Khan and his team are a bunch of classless scumbags

[Fenster]

I disagree. Fighters have the experience of getting hit on the head so know what it all feels like and of course they spar etc, but I disagree when you have people like Mayweather telling someone like Merchant that his opinion doesn't matter because he hasn't boxed. A fan is able to analyse technique and strategy from afar and some are very good at it. It is not something I can do particularly well, but there are some knowledgeable people on forums.

I certainly feel I know a lot more about boxing than Kid Thunder, but he has a darn sight more experience in the ring than I do. I think you only have to listen to George Foreman commentating to realise that even some of the greats are not so adept at analysing what is going on in the ring.

That's being good & articulate on TV, a totally different skillset. I fully agree with fighters telling a guy like Merchant about what he knows. How often does Merchant give any insight into any of the technical aspects? When Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones & George Foreman have all told you that you don't know what you're on about, they're probably right

Kid Thunder is not what I'm talking about. He's not had any basic amateur training, he's basically a guy off the road getting into a ring. I'm talking about at least learning the basics as an amateur. Pros don't necessarily know more, but if you've laced them up and learnt to box (not fight which is what KT trys & fails to do), you'll see different things.

I'm not saying some fans can't analyse very well, but I sincerely doubt that they've got more insight than people whose whole lives have been boxing.

Larry Merchant knows his sport, but for sure doesn't really get into technicalities. But my argument is that neither does someone like George Foreman. He was an awful commentator who always seemed to be on a different planet. You compare that with Jones who usually sounds quite adroit. It depends on the individual, and the level of depth and insight can actually sometimes be more insightful from boxing expert who doesn't box rather than the retired pro.

No doubt that a skilled amateur knows what it is like to trade punches and work out etc, but at the end of the day even pro fighters have their shortcomings. If they were so knowledgable you would expect every fighter to be versatile and to be able to adapt to each opponent. It is easier said than done. You look at fighters who are somewhat one dimensional. If they had such a deep understanding of the sport then why are they so limited technically. At the end of the day if you box or don't box, a knowledgeable practitioner or observer will see things that a novice practitioner or observer won't see. I don't neccessarily think you need to be wearing gloves to see these things. I do think that the perspective is quite different, but not always less informed.

Anyway, this is detracting from another Khan slag off thread, so I will abstain and let the other combatants continue.

Some pro's seem to waffle along without ever making a worthwhile observation. That's true. You see this in all sports. However, they do have an understanding of how things like pressure, bottle, fear and what sacrifices are made to get their bodies ready for a fight.

This is something I think most fans totally ignore.

I've seen McCloskey being called a "bum" and criticized for his lack of effort numerous times since Saturday. However, his job is as a supermarket manager (which basically makes him a part-time boxer) and had never come close to fighting in front of 18,000 people in a headlining PPV event. He must have been shitting himself. He trained his arse off. Yet many fans have rubbished him for not being able to compete with the no.2 ranked 140 fighter in the world.

And yet Khan is also regarded as a "bum" or "fraud" or "hypejob" by many. He's under extreme pressure too. He trained his arse off too. Some fans don't seem to realise the talent level required for fighters to get in the position they do. That probably comes down to a lack of understanding