

---

by the way did you make that website yourself? 8)

---

yes. ;D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sanj16

I think that as boxing has changed, so have the fans. For the few fighters that still represent the older generation, the fans still show the same love. Look at Hatton and Gatti. These are fighters who get the money, but seem to earn it, they like boxing. As a boxing fan, supporting a great talented fighter, it is difficult to really back them when you see them getting involved in politics and opponent picking because they are scared or because of the cash.
If a fighter with the talent of PBF was to come out and make all the fights that the fans want to see, then he would be a legend. He can do it. Even if it ment that he took a paycut, and didn't affiliate himself with anyone TV network, and stated to the boxing world that his priority was to prove himself as the greatest, then he would have the love of ALL fans. People wouldn't care if he lost, and the irony is that he would make way more money that he does now. Case in point, Gatti! Limited ability, yet still gets the love, fights and cash.
Also guys like Don King really kill boxing. It is hard to support any fighter in the King stable because you NEVER know the full story.

---

Points such as this and also the times? In the early 1900's you had the great depression, in the 60's you had revolts, nam, etc. It was a time of sticking to your guns and supporting what and who you believed in.

Today this just isn't the case. Sure we have the terrorism, but boxing and politics are so separate except for the fact that politics of another kind are laced throughout boxing.

There just isn't much going on that makes people latch onto a fighter emotionally. It's all about boxing now. Where as with Ali, sure he is a magnificent boxer... but people loved him for other reasons as well, perhaps more so for other reasons. An example... I have an evolutionary psychology/biology professor, and one of her idols is none other than Muhammad Ali.

The problem now a days is people except everything immediately...

Every big fight must happen tomorrow, and if it does not, it is because so and so is a coward.

Modern (post 70) Boxing has never worked like that. Promotors deliberately let anticipation build, in the hope of making even bigger fights. Sometimes it does fail, because of an untimely defeat or injury, but 7 out of 10 times you end up with a huge superfight.

The last time this was done properly was for Lewis/Tyson, and the fight was massive, IMO, the only superfight of the 21st Century.

Look at the mismatch that happens tommorow morning, boxing is getting desperate, trying to hype a fight, as being absolutely huge, despite one of the participants comming of a defeat, to a, at best fringe contender...

The fight is so 'huge'; it is not even being shown in Britain...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wacko3205

Here's a question that I've always wanted to ask...& I guess it's kind of a multi question question...but it still comes down to the same basic point:

DO THE FANS NO LONGER HAVE THE SAME RESPECT FOR BOXING OR IT'S FIGHTERS AS OUR PREDESSECORS?

By that I mean this...back in "the big time of boxing" there were fans that seemed to get behind their fighters more. People seemingly latched their hearts on to fighters years ago. People cried when their fighter lost...but they often held them up & still supported them.

Quite often on our joint here...I see a lot of people jump ship the moment their man loses. Now don't get me wrong...I'm not pointing the finger at everyone...really I'm not...but we do get a lot of new members on the site that almost seem to just come on & bash a fighter into the ground. One is Jeff Lacy of course...but that's not the point that I am trying to make...or maybe it is.

---

Well they all try to copy Northside when he came here TYPING LIKE THIS and talking of Jermain Taylor. And they try to emulate but Northside is very successful at the fighters and also Pantera who hyped Miranda pretty much the same way. But the main reason we are seeing this is because they are upset that their man is getting less attention then the guy they think their man is better than. which is why people were hating on Jeff Lacy for getting more attention then the other super middleweights. Kessler wasn't on showtime like Lacy was and neither is Calzaghe. They think it's unfair so they lash out at the attention getting fighter in an attempt to get their fighter attention. And usually make statement and do not back it up as well. They just do not know yet. And they overrate their fighter if they beat someone much like they accuse us of doing to our "lacy's" if you will.

Quote:

---

Errrrrrrrr...back to the point.

What has indeed happened to the undying loyalty & respect for boxers?

People rip apart the ones that are technically gifted & undefeated, they applaud the ones that are human stains, & often they hinge their hopes on fighters that are champions but unproven against high caliber opponents.

---

Wacko, stop trying to sneak in a Judah vs. mayweather reference to try and get me mad ;) I will be watching you :)

Quote:

---

What is going on? Talk to me people. I'm just curious.

---

Just bandwagon jumpers, and haters, and "those who like boxers because of the color of their trunks" is what I like to call it. It's what makes us different. I hate Tarver, but I would pick him to beat Calzaghe and I don't hate Calzaghe.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Starr

Wacko, stop trying to sneak in a Judah vs. mayweather reference to try and get me mad ;) I will be watching you :)

---

Actually...I was talking more about Toney & Hatton...Toney being the stain & Hatton yet to be 100% proven...there again though...it's just my opinion...& I know that everyone loves Toney & Hatton.