Americans hate british fighters. Why?

[BIG H]

I am a casual boxing fan. I watch it when its on and rarely buy a PPV fight. It is not that we hate UK fighters, it is that we dont respect them as much. We feel it is our sport, much like basketball. We love the story of the kid coming from the ghetto becoming the champ. The movie "Rocky" portrayed this story perfectly. And whether you want to beleive it or not this was the only boxing many people probably have ever seen. Just some thoughts, I don't know if any of it is actually the case.

We have Ghettos

We don't all live in Castles

[BIG H]

....... I mean, I do - but not everybody does


Saddo lives in a mudhut



True

[JT Rock]

I don't hate fighters from the UK.

No you hate them all equally

In response, I've noticed that the response is from all the posters I like on this forum, thats how I thought it would be from you guys, but its not like you haven't noticed that its going on. 's for the feedback

Ive just not really felt able to contribute to this thread, what with being British and not really being able to speak on behalf of our friends from across the big pond. All I know is that I like a fighter and thats it. The nationality or race or ahem gender of the fighter I like is a secondary factor. An example I can give is as a Brit I thoroughly hated it when Danny Williams knocked out Mike Tyson. It could have been any Englishman in there and no way would I support him knocking out Tyson.

I think Calzaghe is an excellent fighter, possibly underrated by the Americans. Im sure many out there really think Jones Jr can still beat Calzaghe. They are dreaming. 4 years ago Jones was too much, not now. But Calzaghe has been unlucky with injuries and not been able to follow up the Lacy win. As for Hatton, well he has been inactive and he looked mediocre in his 1 fight this year. He deserves some stick. Maybe next year will be big for both fighters...

I agree with Miles...I am Boxing fan and have my favorites and not so favorites of course...My like or dislike is not born out of were they reside, color of their skin, ethnicity etc...I love good boxing PERIOD!!!! So if a Blue man from Wales is going to dazzle in the ring I could really give a shit as long as he's good!!!

As far as Hatton goes I am not convinced that he is the great that everyone claims...I will reserve judgement after his next showing against mediocre Urango and then Castillo next year if that fights comes off

Calzaghe is great but needs to do something its hard to follow up a huge win with Lacy to a guy like Bika... I mean why Bika?

So there is no hate toward my British brothers its just my personal opinions based upon what I wrote above...

As a side point I like Cory Spinks and other people don't because they think he is a wailing retard!!!!!! LOL!

[killersheep]

I had this discussion with superheavyrhun yesterday and I think it's because you guys use extra "u"'s (i.e. colour, armour) and spell defense wrong. Just food for thought.

Seriously I have no problems with brits, I think they are just as capable of having a great boxer as any other country.

The thing that I don't like is when a fighter only fights in his home town, and fights mediocre competition. In this day and age with all the talent in pro boxing, fighters need to prove themselves (to me) in different environments. And unfortunately for you, the money fights are in America for the most part.

Finally, honestly if Americans hated british fighters, they wouldn't spend any time on this particular board.

[bcollins]

For the casual US fan, it's probably a matter of ignorance. I fall somewhere between casual boxing fan and rabid fanatic ( you know who you are ), and I learned a lot about the British fight scene from reading posts here. That sense of patriotism probably plays a big part also, as it's very un-American to root for someone who isn't American (at least nowadays). I personally don't care where a boxer is from - if they've got skills, they've got my attention.

[skel1983]

I had this discussion with superheavyrhun yesterday and I think it's because you guys use extra "u"'s (i.e. colour, armour) and spell defense wrong. Just food for thought.

Seriously I have no problems with brits, I think they are just as capable of having a great boxer as any other country.

The thing that I don't like is when a fighter only fights in his home town, and fights mediocre competition. In this day and age with all the talent in pro boxing, fighters need to prove themselves (to me) in different environments. And unfortunately for you, the money fights are in America for the most part.

Finally, honestly if Americans hated british fighters, they wouldn't spend any time on this particular board.

You say the big money fights are in the USA?? But thats one of the main reasons the likes of Calzaghe and others dont leave the British Shores, becasue they get paid far more than they would over in the Usa, they would basically have to start over well pre Lacey anyway, but you could say the same about the American fighters why dont they travel? Hopkins was offered a career high wage when offered Calzaghe in 02, but declined if Calzaghe was offered the amount of money Bernard was ehd swim over to the USA. Kosta Tzysu only came to the Uk because again it was a career high in terms of him making money around $5 million.

I think the main reason theres alot of hate from paticular posters is becasue we do hype are boxers but when you have one/two world class boxers, what do you expect you guys have like world class boxers coming out of your arses!!!! personally i am a boxing fan not a nationalist.

[raleights]

I don't hate fighters from the UK.

No you hate them all equally

In response, I've noticed that the response is from all the posters I like on this forum, thats how I thought it would be from you guys, but its not like you haven't noticed that its going on. 's for the feedback

Actually I like Witter and Hatton and Haskins, it's Khan who the jury is out on.

Emma is now going to destroy you

[raleights]

For the casual US fan, it's probably a matter of ignorance. I fall somewhere between casual boxing fan and rabid fanatic ( you know who you are ), and I learned a lot about the British fight scene from reading posts here. That sense of patriotism probably plays a big part also, as it's very un-American to root for someone who isn't American (at least nowadays). I personally don't care where a boxer is from - if they've got skills, they've got my attention.

