Why does Floyd Mayweather have very little star power?

[Bookkeeper]

He is pound for pound number 1 on the majority of the list across the boxing world yet he does not get the respect he deserves. Looking upon past generations that featured some of the boxing greats such as Leonard, Tyson (For the wrong reasons), RJJ, Trinidad, Mosley, and Oscar who has had more star power than any boxer in history with the exception of Ali all had tremendous star power and attracted many fans to the sport who where not that interested in boxing. Yet it seems that PBF does not get his just due. Is it his level of competition which has not been great lately but has many big wins under his built in the past, is it his attitude, is it his looks or is it a combination of numerous things. Can anybody turn this guy into the next Oscar who makes 10 million a fight or will he continue to have a thug reputation and be teased by boxing fans around the world. I think he deserves the respect of the past greats that had star power but he must start taking the big fights, his promotion has gotten better because he is willing to meet with the media at all times but what will take him to the next level. Somebody has to upgrade his image.

[bcollins]

That's a million dollar question - or more! There's no doubt he's one of the most skilled boxers of this generation, and he's had good opposition in the past. I personally would like to see him step again against anyone who poses a danger to him...not that that's a long list! If the ODLH fight happens, it will go a long way toward making him more recognizable.

[killersheep]

He is pound for pound number 1 on the majority of the list across the boxing world yet he does not get the respect he deserves. Looking upon past generations that featured some of the boxing greats such as Leonard, Tyson (For the wrong reasons), RJJ, Trinidad, Mosley, and Oscar who has had more star power than any boxer in history with the exception of Ali all had tremendous star power and attracted many fans to the sport who where not that interested in boxing. Yet it seems that PBF does not get his just due. Is it his level of competition which has not been great lately but has many big wins under his built in the past, is it his attitude, is it his looks or is it a combination of numerous things. Can anybody turn this guy into the next Oscar who makes 10 million a fight or will he continue to have a thug reputation and be teased by boxing fans around the world. I think he deserves the respect of the past greats that had star power but he must start taking the big fights, his promotion has gotten better because he is willing to meet with the media at all times but what will take him to the next level. Somebody has to upgrade his image.

I think that boxing on a whole is on a decline in popularity, there is a lot of media competition with MMA events now.
As far as Floyd personally goes, I haven't heard anything from him since the ODLH opportunity went away. Since he doesn't have any fights lined up he should do some ringside announcements, interviews and the like. All the boxers you mentioned were proactive in bringing attention to themselves, I really haven't seen PBF do all that much of that.

[Bookkeeper]

He is pound for pound number 1 on the majority of the list across the boxing world yet he does not get the respect he deserves. Looking upon past generations that featured some of the boxing greats such as Leonard, Tyson (For the wrong reasons), RJJ, Trinidad, Mosley, and Oscar who has had more star power than any boxer in history with the exception of Ali all had tremendous star power and attracted many fans to the sport who where not that interested in boxing. Yet it seems that PBF does not get his just due. Is it his level of competition which has not been great lately but has many big wins under his built in the past, is it his attitude, is it his looks or is it a combination of numerous things. Can anybody turn this guy into the next Oscar who makes 10 million a fight or will he continue to have a thug reputation and be teased by boxing fans around the world. I think he deserves the respect of the past greats that had star power but he must start taking the big fights, his promotion has gotten better because he is willing to meet with the media at all times but what will take him to the next level. Somebody has to upgrade his image.

I think that boxing on a whole is on a decline in popularity, there is a lot of media competition with MMA events now.
As far as Floyd personally goes, I haven't heard anything from him since the ODLH opportunity went away. Since he doesn't have any fights lined up he should do some ringside announcements, interviews and the like. All the boxers you mentioned were proactive in bringing attention to themselves, I really haven't seen PBF do all that much of that.

True statement, all of those boxers promoted themselves well and appealed to the public, some ring side commentary would help him along with maybe taking endorsements if offered, he needs to sell himself, nobody did that better than Oscar in this generation with Leonard being a close second in the last generation, Ali is the all time king because of his political beliefs.

