The Power of the Press

[TitoFan]

Just received my Jan 12 edition of ESPN magazine, and saw an article titled "1,506 Days With Boxing's Next Great Thing." When I open the mag, it's a 6-page spread on none other than Andre Berto.

See... this is why sometimes I start rooting against certain fighters. Still on the way up... never having faced the career-defining fighters that other fighters have faced... and already being annointed the next "great thing." It's what I've always said. The press picks its own favorites, and basically makes them into the next "great things." No dis on Berto. He's young and exciting. But what about the other fighters out there that have fought longer, beaten better opposition, and currently have championships? What about those?

Guess I'll just have to start rooting for Berto to lose.

[Taeth]

That doesn't make any sense at all, him being the next great thing means he has more potential than the champions do right now, or that their are already considered great, and he is the next generation of that.

Also to hate Berto because of his hype IMO is jumping on a gay bandwagon, he is incredibly fast, he hits hard, he actually comes to fight, he is getting hard to hit, and he's an extremely nice guy who doesn't run off at the mouth.

[Onix]

That doesn't make any sense at all, him being the next great thing means he has more potential than the champions do right now, or that their are already considered great, and he is the next generation of that.

Also to hate Berto because of his hype IMO is jumping on a gay bandwagon, he is incredibly fast, he hits hard, he actually comes to fight, he is getting hard to hit, and he's an extremely nice guy who doesn't run off at the mouth.

I see what Titofan is saying, but judging by just the Title of the article I would have to agree with Taeth.

[TitoFan]

jumping on a gay bandwagon

Let's leave personal fantasies out of it.

That doesn't make any sense at all, him being the next great thing means he has more potential than the champions do right now, or that their are already considered great, and he is the next generation of that.

Also to hate Berto because of his hype IMO is jumping on a gay bandwagon, he is incredibly fast, he hits hard, he actually comes to fight, he is getting hard to hit, and he's an extremely nice guy who doesn't run off at the mouth.

My point here is that:

1. ESPN hardly ever writes about boxing. Then, when it does, it blatantly ignores young up-and-coming fighters with much better records (read: quality of opposition), and conveniently picks out the next U.S.-born and bred hope.

2. Well... that's pretty much it.

BTW, I don't HATE Berto. I don't even know him. I just want him to lose, is all.

[CFH]

jumping on a gay bandwagon

Let's leave personal fantasies out of it.

That doesn't make any sense at all, him being the next great thing means he has more potential than the champions do right now, or that their are already considered great, and he is the next generation of that.

Also to hate Berto because of his hype IMO is jumping on a gay bandwagon, he is incredibly fast, he hits hard, he actually comes to fight, he is getting hard to hit, and he's an extremely nice guy who doesn't run off at the mouth.

My point here is that:

1. ESPN hardly ever writes about boxing. Then, when it does, it blatantly ignores young up-and-coming fighters with much better records (read: quality of opposition), and conveniently picks out the next U.S.-born and bred hope.

2. Well... that's pretty much it.

BTW, I don't HATE Berto. I don't even know him. I just want him to lose, is all.

Well, the bolded part is pretty understandable considering their target audience.

[TitoFan]

jumping on a gay bandwagon

Let's leave personal fantasies out of it.

That doesn't make any sense at all, him being the next great thing means he has more potential than the champions do right now, or that their are already considered great, and he is the next generation of that.

Also to hate Berto because of his hype IMO is jumping on a gay bandwagon, he is incredibly fast, he hits hard, he actually comes to fight, he is getting hard to hit, and he's an extremely nice guy who doesn't run off at the mouth.

My point here is that:

1. ESPN hardly ever writes about boxing. Then, when it does, it blatantly ignores young up-and-coming fighters with much better records (read: quality of opposition), and conveniently picks out the next U.S.-born and bred hope.

2. Well... that's pretty much it.

BTW, I don't HATE Berto. I don't even know him. I just want him to lose, is all.

Well, the bolded part is pretty understandable considering their target audience.

