# Americans and Boxing **URL:** \ **Category:** Hatton Archive - General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015 "2006-03-18T18:20:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Psycho.09](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@Psycho.09](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/Psycho.09)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/1 "2006-03-18T18:20:55Z")
I don’t think you need to worry about American fight FANS because there isn’t that many of them to begin with. The thing with Americans is the most of them, around 95%, could absolutely care less about boxing. Honestly, if you took a poll of 100 average every day Americans there would only be about 5 of them who could name 5 current boxers and know what class they fight in. About 10 more could name a few boxers, but most would probably be retired (Holyfield, Foreman, etc). The true reason the venues sell out on fight nights is: 1. Celebrity watching. 2. They want to be seen on TV (You have seen the guys with the cell phones) 3. Its there (something to do one night) and 4. Because that is what ESPPN said is the place to be. With as many professional sport (Basketball, Football (American), Baseball, Hockey, Golf, NASCAR and the college sports: Basketball, Football) as we have, not counting the minor sports (Bowling, Poker (yeah that is right we now consider this a sport), Olympic Sports), there are too many to choose from for boxing (which is mainly shown on Friday and Saturday nights (the going out nights) to be considered very popular. If a boxer comes from a certain area then that area may follow him but not everyone. Just look at ESPN the magazine, you may find a one page article on boxing every three months or so. After a fight the only way most Americans know that even went on is 1. The results were on sports center 2. There was some controversy or 3. It was a big name fight (mostly heavy weights). So if you are worried about Ricky seeming a joke to Americans, then you think that most Americans care. The ones that do care should know enough about boxing to know that Ricky is the real deal. Just forget about the rest of them and label them the either uninformed or are just spouting off something Max Kellerman said on TV. The way to most Americans memory in boxing, I think, is if he has a stellar knock-out. So put him in there against anybody (Harris, Witter, Johnston, Cotto, Mayweather). Just get his name on TV. Sorry if you are an American and disagree with me but I do have the Right of Free Speech and if you are honest with yourself a go take a poll like I said then you’ll know that I am telling it like it is. ---
**Author:** ![beast](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@beast](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/beast)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/2 "2006-03-18T19:06:53Z")
Well I am an American, and I agree, only 5% of the USA are die-hard boxing fans. I once noted in another post that there are many “american’s” who never knew who Roy Jones Jr. was? Very sad. Ricky is not the only reason why I frequent this forum. Mike Tyson George Forman, and Ali are all they know. LOL [http://www.fightnews.com/hatton\_tyson.jpg](http://www.fightnews.com/hatton_tyson.jpg) -TBB ---
**Author:** ![RisingSun](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c67d28/32.png) [@RisingSun](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/RisingSun)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/3 "2006-03-18T19:29:59Z")
I agree 100% and as an American fight fan this is a topic near and dear to my heart. LOL! It sickens me that boxing is not a respected sport in the US anymore but there are a lot of factors that contribute to the lack of interest. 1. Too many belts and too many weight classses. Being a champion and holding a belt means nothing anymore when statistically there could be 5 champions in any given weight class if you count each WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF belts and then the unified champion if that ever happens. From the featherweight class on up there are 11 different weight classes. If a good boxer is unable to become champion in his weight class he can move up or down to avoid fighters in another class. 1. Most people don’t understand any of this. 2. Rising cost of PPV. Every decent fight is now shown on PPV. These “superfights” used to be reserved for special occasions but it seems that now anyone with a name we have heard of is on PPV and that is an additional 50 bucks to shell out (3 weeks worth of gas to me) in addition to Time Warner Cable fees and having HBO and Showtime subscriptions. 3. Boxing used to be broadcast free on network television 4. Prima Donna boxers who spout off at the mouth about how great they are but refuse to take any risks and fight each other. Instead they fight and beat a long list of overmatched journeyman in uneventful boring fights until they get a shot at one of the champions. That is if they get paid enough because most boxers and promoters are unwilling to have their fighter take a big risk without the guarantee of a big reward. This is like a double edge sword towards because the prima donna attitude actually hurts their image/reputation and causes them to be even more unpopular amongst the 5% minority that is interested in boxing. Oh the list goes on and on but it sad to say boxing is in a sad state of disrepair. I hope Hatton can help that a little but it is mostly the sanctioning bodies, promoters and boxers themselves that are killing the sport. ---
**Author:** ![Psycho.09](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@Psycho.09](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/Psycho.09)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/4 "2006-03-18T19:39:20Z")
I totally agree. One of the things I love about Ricky the most is the lack of trash talk. After the Tzyu fight I was almost in tears when he took him aside and asked the fans to give him a round of applause. It is so unheard of to be a nice person and a boxer. I can never remember which boxer has what belt in what class. It is kind of the AFC-NFC before the NFL combined them. Nobody really cared about Football (American) then, look at the first superbowl. I really think most Americans have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), they have too many things to watch, ABC Sports, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, HBO sports, Showtime sports, ESPN, ESPN2, FSN, Racing channel, etc., to get really involved in a sport that you have to think about because there are really no sportcasters talking about it all the time. Even on HBO and Showtime they have plugs for their shows going on almost all the time during the fight. ---
