Why has it taken so long for Golovkin to get popular?

He had promotional issues with Universum and wasn't allowed to fight in the US. this. unless the klitschko brothers are paying you bank, i'm not a huge fan of world class guys hooking up with european promotors. the mecca of boxing is a ppv on american TV, and in las vegas. it's the only place in the world where people will pay 70 usd to watch you fight, or pay the crazy prices for ringside seats. you might never get there, but shooting for the skies over here is better than laboring in obscurity in europe.

Because he had too few fights early in his carrer from 2009 - 2011 he had 6 fights....

He's not flushing money down the toilet, not beating women, not going on racist rants etc. American fans don't respect that type of character for some reason, but we idolize people like Broner. http://sports.inquirer.net/files/2013/01/manny-pacquiao.jpg You're 100%, Americans don't respect fighters that don't flush money in the toilet, beat their wife, and don't go on a racist rant.

He's not flushing money down the toilet, not beating women, not going on racist rants etc. American fans don't respect that type of character for some reason, but we idolize people like Broner. Slavic people have a more humble attitude, that's true.

Embracing a foreign born fighter in another country for example multiple fighters in Germany or bute, pascal is slightly different to what happens in America, this fighters basically become a national treasure of the countries that they now represent E.G Bute in Canada, the Klits in Germany etc but in America you are still a foreigner but loved in the sense that the only ties they have with you is your boxing nothing else, they are even prepared to favour you over their own America born fighters, that would not happen to Bute in Canada or the Klits in Germany. Well the US scene is the least parochial, that's for sure. But the sport is fringe here, and you'll find it's in large part driven by ethnic targeting. At least it seems that's how top promoters operate. That's why Floyd fights on May 5, and why Cuban prospects have a much tougher road that PR. Of course special talents can rise above, like Pac, Klitschko (not seeing much action on US TV) or YPH (in a smaller pond).

That's more or less true, but many countries embrace foreign born who make an effort to integrate. See Bute, Pascal, AA, Huck, Klitschkos, YPH, The US has big enough ethnic strongholds that a guy like Adamek can be a draw without needing to. Embracing a foreign born fighter in another country for example multiple fighters in Germany or bute, pascal is slightly different to what happens in America, this fighters basically become a national treasure of the countries that they now represent E.G Bute in Canada, the Klits in Germany etc but in America you are still a foreigner but loved in the sense that the only ties they have with you is your boxing nothing else, they are even prepared to favour you over their own America born fighters, that would not happen to Bute in Canada or the Klits in Germany.

It all had to do with his promoter only and that's it. America is the least bias country when it comes to boxing and the nationality myth doesn't really apply to them, if you are a foreigner and you are good or a KO artist then they would like you and showcase you. He only started being showcase on American soil 7 months ago and now look at the hype surrounding him, America is the place to come when you want the least unbiased chance as a foreigner. That's more or less true, but many countries embrace foreign born who make an effort to integrate. See Bute, Pascal, AA, Huck, Klitschkos, YPH, The US has big enough ethnic strongholds that a guy like Adamek can be a draw without needing to.

It all had to do with his promoter only and that's it. America is the least bias country when it comes to boxing and the nationality myth doesn't really apply to them, if you are a foreigner and you are good or a KO artist then they would like you and showcase you. He only started being showcase on American soil 7 months ago and now look at the hype surrounding him, America is the place to come when you want the least unbiased chance as a foreigner.

He's not flushing money down the toilet, not beating women, not going on racist rants etc. American fans don't respect that type of character for some reason, but we idolize people like Broner.

Wladimir Klitschko has been around for far longer than Golovkin, far more accomplished, and has been on HBO plenty of times. And yet I would not call him popular, at least not in the U.S. if that's what you are asking about Golovkin. There's a good chance that Golovkin will never be popular in the U.S. unless guys like Martinez, Chavez Jr, Canelo, Cotto fight him. Guys with names, but the problem is these guys rather fight each other, rightfully so, because well they are understandably interested in the biggest money fights possible. Martinez-Chavez II, Canelo-Cotto, Cotto-Chavez, Canelo-Chavez, Martinez-Cotto, Canelo-Martinez. Unfortunately for Golovkin he's the odd man out for now, I admit Quillin has no excuse to not fight him, cause Quillin is not that popular. But the fights that can make Golovkin more popular are the fights that just don't make sense. If Golovkin keeps beating the Rosado's, Ishida's and Vera's, he'll eventually get himself in a position where he can no longer be ducked because he has raised his name high enough with highlight reel KO's. GGG is starting to grow on me, but I wish his hardcore fans would not squeeze his nuts so damn tight, let him build himself up a little more. Agree on everything. As a fan I'm stunned by how high the hype meter had gotten 6 months ago, and just keeps going up without top level wins. So I understand the frustration, but there are posters that refuse to acknowledge he's being ducked, probably a defensive reflex for their fav fighter. What gets to me is all the whining for the Ishida fight. He can't even get solid opponents 2.5 earlier on HBO, and he's supposed to find one off TV in Euro boxing backwater before 900 "fans". In general, if a champ decides to take an off TV fight in between 2 HBO dates spaced 5 months apart, it's a freebie noone has right to complain about. And after having 5 straight fights above 154, including a title challenge UD loss and a big KO win over Kirkland, Ishida's still a SWW?!