Thank you sir, it's the one sport where nationality and patriotism should be thrown out the fuckin window (forget that ignorant primitive mindset)

I'm American and there's not a human being out there that would put a 'L' on Calzaghe's record - nuff said

[Bookkeeper]

I love British women and that's all that counts.

[ricky_hitman]

i think British fighters just have really poor promoters i.e. Warren and co. They just dont seem capable of making the biggest fights. They also seem to protect their fighters too much. They talk about Hatton and Calzaghe being greats but dont seem to want them to fight the best. What i mean is RH and JC are both unbeaten, and their promoters are scared of having those L's on their records. Even the greatest boxers of all time where defeated, what made them great was their abillity to come back better than before. Thats why until Hatton and Calzaghe fight the very best out there they cant be considered greats. Thats why i dont think Americans respect them very much.

[killersheep]

i think British fighters just have really poor promoters i.e. Warren and co. They just dont seem capable of making the biggest fights. They also seem to protect their fighters too much. They talk about Hatton and Calzaghe being greats but dont seem to want them to fight the best. What i mean is RH and JC are both unbeaten, and their promoters are scared of having those L's on their records. Even the greatest boxers of all time where defeated, what made them great was their abillity to come back better than before. Thats why until Hatton and Calzaghe fight the very best out there they cant be considered greats. Thats why i dont think Americans respect them very much.

I agree, although I certainly wouldn't discount Calzaghe's skills, I think he could be an international success, however I fear his days are numbered because of his hand injuries.

Hatton on the other hand is a different story altogether, his hitting and holding technique will not be allowed on the international circuit, and while I appreciate Ricky's heart and training regimen, I think that he will be blown out soon. If he proves me wrong, then more power to him. Ricky still has to prove himself to me (Yes, even with his win over Tszyu)

[Bookkeeper]

i think British fighters just have really poor promoters i.e. Warren and co. They just dont seem capable of making the biggest fights. They also seem to protect their fighters too much. They talk about Hatton and Calzaghe being greats but dont seem to want them to fight the best. What i mean is RH and JC are both unbeaten, and their promoters are scared of having those L's on their records. Even the greatest boxers of all time where defeated, what made them great was their abillity to come back better than before. Thats why until Hatton and Calzaghe fight the very best out there they cant be considered greats. Thats why i dont think Americans respect them very much.

I agree, although I certainly wouldn't discount Calzaghe's skills, I think he could be an international success, however I fear his days are numbered because of his hand injuries.

Hatton on the other hand is a different story altogether, his hitting and holding technique will not be allowed on the international circuit, and while I appreciate Ricky's heart and training regimen, I think that he will be blown out soon. If he proves me wrong, then more power to him. Ricky still has to prove himself to me (Yes, even with his win over Tszyu)

True statements CC. But Lennox Lewis was alway's fighting over here, he was about getting that money, the rest of those guy's should be like that and fighting in Vegas. Hatton should be here to stay, so should JC, and Khan should be ready to make the move also, those are great boxers but they don't promote themselves like Lewis did.

[Steelie]

Cool thread.

I looked in expecting everyone to be bang at it, but there you go again, showing why this place trounces other boards

Personally, I think it's a mixture of lack of stateside exposure, hearsay and a healthy dose of scepticism.

You guys over in the US have had your fair share of hyped Brits and Europeans come over as the 'next big thing' only to see them melt under the glare of the Las Vegas sun. So I can genuinely understand where the apathy comes from. Unfortunately, once in a while, we have some genuine kick ass fighters but a lot of US based guys won't give 'em the time of day till they've proved it in the US.

...and that's what gets me, I've never quite understood the importance of the geography. I mean, would MAB be any less of a fighter if he'd of had exactly the same career but he'd fought exclusively in London? Course he wouldn't. Would he get the same props from the US based fans...honestly...I don't think so.

((Oh, and I'm generalising for the ease of making the point...if you've taken offence, stop being so effing sensitive - box on ))

[killersheep]

Cool thread.

I looked in expecting everyone to be bang at it, but there you go again, showing why this place trounces other boards

Personally, I think it's a mixture of lack of stateside exposure, hearsay and a healthy dose of scepticism.

You guys over in the US have had your fair share of hyped Brits and Europeans come over as the 'next big thing' only to see them melt under the glare of the Las Vegas sun. So I can genuinely understand where the apathy comes from. Unfortunately, once in a while, we have some genuine kick ass fighters but a lot of US based guys won't give 'em the time of day till they've proved it in the US.

...and that's what gets me, I've never quite understood the importance of the geography. I mean, would MAB be any less of a fighter if he'd of had exactly the same career but he'd fought exclusively in London? Course he wouldn't. Would he get the same props from the US based fans...honestly...I don't think so.

((Oh, and I'm generalising for the ease of making the point...if you've taken offence, stop being so effing sensitive - box on ))

Point well-taken, however I don't believe that MAB would have had the opportunities if he would only fight in London, nor if he was to stay in Mexico City, he got the big name fights by leaving his country and workin his way up in Vegas. The thing about Vegas is that is where the largest international viewership fights come from and the biggest opportunities.

[yoitsdan]

No one has brought up prince naseem, now I could see why you would hate him