Is it boxers duty to entertain??

[El Gamo]

I just want your thoughts on this issue. We all slate certain fighters for being boring,Spinks,Winky and B Hop come to mind,especially as of late but they/their fans argue they do what it takes to win.However,they are making ALOT of $$$ from the fans who pay to see entertainment so I want your thoughts on this issue please. Is it THEIR duty to entertain us in their fights?

[WestCoast]

boxers can do what they wantin the ring as long as they win

[JonesJrMayweather]

absolutely not... it's boxing a real sport... not wrestling which is "sports entertainment"... i hate when they make a spectacle out of themselves

[Kev]

It's not their duty they can win how they want but like it or not a boxer is a retailer selling a product (themselves) and if the consumer doesn't like that product they won't buy it.

So it pays to be as entertaining as possible.

It's interesting though that the fighters you mention especially Spinks and Hopkins try and counter their lack of ring interest by being extrovert and controversial outside of it, or in Cory's case on the way to it.

His crazy entrances and spasticated dance routines always make me tune in and as the Nard's ring action has lost it's spark his trash talk has started to ignite.

Ultimately they all box for money and money is linked to entertainment so they must play the game if they want to get rich.

[SigmaMu]

I would rather see them fight their hearts out but if they can't do that then sure they might as well sing and dance and earn their pay check one way or another.

[ICB]

I just want your thoughts on this issue. We all slate certain fighters for being boring,Spinks,Winky and B Hop come to mind,especially as of late but they/their fans argue they do what it takes to win.However,they are making ALOT of $$$ from the fans who pay to see entertainment so I want your thoughts on this issue please. Is it THEIR duty to entertain us in their fights?

No it isn't there the ones risking there live's in there ring not the fans. They do what they got to do to win, why should they fight a style there not comfortable with, risking serious injuries just to entertain the fans ?? I like a slug fest like everyone does but i also appreciate the sweet science, i think a lot of of boxing fans are watching the wrong sport. Because a lot of fans don't appreciate highly skilled fights.

[El Gamo]

boxers can do what they wantin the ring as long as they win

Possibly.

absolutely not... it's boxing a real sport... not wrestling which is "sports entertainment"... i hate when they make a spectacle out of themselves

I agree that it's not sports enertainment but it IS a form of entertainment. We watch it because we enjoy it,we want to be entertained.Professional prize fighting,thy are getting paid to fight,to entertain us(that's just 1 take on it,i'm not saying you are wrong).

It's not their duty they can win how they want but like it or not a boxer is a retailer selling a product (themselves) and if the consumer doesn't like that product they won't buy it.

So it pays to be as entertaining as possible.

It's interesting though that the fighters you mention especially Spinks and Hopkins try and counter their lack of ring interest by being extrovert and controversial outside of it, or in Cory's case on the way to it.

His crazy entrances and spasticated dance routines always make me tune in and as the Nard's ring action has lost it's spark his trash talk has started to ignite.

Ultimately they all box for money and money is linked to entertainment so they must play the game if they want to get rich.

Nice post and the last line is very interesting.

I would rather see them fight their hearts out but if they can't do that then sure they might as well sing and dance and earn their pay check one way or another.

So you don't mind paying for them to sing and dance to their $$??

I just want your thoughts on this issue. We all slate certain fighters for being boring,Spinks,Winky and B Hop come to mind,especially as of late but they/their fans argue they do what it takes to win.However,they are making ALOT of $$$ from the fans who pay to see entertainment so I want your thoughts on this issue please. Is it THEIR duty to entertain us in their fights?

No it isn't there the ones risking there live's in there ring not the fans. They do what they got to do to win, why should they fight a style there not comfortable with, risking serious injuries just to entertain the fans ?? I like a slug fest like everyone does but i also appreciate the sweet science, i think a lot of of boxing fans are watching the wrong sport. Because a lot of fans don't appreciate highly skilled fights.

Whilst I totally agree and I have the upmost respect for prize fighters,they are FULLY aware of the risks they are taking. They are grown adults. Imagine a fighter like Spinks for example(I'm using him because most find him boring,personally I actually don't mind watching him) using that as an excuse,saying that he fights the way he fights to safe his own life?I mean that even sounds weird!

Also,they are getting paid and paid handsomely for what they are doing nowadays.It's not like earlier in boxings history when safety was non existent and fights went on for 20 plus rounds.Those guys were fighting often and EVERY fight was a war.

I totally disagree with the "think a lot of of boxing fans are watching the wrong sport. Because a lot of fans don't appreciate highly skilled fights."

We hardcore fans love watching the skilled fighters,the Pernells' etc but the average fan doesn't give a crap about things like that. They want to see a war and they shell out their hard earned $49.95 to watch it.

Again,I'm not endorsing 1 view or another,I think a boxer should do whatever works for him but I just want to see what you guys think.I mean $49.95 for B Hop v Winky?They took our $$$ for THAT?!

[Ghost]

I just want your thoughts on this issue. We all slate certain fighters for being boring,Spinks,Winky and B Hop come to mind,especially as of late but they/their fans argue they do what it takes to win.However,they are making ALOT of $$$ from the fans who pay to see entertainment so I want your thoughts on this issue please. Is it THEIR duty to entertain us in their fights?

Depends on what you consider "entertainment". Their first "duty" is to win. Having said that, IMHO, most heavy weight fights are boring. Too much holding, fighters sucking air after the first round and so on.