There were less than 1,500 people at Matthysse's last fight. Considering that he isn't much of a draw GBP has still gotten him on TV plenty of times. I do agree that they have kept Danny Garcia away from him though which I don't think has been fair to him.

Funnily enough some people would tell you otherwise. I read some posters talking about GBP treats Matthysse bad and don't get him any opportunities. The guy is an HBO fighter, getting his fights televised on a premium channel, getting fights against Judah, Alexander, Soto and now a championship fight against Peterson. I mean the next best thing GBP could do for the guy is get him an HBO/Showtime main event PPV and you tell me how that would do. He's basically at the highest level, at the highest popularity, fighting for a major title, fighting a top fighter. What more can you ask for, Matthysse ain't no PPV fighter yet. They robbed him 2X and gave him Soto and Ajose and Dallas jr instead of Garcia. What more can you ask for? Look at Devon's Carrer post Urango.

Matthysse had it easy, he got to fight a big name like Zab in his first fight on american soil, headlining on HBO. Two fights later he got another big name in Alexander. That's red carpet treatment compared to GGG. Funnily enough some people would tell you otherwise. I read some posters talking about GBP treats Matthysse bad and don't get him any opportunities. The guy is an HBO fighter, getting his fights televised on a premium channel, getting fights against Judah, Alexander, Soto and now a championship fight against Peterson. I mean the next best thing GBP could do for the guy is get him an HBO/Showtime main event PPV and you tell me how that would do. He's basically at the highest level, at the highest popularity, fighting for a major title, fighting a top fighter. What more can you ask for, Matthysse ain't no PPV fighter yet.

Wladimir Klitschko has been around for far longer than Golovkin, far more accomplished, and has been on HBO plenty of times. And yet I would not call him popular, at least not in the U.S. if that's what you are asking about Golovkin. There's a good chance that Golovkin will never be popular in the U.S. unless guys like Martinez, Chavez Jr, Canelo, Cotto fight him. Guys with names, but the problem is these guys rather fight each other, rightfully so, because well they are understandably interested in the biggest money fights possible. Martinez-Chavez II, Canelo-Cotto, Cotto-Chavez, Canelo-Chavez, Martinez-Cotto, Canelo-Martinez. Unfortunately for Golovkin he's the odd man out for now, I admit Quillin has no excuse to not fight him, cause Quillin is not that popular. But the fights that can make Golovkin more popular are the fights that just don't make sense. If Golovkin keeps beating the Rosado's, Ishida's and Vera's, he'll eventually get himself in a position where he can no longer be ducked because he has raised his name high enough with highlight reel KO's. GGG is starting to grow on me, but I wish his hardcore fans would not squeeze his nuts so damn tight, let him build himself up a little more.

Golovkin should get some mega fights in the U.S. Then he'll come truly into fruition as a star fighter, and gain popularity in America. Only a matter of time.

Some good points.

Adamek was featured in a lot of cards on NBC. Maidana is a popular fighter and has gotten lots of TV time despite some of his losses. Sergio Martinez is an HBO staple and is considered top 3 P4P. None of them are white Americans. So time to get off that. Especially in this case with Universum where it clearly doesn't apply.

Matthysse had it easy, he got to fight a big name like Zab in his first fight on american soil, headlining on HBO. Two fights later he got another big name in Alexander. That's red carpet treatment compared to GGG. Yeah, but he would have been a star in the UK before he even left for the States - and they robbed him in those two fights anyway and he's still not a draw today. I take your point though, he's had it easier than Golovkin in terms of opponents but is really not much further on in terms of wider public appeal.

dont worry, he'll be promoted by TR soon and hopefully they'll feed chavez

Yeah, a white knock-out artist from the States would represent big business. If Lucas Matthysse and Gennady Golovkin were American they would be stars. As it is, they're having to graft their way to the top with little fanfare while being ducked left, right and centre. They even handed Matthysse two undeserved Ls. Matthysse had it easy, he got to fight a big name like Zab in his first fight on american soil, headlining on HBO. Two fights later he got another big name in Alexander. That's red carpet treatment compared to GGG.