[smashcrusher]

He is pound for pound number 1 on the majority of the list across the boxing world yet he does not get the respect he deserves. Looking upon past generations that featured some of the boxing greats such as Leonard, Tyson (For the wrong reasons), RJJ, Trinidad, Mosley, and Oscar who has had more star power than any boxer in history with the exception of Ali all had tremendous star power and attracted many fans to the sport who where not that interested in boxing. Yet it seems that PBF does not get his just due. Is it his level of competition which has not been great lately but has many big wins under his built in the past, is it his attitude, is it his looks or is it a combination of numerous things. Can anybody turn this guy into the next Oscar who makes 10 million a fight or will he continue to have a thug reputation and be teased by boxing fans around the world. I think he deserves the respect of the past greats that had star power but he must start taking the big fights, his promotion has gotten better because he is willing to meet with the media at all times but what will take him to the next level. Somebody has to upgrade his image.

Mosley never had more starpower than Floyd. That was one of the problems he and his father tried to figure out by going to different sports agents to try to find out how to broaden his appeal. I think in Floyd's case, it's two reasons. One, he has no visible endorsements, (he has a few I know, but nothing that puts him on commercials, which is how you break into the mainstream). And two, he's at the top in a time when boxing is at an all time low in terms of popularity.

[Bookkeeper]

You have to remember that after Shane beat Oscar that his star power soared and he became a overnight sensation, his next three fights after that people started to label him as undefeatable, he also recieved a huge contract from HBO, Floyd never had that kind of star power, sadly it all came tumbling down after the Forrest debacle, but his image was intact in his prime, maybe not an Oscar but he had a solid reputation.

[smashcrusher]

Antonio Tarver was on Jay Leno after KOing Roy. Buster Douglas also got a huge deal ($30 million in his next fight) after KOing Tyson. That's not the same thing as having star power.

P.S.--Mosley's starpower never soared. That's why he turned down an immediate rematch with Oscar. And Vernon Forrest got the same HBO contract after beating Mosley. Star power? I don't think so.

[cockey cockney]

He is pound for pound number 1 on the majority of the list across the boxing world yet he does not get the respect he deserves. Looking upon past generations that featured some of the boxing greats such as Leonard, Tyson (For the wrong reasons), RJJ, Trinidad, Mosley, and Oscar who has had more star power than any boxer in history with the exception of Ali all had tremendous star power and attracted many fans to the sport who where not that interested in boxing. Yet it seems that PBF does not get his just due. Is it his level of competition which has not been great lately but has many big wins under his built in the past, is it his attitude, is it his looks or is it a combination of numerous things. Can anybody turn this guy into the next Oscar who makes 10 million a fight or will he continue to have a thug reputation and be teased by boxing fans around the world. I think he deserves the respect of the past greats that had star power but he must start taking the big fights, his promotion has gotten better because he is willing to meet with the media at all times but what will take him to the next level. Somebody has to upgrade his image.

I think that boxing on a whole is on a decline in popularity, there is a lot of media competition with MMA events now.
As far as Floyd personally goes, I haven't heard anything from him since the ODLH opportunity went away. Since he doesn't have any fights lined up he should do some ringside announcements, interviews and the like. All the boxers you mentioned were proactive in bringing attention to themselves, I really haven't seen PBF do all that much of that.

Bang on mate.

[SimonH]

It is very hard now, to make your mark as truly global superstar in Boxing and indeed sport as a whole...

David Beckham and Tiger Woods are as close as you get now a days, and even they have their weaknesses in popularity (Beckham, USA; Woods, anywhere where golf is not popular).

Boxing like almost all mainstram sports of the 80s and 90s is on the decline...

But it could be worse, we could be into Cycling!

[beds]

It is very hard now, to make your mark as truly global superstar in Boxing and indeed sport as a whole...