Yes it IS understandable. But it goes along with my point. Boxing's long been an international sport. And some of its biggest stars are foreign-born (Hispanic, European, Asian, etc.). But because the U.S. is where all boxers aspire to fight (ie: Las Vegas, Atlantic City, MSG)... and the boxing rankings are basically controlled by the U.S. press... U.S. born and bred up-and-coming young stars are given a huge head start in terms of recognition.

Sometimes, I don't begrudge this (ie: Pavlik is a recent example). But who the hell has Berto fought yet? Of the young, known fighters, probably only JCC Jr. has had a softer slate of opponents.

Hey, Berto may yet become champion and beat the Margaritos and Cottos of the world. But until then, he's just another prospect. Along with a bunch of other prospects from a bunch of other countries.

[CFH]

Let's leave personal fantasies out of it.




My point here is that:

1. ESPN hardly ever writes about boxing. Then, when it does, it blatantly ignores young up-and-coming fighters with much better records (read: quality of opposition), and conveniently picks out the next U.S.-born and bred hope.

2. Well... that's pretty much it.

BTW, I don't HATE Berto. I don't even know him. I just want him to lose, is all.

Well, the bolded part is pretty understandable considering their target audience.

Yes it IS understandable. But it goes along with my point. Boxing's long been an international sport. And some of its biggest stars are foreign-born (Hispanic, European, Asian, etc.). But because the U.S. is where all boxers aspire to fight (ie: Las Vegas, Atlantic City, MSG)... and the boxing rankings are basically controlled by the U.S. press... U.S. born and bred up-and-coming young stars are given a huge head start in terms of recognition.

Sometimes, I don't begrudge this (ie: Pavlik is a recent example). But who the hell has Berto fought yet? Of the young, known fighters, probably only JCC Jr. has had a softer slate of opponents.

Hey, Berto may yet become champion and beat the Margaritos and Cottos of the world. But until then, he's just another prospect. Along with a bunch of other prospects from a bunch of other countries.

Out of curiosity, what prospects do you feel deserve more attention than Berto right now?

[rjj tszyu]

I agree! He is the next great thing.

[CutMeMick]

I can't say he's the next great thing cause still to soon for me to call him that.
I've made the mistake many times before where I jump on a boxer and label him the next big thing only to see him lose and not be the next thing.


To be fair here Berto is at the front of American Boxing which makes me understand why ESPN would do that. I'm sure sometime in 2004-2005 the same thing happened with Jermain Taylor.

It's how it goes...

[JazMerkin]

I can't say he's the next great thing cause still to soon for me to call him that.
I've made the mistake many times before where I jump on a boxer and label him the next big thing only to see him lose and not be the next thing.


To be fair here Berto is at the front of American Boxing which makes me understand why ESPN would do that. I'm sure sometime in 2004-2005 the same thing happened with Jermain Taylor.

It's how it goes...

To be honest though Mick, Berto is actually doing this through his own performances & not riding on a post-Olympic wave through. He's only getting this hype after having actually won & defended a world title. Although I think Berto does offer boxing a future star & I can understand why ESPN would focus on him with him being American, I agree with others who say Juanma is the more exciting future star

[CutMeMick]

I can't say he's the next great thing cause still to soon for me to call him that.
I've made the mistake many times before where I jump on a boxer and label him the next big thing only to see him lose and not be the next thing.


To be fair here Berto is at the front of American Boxing which makes me understand why ESPN would do that. I'm sure sometime in 2004-2005 the same thing happened with Jermain Taylor.

It's how it goes...

To be honest though Mick, Berto is actually doing this through his own performances & not riding on a post-Olympic wave through. He's only getting this hype after having actually won & defended a world title. Although I think Berto does offer boxing a future star & I can understand why ESPN would focus on him with him being American, I agree with others who say Juanma is the more exciting future star

oh! def. I agree Jaz.

[miron_lang]

I think Jorge Linares and of course Lopez has better chance of being a Great compared to Berto.

btw what's up with Linares? The Larios fight was in vegas but he went to mexico and Panama for his next 2 fights. He should get more undercards dates to the main bouts to be noticed more.