3-Time SADDO PREDICTION COMP CHAMPION.
They wouldn't because they weren't talented enough.
Berto is a nobody. Pavlik would have been much bigger but he quickly got exposed and become a pisshead.
Finding the new SRL is basically impossible.
3-Time SADDO PREDICTION COMP CHAMPION.
(patiently) Yes, Fenster.... I know. They weren't talented enough. That's why I started with "let's suppose....", ok? It's a discussion. I'm saying that, had they had the talent HBO was assuming they had (OR... had Pavlik stayed on the straight and narrow, instead of becoming an alcoholic)...... there's a chance they would've been huge PPV stars.
My point is, if I may, that it's not completely essential that a star be an asshole like a Tyson or a Mayweather to be hugely popular. It helps, I guess... but it's not essential. Huge talent in a popular division, with a good personality, could carry you also.
That's all I'm saying.
Yeah your point is very clear.
Currently there is no modern fighter that comes close to fitting your idea of an "all american hero"
So you are left with fantasy "what ifs"
Yes Pavlik would have been a bigger star had he been more talented. He wasn't. So it's impossible to gauge what his popularity would have been in this current time.
If a time comes when an "all american hero" becomes as brilliant, popular and famous as Floyd Maywether, then you can consider your theory about nice guys was correct.
3-Time SADDO PREDICTION COMP CHAMPION.
Bad guy appeal sells and has a definite effect on all things concerning the fighter including sales in ppv and the gate. Many of the overall numbers are purchased by people who want to him get shit kicked. Those are facts and they can be shown empirically going as far back as ancient Greece. How much does it have to do with the actual cash numbers I have no idea but I'd wager its significant.
The good guy also sells and one needs to look no further then Hatton. Andre Ward's good boy image on the other hand is over the top. I don't see him ever attaining Hattons type of popularity. Relying on these social media sites to gauge popularity is like using compubox to gauge a fight. I mean with Wards pedigree and accomplishments you would think his numbers would be through the roof in fight revenues. I do not like Ward and its a personality thing. He's a gifted fighter/technician but a part of me would like to see him cold cocked. Now again I will watch his fights anyway because of my love for the sport but I'm sure that a certain percentage of the casual and non boxing fans would pay to see him get decked. Dislike actually has an effect in sales for the exceptional good guy and the exceptional bad guy but admittedly more for the bad guy.
I agree with almost everything you've said, with this exception. I like Ward and can't understand why you don't.
This is not an attack on you, and I'm not saying you should like Ward, I would just like to know why you don't.
I think we can all agree that Ward is the GOOD Floyd, and Floyd is the BAD Ward. They are both very skilled, cautious, and intelligent boxers who always win.
I like Ward because he gives respect to everyone around him and I think he means what he says, plus he wins.
I dislike Floyd because you will never know what is going on in his head. I think I would trust Fenster before Floyd, and Floyd doesn't even drink. Seriously, is the real Floyd the one we saw go to jail for domestic abuse or the one we saw running a 5K for charity. I'm hanging around waiting to see the real Floyd, and buying PPV to see him get knocked on his ass. I don't even care if he wins or loses, I just want to see him sitting on his butt in the middle of the ring because of a solid KD. I know, I know, I'm a petty little shit but that's me.
I would agree with this up to a point. Unless you have some kid come along with SRL-type skills and a megawatt nice personality and win gold at the Olympics then it's hard to see any boxer making the kind of breakthrough into the mainstream where he's going to get TV and press coverage, endorsements etc. But De La Hoya was marketed that way and had the skills to go with the hype, so it isn't completely impossible for it to happen again.
But basically all boxers can forget about getting any mainstream media coverage and becoming known to sports fans. Ward is a perfect example. Hasn't lost since he was eleven, won the Olympic gold, unbeaten world champ, etc etc and nobody knows him. So really the only way these guys can seriously promote themselves to a point where people get to hear about them is with their mouth/behaviour. Ward needs to start telling people he really is the son of god and as god's son he's unbeatable in the ring, get some bling, punch his wife, maybe shoot his dad in the leg or something.
I wonder though, how difficult would it be for Wards team to contact someone at Nike and say hey listen this is who Ward is and He'd like to endorse your products.
Also another thing, boxing is the one sport that almost all other professional athletes in america like. I don't know why but it just is.
Or better yet call non stop people at sports illustrated to get a feature on him. After all he is the last american to win the gold medal and he is kicking ass and taking names.
I have no idea how these things work but I remember an interview with Archie Moore in which he said almost every night he wrote letters to all outlets of media introducing himself to them and saying why he should be under their coverage.
Benavidez was lucky on Saturday night. There have got to be serious questions about his chin now. He went into an Amir Khan-like total body discombobulation. He didn't look too special in the rest of the fight either.
I would like to think Gary Russell Jr. , but American's don't typically care about anything below light welter.
Broner could be that guy, I think he's going to eventually move up to 140 and that's where he can really start to make a name for himself. The Ponce de Leon incident was a hiccup, but will be mostly forgotten once he starts moving in to higher weight classes.
Deontay Wilder? Please, he's already 4 years older than Broner and he's still fighting garbage
For every story told that divides us, I believe there are a thousand untold that unite us.
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