why is everyone so concerned about what a boxer does outside the ring?

[J_Undisputed]

I'm not so sure its exactly what a boxer does outside the ring as much as it is about how that corresponds to what he does inside the ring. I think fans want to relate to the athletes they are fans of. That's why someone like Joe Louis maintained some popularity. He served his country (in and out of the ring), took odd jobs growing up, didn't act like a pompous @$$ and never denied his roots (though there are tales of possible infidelity and drug abuse about him). It goes without saying that a fighters private life was a lot more private way back when. SRR was said to engage in spousal abuse and then it was confirmed by his son and wife and everyone was forced to weigh his in the ring accomplishments with his out of the ring persona; all in retrospect. The concern with a boxers private life, grew as their lives became less private (especially in real time). If you're posting your business all over social media or have scorn someone and gave them reason to....well then its fair game. As a fan and a human being, you really can ignore something that's pushed upon you on a daily basis.

Even still, when Tyson admitted to punching Givens, or was charged with rape, Valero (murder), Lamotta (assault, etc), and some other fighters. I think there may be few people willing to admit they were a hundred percent shocked.... due to their in ring ferocity...

Just the same... listed anonymously..., (though most people will easily figure out who's who)... Are the average fans able to relate to:

- A spoiled son of a legend, that doesn't train, whose godfather was the head of a sanctioning body, got popped twice for using diuretics, dating a cartel big wig's daughter, and then looks like crap in the ring. A string of bad nights or protection/entitlement driven failure at its finest?

- A fighter that swore to win a fight (against a recently exposed domestic abuser opponent ) for "every battered woman" while he is guilty of the same thing on numerous occasions.

- A fighter that has a record of assaults several women that have had his children or he proposed to but then runs from blown up featherweights in the ring because its his "style". He runs marathon sparring dogfights in his gym while betting urging those engaging, to show heart and urging them to really go at it... but won't take any risk in the ring himself even after his opponents have been handicapped by his pre-fight demands.

- A fighter mixed up in bad elements known to his city, turns out sub-par performances and got blown out the last few times but wants everyone to cheer him on his comeback because hes ready now to be dedicated.

- A fighter that makes sex tapes and videos of him wiping his backside with c-notes and then gets taken to school in the ring.

I'm sure there are lots of other examples, But a fighters life outside the ring will either reinforce or provide a sharp contrast to who they are in the ring/sport. I found that in trying to relate to fighters, the fans themselves will either be highly critical or supportive of the fighters but not as many will will do both. The more polarizing the figure, the more objectivity lost in viewing them. Unfortunately that's par for the course, being that polarizing figure is easy self promotion, and flack ... but you can't be a jerk for the publicity and then the victim when the comments start flowing. I think the longtime fans of the sport generally have a lower tolerance for impostors, hypocrites, and all around BS because they want to believe the right guy won the fight for all the right reasons... because its a win for all of us when the hard working stiff like ourselves gets rewarded and the D0uchey smack talking bully gets his (if only the world was that easy) The newer fans and more casual fans have a higher tolerance for promotional and PR tactics... especially if they are switching over or still watching other sports that place more emphasis on the pageantry rather than the substance. Just my opinion of course, I could be wrong.