Mike Tyson: UFC has surpass boxing and its more entertaining

[Fenster]

Why would Tyson or any non-hardcore boxing fan know who Montiel and Donaire are? Neither are superstar names outside the hardcore. They sold 3000 tickets and split $600,000 (Donaire $350,000, Montiel $250,000).

Absloute peanuts compared with many a LESSER fighter in the sport. The smaller men have never been big news (with a few exeptions of course).

If Tyson said he didn't know who Mayweather or Pacquiao were, then boxing would have a problem.

It's not just the smaller fighters. I remember in '09 after Haye just become "world" HW champion after beating Valuev and your own British network BBC or something like that asked him what he thought of Haye, he said he doesn't know who he was.

Of course just a few months ago when he sat down with Johnny Nelson he gave his own opionion if Haye could beat the Klits or not. So now he knows.

You've got that mixed-up. Tyson was on a speaking tour in Britain around the time Haye fought Valuev and was asked numerous times about the fight, giving Haye advice on beating a giant and stuff.

However, I too remember Tyson saying he doesn't know who Haye was at one time. Which is perfectly understandable. The cruiser division has never been a glamour divison. So why would any non-hardcore American fan know a Britsh cruiserweight operating in Europe? Or a young British heavyweight?

Same thing as Donaire/Montiel. It doesn't matter how highly regarded you are as a boxer, If you are not in multi-million dollar matches, packing out Vegas casinos with famous celebs littered all over ringside, you wont be known outside the American hardcore. And just because Tyson is a former fighter it doesn't mean he still follows the sport.