Quote Originally Posted by rjj tszyu View Post
Quote Originally Posted by JazMerkin View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Bilbo View Post

You think Floyd and Manny are bigger stars in the UK than David Haye?

I doubt any more than 15% of the population even know who Floyd and Manny are
I think you'd be surprised. People might not watch them fight, but I think they've both embedded into the public consciousness as boxers. Part of that may be the name. I'm seeing a lot more excitement for the Mayweather fight this weekend than there was for Haye-Ruiz or even Haye-Valuev. I'm not saying the PPV would do better, but that they have more name recognition with the average person.
Difference is my mum and Grandma both know who David Haye is. I know they don't know who Kevin Pietersen, Johnny Wilkinson and Floyd Mayweather are. Even Rio Ferdinand says that Haye is the biggest named sports star in the country.

Only one I think challenges him is Rooney. Also maybe Ricky Hatton, his support is amazing. Man utd couldn't take as many fans to Vegas as he does and there is a full team of them. If Haye keeps bowling them over like he is he'll have the same support if not better because he is in the glamour division of boxing and he is exciting to watch.
Sorry he's just nowhere near the likes of Rooney, Gerrard & Terry. I'd argue that both Flintoff & Wilkinson are also both ahead of him. It may be that your mum & nan know who Haye is through you being a fan and going to his fights. My mum needs reminding about who David Haye is despite the fact I've told her a number of times that he even came from the same gym as me. On the other hand, she'd know Floyd Mayweather & Shane Mosley are instantly because when I was growing up I was such a big fan of both of them.

Just generally with people I've met in the area I live in (South London, Haye's own area) Mayweather definitely has a quicker recognition factor, maybe because he's got a more individual name.