Boos for national anthems are disgraceful

[belakbox]

I watched and was very embarrassed by the boos for the British National Anthem that took place pre Cotto vs Jennings.

I live in Puerto Rico and myself and many others here were very disappointed with the behavior of the fans in MSG. We've had our national anthem booed and made fun of many times, and no one here appreciates it.

Boxing is a brutal sport, but I wish fans would show more class and respect to the sport, the fighters and to their respective countries.

[JazMerkin]

Good post, I have to say I was surprised that a bigger deal wasn't made about it, mainly because there was a much bigger fuss (& quite rightly) made because of the Hatton-Mayweather fight & the Hatton fans' behaviour. With the British fans, its a kind of crossover from what they do at football matches, usually the only ones doing it. What these fools booing don't realize is that not showing this respect could have an impact on how the fight goes as it could drive the other fighter harder (as I think it would if its done to Pacquiao) or it could influence the referee against their fighter.

Will agree with CFH below, I wouldn't mind the anthems being done away with

[CFH]

Am I the only person who doesn't think it's a really big deal? 99% of the time, the boos are aimed at the fighter, not the country he is from (what beef could Puerto Ricans have with the modern British?). And even if they are directed at the country, so what? People are allowed to express themselves.

The singing of national anthems at professional sporting events annoys me anyways, I wouldn't mind in the least if they disappear from them entirely.

[killersheep]

Maybe I'm hypersensitive, but I think it's very disrespectful to boo at other national anthems. Very dissapointed in that.

[RP33]

I won't defend the booing but it was probably in retalliation from the Hatton fans booing Mayweathers (the US) National Anthem. Two wrongs don't make a right, but I can tell you that if I were drunk and had the opportunity to hear my "boo's" heard on national TV in retalliation, then i would ..

To be honest, i've never heard a national anthem boo'd until the mayweather/hatton fight. I don't want to hear that they're booing the fighter. It is the COUNTRIES national anthem. It's about sportsmanship. The boo's should take place when the fighter is walking towards the ring, and/or when his name/record is being announced. That is the time to boo the fighter for personal reasons. Not the country he is from.

[JazMerkin]

I won't defend the booing but it was probably in retalliation from the Hatton fans booing Mayweathers (the US) National Anthem. Two wrongs don't make a right, but I can tell you that if I were drunk and had the opportunity to hear my "boo's" heard on national TV in retalliation, then i would ..

To be honest, i've never heard a national anthem boo'd until the mayweather/hatton fight. I don't want to hear that they're booing the fighter. It is the COUNTRIES national anthem. It's about sportsmanship. The boo's should take place when the fighter is walking towards the ring, and/or when his name/record is being announced. That is the time to boo the fighter for personal reasons. Not the country he is from.

But were all those fans American or consider themselves American? It's not Jennings fault that many Hatton fans are fine troop of drunken imbeciles barely capable of doing anything constructive to the wider world or even themselves. If someone wanted to retaliate they should of at least done it to Hatton at the Malignaggi fight.

[RP33]

I won't defend the booing but it was probably in retalliation from the Hatton fans booing Mayweathers (the US) National Anthem. Two wrongs don't make a right, but I can tell you that if I were drunk and had the opportunity to hear my "boo's" heard on national TV in retalliation, then i would ..

To be honest, i've never heard a national anthem boo'd until the mayweather/hatton fight. I don't want to hear that they're booing the fighter. It is the COUNTRIES national anthem. It's about sportsmanship. The boo's should take place when the fighter is walking towards the ring, and/or when his name/record is being announced. That is the time to boo the fighter for personal reasons. Not the country he is from.

But were all those fans American or consider themselves American? It's not Jennings fault that many Hatton fans are fine troop of drunken imbeciles barely capable of doing anything constructive to the wider world or even themselves. If someone wanted to retaliate they should of at least done it to Hatton at the Malignaggi fight.

It was just a thought.. as i said i'm not really defending it, but i can understand if it happened because i was irritated when they boo'd the US anthem.

As far as who's fault it is, that would fall under guilty by association.

[C-Lo]

I honestly get sick to my stomach everytime a nation's anthem is booed. You can boo a fighter but to boo their country is just disrespectful.

[Tins06]

Booing the Anthems is bad. But They should be done away with in boxing IMO.Whats the point. I mean how many boxers really want to be world champions for the bragging rights for there country, there fighting for there own glory really. Wich is what it's all about.

[BlackRazor]

Yeah, I don't understand the booing either. The fans can wait to boo the fighter when he's introduced. At the very least, a boxing fan has to respect a fighter for being brave enough to get in the ring even if you hope he loses when he gets in there.

[Rantcatrat]

I honestly get sick to my stomach everytime a nation's anthem is booed. You can boo a fighter but to boo their country is just disrespectful.

Ditto.

[Manuel "Chubby" Medina]

Same here it is disrespectful.
You are there to watch both fighters and will appreciate both of them and their country for having produced such good fighters to give you a good show.

[X]

Well, I am British, and I'd probably boo the anthem if Audley Harrison was fighting. I'd also boo the ringcard girls, the referee, both corners, the TV coverage and the bar staff.

I agree that there isn't reallt a place for the anthems in boxing, which is an individualistic sport where it doen't really matter where you're from (in the pros anyway).

They only whip up nationalistic fervour to sell tickets and - at the start of the fight - they've sold all the tickets and PPV that they are going to. ... so there seems little point continuing the charade.

I do think anthems should be played in genuinely representative sports, like rugby union for example.

[Saddo]

didn't know that... hate any booing i i'm honest... i remember being at the hatton philips fight and witter was on the undercard

he got booed to fuck i thought it was totally classless


but i did laugh when in they all sang witter witter he likes it up the shitter

[Drago]

thought it was totally over the top, not the booing but having to listen to those fkin national athems in the first place wot a load of bollocks. makes sense in a football match or rugby but why the fk with boxers? didnt they play the american anthem as well?