So who's the next "great American hope" in boxing?

[Fenster]

There's no way that half of Floyd's PPV sales come from people wanting him to lose.

How many people buy PPV's on this site? This is a hardcore boxing forum yet the majority ponce streams (myself included these days). The Floyd fans on this site don't buy his fights let alone the "haters"

Half-a-million people paying $50 a pop to watch someone they don't like just isn't realistic. These casual's buy into Floyd the superstar, so his fights are must see events

[Fenster]

Floyd not "fan friendly?"

He's one of the biggest ever stars in world boxing let alone America. You don't sell over a million PPV every fight if you're not "fan friendly." Trust me.

Maybe "fan-friendly" was not the best term to use. Of course he draws big... he's the consensus #1 p4p right now. But not everybody tunes in hoping he'll win. He doesn't have the "outside the ring" image of De la Hoya (before the fishnets) and Sugar Ray Leonard back in his time. Pavlik was the perfect candidate awhile back, before he became totally beatable, and an alcoholic to boot.

You're both right, plenty of the PPVs are fans wanting to see Floyd get an ass whipping, Floyd knows and uses it to to keep going.
Lying against the ropes, presenting first one shoulder then the other, is not fan friendly.
Leading your opponent around the ring, waiting for him tire, while you throw jabs and the occasional counter is not fan friendly.
I'm not saying I don't enjoy watching him work, it's just not fan friendly.

Fenster, you are joking when you ask anyone to trust you, right?! Your icon, your handle and your gambling makes me want to check my wallet every time you post

You forgot my booze intake.

[El Kabong]

The United States has some good fighters on the rise: Deontay Wilder is young & untested but at 6'7 with a reach of 84" he's going to have a lot of fans once he hits "the big stage". Joe Hanks is a very good prospect, Seth Mitchell has looked very good for someone late to boxing. Bryant Jennings (although not my "cup of tea") is a solid boxer. Those are just the heavyweights, there's Shawn Porter, Mike Lee, Demetrius Andrade, and of course Adrian Broner will be the one with the "Flashy Flash" who will challenge for P4P #1 status.

[DavilaJones]

Good points all. But consider the following: A country like Mexico does not have a world-class amateur program, but is very successful in the pro ranks. Over here in Puerto Rico, we go through the same cycle every Olympics. We have several, very young, excellent prospects. But because they're young and comparatively inexperienced, we rarely medal. Then, for the next Games... these fighters have already turned pro... and we're back to a new crop of young, inexperienced prospects. Puerto Rico also has a great history in the pro ranks.

By contrast, you have some European countries who excel in the amateurs, and rake up the Olympic medals. Why? Because their boxers stay amateur into their 30's. And they become experts at the Olympic style of boxing, which rewards contact frequency rather than punch effectiveness. But these same countries then have few world champions in the pro ranks.

Apparently you can't have your cake and eat it too. I think it's a bit more complicated than just overhauling the amateur program.

Although on the other hand, and in favor of the point you make..... if you invest heavily in the amateur program.... just by the sheer increase in numbers (of boxers).... the probability of "the next great hope" emerging would certainly go up.

I agree with you on the fact that an 'Olympic style' of boxing rewards high arm punch output rather than effective punching and also that most European medalists are in their late 20's - early 30's. There's one thing though, in terms of pure technique and angle you'd have to agree that a deep background in the amateurs helps.

You make another good point in regards to mexico. As far as I understand it, there's quite a few boxing gym rivalries and also most boxers don't come from middle class or upper class backgrounds. It is not a sport that a son of a doctor or a lawyer would have a tendency to gravitate towards. That being the case and the GDP/head of Mexicans is lower than Americans.

More people perhaps seeing success in boxing as a way to move up the social ladder? This I don't honestly know but I would guess is the reason why.

[Kirkland Laing]

Maybe Adrian Broner. Jose Benavidez looks very impressive too but obviously a long way to go.

[El Kabong]

Maybe Adrian Broner. Jose Benavidez looks very impressive too but obviously a long way to go.