"Showboating" also gets boring after awhile, especially when the fighter who is showboating gets KO'ed.

[ICB]

I just want your thoughts on this issue. We all slate certain fighters for being boring,Spinks,Winky and B Hop come to mind,especially as of late but they/their fans argue they do what it takes to win.However,they are making ALOT of $$$ from the fans who pay to see entertainment so I want your thoughts on this issue please. Is it THEIR duty to entertain us in their fights?

Depends on what you consider "entertainment". Their first "duty" is to win. Having said that, IMHO, most heavy weight fights are boring. Too much holding, fighters sucking air after the first round and so on.

"Showboating" also gets boring after awhile, especially when the fighter who is showboating gets KO'ed.

especially when the fighter who is showboating gets KO'ed.

And you find that boring didn't you ever see Judah vs Tszyu ??

[Ghost]

especially when the fighter who is showboating gets KO'ed.

And you find that boring didn't you ever see Judah vs Tszyu ??

You are talking about one fight in many.

Watching the same boxers, time and time again, enter a ring and after a round or two, starts "showboating" when they "think" they have the other fight hurt or in trouble, only to be KO'ed or lose the fight on points, does get boring. JMO

[ICB]

especially when the fighter who is showboating gets KO'ed.

And you find that boring didn't you ever see Judah vs Tszyu ??

You are talking about one fight in many.

Watching the same boxers, time and time again, enter a ring and after a round or two, starts "showboating" when they "think" they have the other fight hurt or in trouble, only to be KO'ed or lose the fight on points, does get boring. JMO

Jones vs Tarver 3 comes to mind, im big Jones fan but that was damn embarrassing night for Jones keep taunting Tarver like that and doing nothing at all.

[Wasp]

There is no question about it. Of course a boxer is expected to entertain. Entertain in the way of fighting though at the very least.
If they can fight and talk then that's even better.

If you look the guys you have named are all Americans. So they don't have to "Entertain in the ring".

It's entertaining enough for the Americans to see an American in the ring. That's what keeps the game ticking over.

Americans will pay money to watch an American in a ring even if his style is totally crap.

Can't wait to see Hopkins get his teeth knocked out by Calzaghe. Now Calzaghe with his combanations and fast punches is something good to watch.
How Hopkins is still above him in the pound for pound stakes is simple. He is American and it keeps Americans interested.
Just my 2 cents.

[LEGION]

Don't think it is their necessary duty to entertain per say; but without the entertainment value alot of the public won't spend money to watch. In the end the fighters get paid by the fans, so they have to bring some form of "entertainment" to their fights.

With that said, everyone has a different outlook on what is entertaining and what is not. I love a Floyd Mayweather for his brilliance in the ring, as much as I like a brawler such as Gatti. Some hate either or.

I know one thing I do hate; and that is a fighter who goes in a fight that I have invested money into and tries to live by the clock: ala' a Manfredo/Lacy matchup. That's not entertaining except to fan boys IMO, especially considering a guy who has been known to be in decent scraps before. Obviously I didn't pay for that fight per say, but it was included on the "big card" and was a travesty.

Like I said, entertainment is in the eye of the beholder, and alot of people root for a fighter due to factors such as nationality, creed, or even religion before they necessarily worry about him/her being "exciting", IMO. I just expect them to fight and take some risk to themselves doing it; not just sitting there showing off their twinkly shorts and cool gloves or fancy hairdoo waiting for the clock to tick. You're paid to fight;.....fight!!

[leftylee]

A little yes, when you pay to go or even watch fights at home you expect a certain degree of entertainment such as if you bought an event and a fight like Taylor-Spinks happens you would be fuming whereas a fight like Mayweather-hatton IMO was what I call entertaining with the 2 knockdowns, Hatton trying to be the agressor and on the other handh Floyd dazzling out of the way and picking off his shots.

[DaxxKahn]

I would not say it is their duty....

In all actuality there was a system already in place......A fighter did his work in the gym and executed it in the ring,,,the promoter was the guy who built them up and made the public want to see them...once the fighter established themselves as an exciting guy to watch in the ring the work was pretty much done except for advertising events....

Sadly though it has not been that way in a very long time....Of course that did not mean the fighter was supposed to be a mute in public but he did not need be a showman to sell himself either....The creation of pro wrestling at a mega level and now MMA attracting so many viewers it does not hurt for a fighter to have a bit of trash talk skills but there are limits IMO before it goes over the top....

For some guys it seems to work and help out...Guys like Naz who put on a show 24/7 but that is just the kind of guy he is not just as a fighter...he is a center of attention fellow no matter what he does so it seems natural....

Ali came in a era where the country was in a transition period,, civil rights, war etc so he was

A. not only a guy who naturally liked to talk smack but was good at it and most came in the first place the fact he was a kid who was overly excited

B. seeing the era it was in and all the opther problems the country had Ali knew there need be something more then just a fight at stake to attract peoples attention. To build up fights. After that it just seemed everything he did drew attention. he was under the scope so to speak. he went with it.

again not everyone can pull off what he did though.

Guyts like PBF you can tell most of it is an act and that is what kills it......but hey if it sells tickets I guess what are you going to do...I just think it has come to a point where it is beyond and at times makes the fighter look like a fool rather then entertainer