**Author:** ![RisingSun](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c67d28/32.png) [@RisingSun](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/RisingSun)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/5 "2006-03-18T19:57:24Z")
Alot of it has to do with the commercialization of the sport itself. For example it is easy for Nascar to get on TV when every camera angle is conveniently focused on one of the 100s of sponsors logos that appear on each race car. Then the drivers themselves are decked out in Budweiser or Mountain Dew gear. How would that NOT get on television? ---
**Author:** ![RRR](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e9a140/32.png) [@RRR](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/RRR)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/6 "2006-03-18T21:36:44Z")
one more person from america posts and there you’ll have the five americans that know boxing. I think your numbers are off a bit but it is true the majority of americans are not knowledgeable about current events, fighters, and weight classes outside heavy weight. But we’re a large country with a large number of popular sports it just so happens boxing is no longer one of those, then again you could probably poll those same ones about MMA events and fighters and get a different turnout. ---
**Author:** ![ChillPill365](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@ChillPill365](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/ChillPill365)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/7 "2006-03-18T21:54:22Z")
I disagree 100%, i just think the Americans are wary of Europeans with bloated records. And i dont blame them for that at all. I think per populi they have the same amount of boxing fans as the rest of the world, well at least with Britain. How can a country so unknowlegable about boxing produce so many good fighters, promoters, trainers, bills, and commentators?. looking at the shambolic mis-matches that have been on sky latley i actually enjoy checking out American fight nights when i get the chance. ---
**Author:** ![silverbullet](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@silverbullet](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/silverbullet)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/8 "2006-03-18T23:44:28Z")
I agree with Nazzy on all his points. I live in England, UK but at the end of the day, let’s face it, how many hardcore fight fans are actually in THIS country? All people seem to go on about here is football and I bet there are only so many (no where near the numbers of football fans) that could tell you the exact weight class of Ricky. _Shrugs_. Boxing suffers everywhere, not just the US. But then you’ll always find that each country has their own sport and you’d struggle to find a single country that actually takes boxing to it’s heart. ---
**Author:** ![ChillPill365](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@ChillPill365](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/ChillPill365)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/9 "2006-03-18T23:46:59Z")
How is Boxing suffering everywere explain i dont understand. Its always been the way you have just said it. ---
**Author:** ![silverbullet](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@silverbullet](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/silverbullet)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/10 "2006-03-18T23:48:26Z")
Boxing suffers from not being a sport that is taken to the majority of people’s hearts, that’s what I meant. But there are far more sports out there that are exactly the same so I guess it isn’t a totally bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![ChillPill365](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@ChillPill365](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/ChillPill365)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/11 "2006-03-18T23:54:08Z")
Yer but boxing isnt for everybody. Its sitll huge 10million people watched Amir Khan on ITV when he beat Kindalen. There were 16,000 people turn up for Joe Calzaghe. Its just not everyones cup of Tea. Maybe its too violent or they just dont like it. But i say this you look Ringside of a big fight and how many big celebs do you see compared to another sport?. Boxing now is probably in the best shape. Gets more coverage now than ever, its safer, and a lot cleaner. And lets face it we got some great fighters around nowdays not just here but allover the world. Boxings doing just fine if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![taylorian](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/58956e/32.png) [@taylorian](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/taylorian)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/12 "2006-03-18T23:54:14Z")
Football is obviously in a different class than boxing, thats probably an understatement with most likely millions of brits goin to watch it week in week out, but that don’t mean to say it’s not a sport that people don’t enjoy, look at the faces of the people you see goin the boxing they love it, it’s just not as ‘out there’ in the public eye It is a great sport, but boxers don’t fight week in week out, so hence the fans aint there going on about it constantly, ya know ---
