Cherry picking our favourite boxers.

[imp]

So tyson is a convicted rapist but we still adore and respect him?

Manny pac is a serial adulterer and wouldn't exactly be a guest on the Ellen show but we adore and worship him?

Floyd has has been sent to jail for beating his ex in front of his children but we still follow and support him?

The list goes on..

I understand we can separate the fighter from his personal life and choose to eliminate those acts from your mind so it suits...but would you do the same if it was your sister or daughter on the receiving end?

Okay, okay it might sound a bit harsh but I'm sure we could bring up your favourite actor, musician or sportsman and dissect their various personal traits compared to how they carry themselves in the chosen job.

Let's look at our heavyweight champion... wladimir klitschko seems to carry himself like a gentlemen with no crazy antics outside of the ring yet he is not exactly as revered as some of his less capable fellow boxers JUST because of his style in the ring.

So I'm just trying to understand and discuss why we all seem guilty of this cherry picking and favouritism of certain stars when they really aren't the sort of person that you should be following...does that make sense?!

(Guys, I appreciate this thread involves boxers but can we not turn it into a floyd/manny fight)

[imp]

The easy answer to this is that no one is perfect but that cant always be the excuse..

[Xwetie]

Hmm i see your point but you get convicted, you're free to go after some time, i think he did his time, but he stills hear he's a women beater.

I add: There is also a saying: "You should beat your women everyday, if you don't know why, she does" it's an old saying from Jugoslavija

[Beanz]

A lot of great actors are also alcoholics.Many a talented artist has been sexually promiscuous, violent,selfish and irresponsible. It's their work we admire, not their lifestyles or personalities. I don't think you have to excuse their behaviour but recognise that enjoying their career does not mean you endorsing them acting badly outside of the ring, studio, stage etc.

[Xwetie]

And most celebrities are getting pre judged, someone got caught doin blow few times hes all of a sudden a drug addict, or a celeb dating, got catcher eating at fancy restaurants and enjoying a few glasses of red every night while dating, this is something that would classified as an alcoholic by TMZ for example. but either of them really have any problems with it, it's all media,

[Ron Swanson]

I don't care about what athletes do other than in their sport. I don't know these people. Who they are doesn't concern me.

I like watching Floyd fight but even the way he talks to a camera drives me crazy, I would honestly rather read what he has to say than watch it because he bothers me that much. But I don't care because I don't care about Floyd the person.

But when who they are has something to do with in the sport. Then suddenly it bothers me because, again, it's about the sport. Like James Toney, I was a huge fan, Shane Mosley, Holyfield, and especially Fernando Vargas. Huge fan of each at one point. All f'n cheats, all are beyond worthless to me and pathetic cowards.

[Beanflicker]

I think you have to separate the artist and the art, especially in boxing because this sport has always been made up mostly of criminals and violent scumbags. Floyd's gone to court and jail for beating women, his daddy did a bid, he's a criminal and comes from criminal people. But he's one in a long line. Sugar Ray Robinson beat the shit out of his wife and kids and was a horrible father and husband (this according to his own kids). Jack Dempsey was a two-bit hustler who dodged the war and pimped his own wife out. Rocky Marciano was a con artist. Drugs, violence, cheating, adultery... this is the wrong sport to follow if you are a stickler for ethics.

[beenKOed]

Personally, I find it hard to ignore information after I've heard it and believe it about fighters.
Having said that, any information I've heard and believe about fighters, who fought, before 1960 tends to roll right by me. If you think about it, that info should be judged more harshly because it was often supressed by writers and radio, which means it must have been egregious. I guess it's because most of them have passed on.
Anyway it's difficult for me to ignore info about fighters from 1960 and up because I was watching and following them.

[Gandalf]

As mentioned earlier it is the performance that matters above all else.

[powerpuncher]

i dont usually connect my favorite athletes to what they do outside the sport. i think that it definitely can affect my decision but it may not at all. if there is a super exciting boxer that always has great fights and is great on the microphone then i will be a fan of theirs even if outside the ring they are a terrible person. im a fan of the fighter, not necessarily the person. but sometimes, i do see certain things fighters do out of the ring and it can make me a fan or not a fan of them.

overall though, i think its true that we cherry pick why we are or arent fans of certain fighters.

[goti71]

It's easy to overlook their flaws because they're not exactly real people; they're just a guy you see on TV and they never did all that shit to you or your sister.
You obviously won't support a boxer convicted for something similar to what you might have lived through in your family, hence the cherrypicking.

But otherwise, if they provide interesting fights, you enjoy them anyhow.

[ykdadamaja]

We don't have to like anyone! lol...

[SlimTrae]

I think you have to separate the artist and the art, especially in boxing because this sport has always been made up mostly of criminals and violent scumbags. Floyd's gone to court and jail for beating women, his daddy did a bid, he's a criminal and comes from criminal people. But he's one in a long line. Sugar Ray Robinson beat the shit out of his wife and kids and was a horrible father and husband (this according to his own kids). Jack Dempsey was a two-bit hustler who dodged the war and pimped his own wife out. Rocky Marciano was a con artist. Drugs, violence, cheating, adultery... this is the wrong sport to follow if you are a stickler for ethics.

Agreed. With Tyson though, I found his in ring tactics more despicable than out of the ring. Biting a man's ear, then the other. This plays into why I dont rate him a top 5 HW here or elsewhere.

Out of the ring antics? I'm still blown out the water over DLH's cross dressing. Just think about losing to a dude who prefers laced panties over drawz with a dickhole?

[Master]

I am a fan of Tyson but would have nothing in common with him outside boxing. I would never let him in my house.

[SlimTrae]

I am a fan of Tyson but would have nothing in common with him outside boxing. I would never let him in my house.

Ouch! LOL!