If the Klitschkos were American, would they get more praise/respect?

[El Kabong]

I don't think it would have much effect on their popularity.

[amat]

People always accuse Americans of being more nationalistic then the other countries, I don't agree with that especially when it comes from the Brits who's TV pundits seem to drink the coolaid on every Of course the Klitschkos would be more popular because we would hear more about him, Vitali would be much more popular then Wlad obviously because of his style but I don't think it would mean to much of a difference. We've had most of the big stars in boxing for yeArs and it hasn't made hardcore fans out of most of the population yet.

[Cortez The Killer]

I don't think it would have much effect on their popularity.

I agree. Boxing is a niche sport in America. Boxing fans in America know who the Klitschko's are, and non-fans dont. Just like boxing fans in American know who Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins are, and non-fans dont.

So even if the Klitschko's were american, only boxing fans would know who they were. Wlad's style would still be respected but criticized. Vitali would still be respected. It wouldn't change anything.

[El Kabong]

The style, attitude, and demeanor of the Klitschko's make them less likely to be massive stars here in the US. We are the country of icons of sport legends: Ali, Tyson, Louis, Jack Johnson, Rocky Marciano....those are the guys with the styles and the substance to capture the entire nation. Wlad and Vitali have too much respect to act in the manor that Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Roy Jones Jr. act, and their fighting styles don't make up for it. Americans have short attention spans and it takes constant action for the non-boxing majority to be intrigued, they need lots of bells and whistles and the Klitschko's just don't have those bells and whistles.

[CGM]

I don't think it would have much effect on their popularity.

yeah, the American angle in this thread is overplayed. After all, I see they get plenty of diss from Brits as well. I hate them too, and I'm Canadian, and we all know that if Canadians started dissing boxers cause they weren't Canadian, then we'd have to turn our backs on the sport entirely.

We could talk about which nation is most likely to play up their boxers beyond their ability. That'd be fun.