**Author:** ![RisingSun](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c67d28/32.png) [@RisingSun](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/RisingSun)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/13 "2006-03-19T00:32:06Z")
Basketball, football, nascar etc. play every week consistently. Got an injury well there are 50 more players that can take your place. What also makes those sports more appealing is that all of the teams are competing to win the ONE championship cup, trophy, etc. Each weight class in boxing has 4 recognized championships and some fighters only fight every 6 months. A fighter that is being brough along may fight every week but it is against an unnoteworthy opponent and not worth watching. If however once a fighter reached the top 15 to 20 there was an elimination contest where the fighters fought every week and at the end a TRUE champion was crowned then public interest would most likey go up but with all of the promoters and money involved with the different venues and what not it makes it a lot harder for the average joe to follow. Especially considering the cost of having HBO and Showtime in America along with the additional PPV charges. ---
**Author:** ![alxc123](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@alxc123](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/alxc123)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 1:03am UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/14 "2006-03-19T01:03:25Z")
I agree that boxing in the US has been hurt with the rise of PPV and the ansence of “free” televised boxing. I hpe with Friday Night Fights regaining some steam and other channels carrying more fights people will get hooked on this great sport. ---
**Author:** ![silverbullet](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@silverbullet](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/silverbullet)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/15 "2006-03-19T01:08:28Z")
The good thing about HBO is that this year they have promised to show more big fights for free because they stated the figures of PPV last year were pretty poor compared to previous years. Charging for crap like Barrera-Peden is probably just one example that caused their downfall so I’m glad they have recognised this error and are at least trying to do something about it. There is no denying that promoters and tv networks have got so greedy over boxing as far as PPV is concerned that they don’t realise that it hurts the sport itself. HBO taking notice is a start. ---
**Author:** ![Psycho.09](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@Psycho.09](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/Psycho.09)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/16 "2006-03-19T01:36:59Z")
My point was in several threads people were worried that Ricky would seem like a joke in the US due to the level of his compition. I was just saying that to most Americans boxing is not a sport they seem to take interest in. The only people you need to worry about are the true boxing fans in America, and they should know that fighters get injured before a fight and other fighters get booked before you can get to them. I was not trying to be anti-American or anti-boxing, just to let the fans across the pond know that there is no need to worry. ---
**Author:** ![pamix16](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/ecb155/32.png) [@pamix16](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/pamix16)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/17 "2006-03-19T02:56:48Z")
The majority of concerns you guys have about boxing in the US is the same as those we have here in good old blighty. Its a minority sport and we have to accept that, as well as the probability that sports such as the UFC will overtake boxing in popularity in the coming years. However america is a huge place and with approximately 300,000,000 people living there even 5% of that is a pretty big number of fans!! I do agree that there is alot wrong with the running of boxing and that is affecting the number of fans. Boxing is the most unprofessionally run professional sport in the world. It needs a singular world govering body (which would provide 1 champion qper weight!!) and set of rules like there is with pretty much every other sport e.g golf, athletics, soccer, basketball, us football, baseball, rugby, cricket etc etc etc ---
**Author:** ![RisingSun](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c67d28/32.png) [@RisingSun](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/RisingSun)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/18 "2006-03-19T04:39:09Z")
> [@Just another one of Wacko's Drunken Round by Rounds Mosley vs Vargas II](http://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/just-another-one-of-wackos-drunken-round-by-rounds-mosley-vs-vargas-ii/6326/169): > > My point was in several threads people were worried that Ricky would seem like a joke in the US due to the level of his compition. I was just saying that to most Americans boxing is not a sport they seem to take interest in. The only people you need to worry about are the true boxing fans in America, and they should know that fighters get injured before a fight and other fighters get booked before you can get to them. I was not trying to be anti-American or anti-boxing, just to let the fans across the pond know that there is no need to worry. I know autumnklassic. I think most people in US that follow boxing have heard of Hatton and know he beat Tszyu and he is being talked about more and more. Actually to be great here you have to have 50% of the people like you and 50% descredit your achievments at every opportunity. I think a lot of boxing fans are on the Hatton bandwagon and then others feel he his overhyped so they give him sh\*\* about it but he gets his credit either way. ---
**Author:** ![Psycho.09](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@Psycho.09](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/Psycho.09)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/19 "2006-03-19T04:46:07Z")
That is exactly what I meant. Thanks for understanding. I just find it upsetting that I got a negative rating today for my first post. That is why I wanted to clarify my point of view. ---
**Author:** ![RisingSun](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c67d28/32.png) [@RisingSun](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/u/RisingSun)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:19am UTC](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015/20 "2006-03-20T07:19:33Z")
Well its nice ot hear somebody talk about something other than how GREAT Hatton is. LOL [Next page](https://forum.saddoboxing.com/t/americans-and-boxing/99015.md?page=2)