David Beckham and Tiger Woods are as close as you get now a days, and even they have their weaknesses in popularity (Beckham, USA; Woods, anywhere where golf is not popular).

Boxing like almost all mainstram sports of the 80s and 90s is on the decline...

But it could be worse, we could be into Cycling!

there is actually a post in the lets get it on section about cycling!!!

[El Gamo]

I believe it is do with a lot of things,(excellent thread by the way!).Firstly,to us boxing fans,to watch Floyd is to watch a great great fighter,by far the most talented of this current generation but maybe to an average fan,they would find it boring,I mean when I watch fights with my friends who don't really like boxing,they prefer the wars etc rather than an artist like Floyd.
Secondly,from a fan's perspective,yes,it is the fights.I don't want to get into a big debate about it here but the fact is,who has he fought in the last 3-4 years that we would think would be a tough fight? I want to see him in with dangermen,with threats,to establish how good he truly is.
Finally,it is also his personality,or sorry,how he comes across.He speaks about it making $$$,making sense,the thruth etc etc and then fights Mitchell etc etc,turns down $8mill etc etc. He doesn't have the charisma or the charm of an Oscar in my opinion.

[raleights]

I believe it is do with a lot of things,(excellent thread by the way!).Firstly,to us boxing fans,to watch Floyd is to watch a great great fighter,by far the most talented of this current generation but maybe to an average fan,they would find it boring,I mean when I watch fights with my friends who don't really like boxing,they prefer the wars etc rather than an artist like Floyd.
Secondly,from a fan's perspective,yes,it is the fights.I don't want to get into a big debate about it here but the fact is,who has he fought in the last 3-4 years that we would think would be a tough fight? I want to see him in with dangermen,with threats,to establish how good he truly is.
Finally,it is also his personality,or sorry,how he comes across.He speaks about it making $$$,making sense,the thruth etc etc and then fights Mitchell etc etc,turns down $8mill etc etc. He doesn't have the charisma or the charm of an Oscar in my opinion.

You're right, and the more he tries to be charismatic like Oscar the more he'll get rejected, some people are not talkers and make an ass out of themselves in the process of trying to be. I don't know if Floyd was wanting to play the bad guy role in the Gatti fight, or just had no clue that he was talking alot of shit about someone who the fans really love to watch. With that performance he could of won over alot of fans had he not been such a loud mouth.

Having an ironic name doesn't help either, he's the ugliest pretty boy I ever seen

[killersheep]

I believe it is do with a lot of things,(excellent thread by the way!).Firstly,to us boxing fans,to watch Floyd is to watch a great great fighter,by far the most talented of this current generation but maybe to an average fan,they would find it boring,I mean when I watch fights with my friends who don't really like boxing,they prefer the wars etc rather than an artist like Floyd.
Secondly,from a fan's perspective,yes,it is the fights.I don't want to get into a big debate about it here but the fact is,who has he fought in the last 3-4 years that we would think would be a tough fight? I want to see him in with dangermen,with threats,to establish how good he truly is.
Finally,it is also his personality,or sorry,how he comes across.He speaks about it making $$$,making sense,the thruth etc etc and then fights Mitchell etc etc,turns down $8mill etc etc. He doesn't have the charisma or the charm of an Oscar in my opinion.

Very well put, I think one of the biggest things Oscar did that Floyd does not is he always promoted boxing as a whole
whereas all I've heard floyd take about makes me think he's reciting lyrics from a hip hop song.

[Entragian]

He's not very likeable. Most of the people I know can't stand him. He seems to come across as arrogant and spoiled. As a villan.... he's not really mean enough. If he had one punch knockout power that would make a huge difference... but he doesn't. There's just nothing all that attractive about him.

[killersheep]

He's not very likeable. Most of the people I know can't stand him. He seems to come across as arrogant and spoiled. As a villan.... he's not really mean enough. If he had one punch knockout power that would make a huge difference... but he doesn't. There's just nothing all that attractive about him.

I would say his boxing skills are attractive