So you don't rate Shawn Porter, Shawn Estrada, or Demitrius Andrade?

[Mars_ax]

Andre Ward and Adrien Broner are the next American stars.

That's just fucking sad, it's no wonder that most of my favorite fighters are from other countries.

[beenKOed]

Andre Ward and Adrien Broner are the next American stars.

That's just fucking sad, it's no wonder that most of my favorite fighters are from other countries.

I haven't seen enough off Broner inside the ring to say one way or the other for sure, he has a lot of talent but I 'm not convinced yet.
Ward is every bit as fan friendly as Floyd but doesn't do a lot of self promotion, like Mayweather. You are not going to see him running around with 50 Cent, carrying a flight bag stuffed with money, being released from jail, talking about how much he paid for his latest jewelry, hitting the Vegas casinos or talking to his girlfriend. Doing this does make Floyd a "superstar" to millions of people. Ward is never going to be a "superstar" the way Floyd is but I think he is as good as Floyd in the ring, maybe better. He's intelligent too, just like Floyd.

[armyash]

Might as well give it a shot.

[El Kabong]

Might as well give it a shot.

Are you kidding me? The United States has some heavyweights that will be very good, but right now nobody.....NOBODY (no matter which country they are from) is competing with the Klitschko brothers and it looks as if this will continue until Wladimir retires.

[Rantcatrat]

Andre Ward and Adrien Broner are the next American stars.

That's just fucking sad, it's no wonder that most of my favorite fighters are from other countries.

I might very well be with you on that. Who else is there?

[El Kabong]

Andre Ward and Adrien Broner are the next American stars.

That's just fucking sad, it's no wonder that most of my favorite fighters are from other countries.

I might very well be with you on that. Who else is there?

Cynics....geez you guys are all a bunch of negative nancy's

[armyash]

Might as well give it a shot.

Are you kidding me? The United States has some heavyweights that will be very good, but right now nobody.....NOBODY (no matter which country they are from) is competing with the Klitschko brothers and it looks as if this will continue until Wladimir retires.

Deadly serious

[TitoFan]

There's no way that half of Floyd's PPV sales come from people wanting him to lose.

How many people buy PPV's on this site? This is a hardcore boxing forum yet the majority ponce streams (myself included these days). The Floyd fans on this site don't buy his fights let alone the "haters"

Half-a-million people paying $50 a pop to watch someone they don't like just isn't realistic. These casual's buy into Floyd the superstar, so his fights are must see events

Two words: Muhammad Ali

PPV wasn't around back then.... but half the people paying good money to see his fights were doing so in the hopes that someone would shut his irreverent mouth.

[El Kabong]

There's no way that half of Floyd's PPV sales come from people wanting him to lose.

How many people buy PPV's on this site? This is a hardcore boxing forum yet the majority ponce streams (myself included these days). The Floyd fans on this site don't buy his fights let alone the "haters"

Half-a-million people paying $50 a pop to watch someone they don't like just isn't realistic. These casual's buy into Floyd the superstar, so his fights are must see events

Two words: Muhammad Ali

PPV wasn't around back then.... but half the people paying good money to see his fights were doing so in the hopes that someone would shut his irreverent mouth.

I saw the Cotto fight because of Cotto not Floyd....I watched the Hatton fight because I wanted Floyd to lose....until the Scumbag Citeh fans booed the National Anthem, cocksuckers. after the Cotto fight I have a newfound respect for Floyd he FINALLY fought someone his same size or bigger, who wasn't at a weight disadvantage, who was on a run of good wins, who he was respectful to, and it was a great fight. Floyd doesn't HAVE to run his mouth and be a bastard for people to buy the fights, I would have been a bigger fan of his had he shown a bit more respect.

Broner is going to be a PPV player in coming years. Ward isn't all that great to watch but there's competition coming for him and it'll be PPV. The United States has ALWAYS produced good pros and we will continue to.


Actually I think with the NFL & everyone worried about concussions in football, more people might say "fuck it" and get back into boxing because it might be better for you in the long run.