Are boxing fans "dumbing" down?

I think he would have because in those days everyone fought everyone for the most part and if he fought the best and kept winning, they couldn't deny him. That's not true and even he became a dominant champion (which he already is) he would still be a defensive minded Cuban at 122. Like I said he is lucky that HBO has given him so much air time already. They usually completely ignore his weight class. Half the people on here think he is boring, good luck with ever winning over non-hardcore fans.

No. Just a lot more idiots have access to the net.

I think you are more optimistic than me then. I don't think many are as knowledgeable as you say. I could be wrong and you make a great point about shooting the sh1t on the internet. I won't say all posters but if you have a look on the history or training forums (on this or other sites) you'll find some of the same guys who trade insults on NSB sharing boxing knowledge in a more conducive enviromment. Even on NSB if you find threads on lower weight divisions in particular or on lesser known or prospective fighters you'll find sophisticated analysis and a surprising degree of knowldege - just for some reason at the mere mention of the more popular boxers, some kinda battleline always seems to get drawn between the very same posters.

Boxing can be sublimely beautiful or breathtakingingly brutal or anything in between...for me each route to victory is as special as the next. If you're able to catch most posters on this forum when they're not trying to re-educate one another, and willing to engage in conversation about the sport itself on neutral fights or fighters, you'll find that many (perhaps most) are well educated about both the sport, it's nuances and its history. However, that may not be the impression that an observer would would gain watching us sling s#it like tweeting teenagers. Fight fans at boxing matches? Couldn't tell ya, the Brits sem pretty much the same as ever to me but I've never been to a non UK fight. I think you are more optimistic than me then. I don't think many are as knowledgeable as you say. I could be wrong and you make a great point about shooting the sh1t on the internet.

Excellent point. I think posters can't understand the sublime. When agbeko is made to drop his punch output so drastically or when ghost, canelo, nonito stop throwing punches it's not because their opponent is boring. It's because the opponent is so thoroughly beating them that they figure it's best to lose standing up then on their back. You would think boxing fans would appreciate that. Success is a journey, not a destination. How a fight ends is important, but what happens up to that point is often what determines how we get to the ending. Boxing can be sublimely beautiful or breathtakingingly brutal or anything in between...for me each route to victory is as special as the next. If you're able to catch most posters on this forum when they're not trying to re-educate one another, and willing to engage in conversation about the sport itself on neutral fights or fighters, you'll find that many (perhaps most) are well educated about both the sport, it's nuances and its history. However, that may not be the impression that an observer would would gain watching us sling s#it like tweeting teenagers. Fight fans at boxing matches? Couldn't tell ya, the Brits sem pretty much the same as ever to me but I've never been to a non UK fight.

It should be "boxer fans", not boxing fans. Most fans are fans of boxers and change their standards when their boxers do it. Example: Mayweather/Cotto catch weights.

You really think that Rigo would have been a superstar in 80-90's? get a grip. Defensive minded fighters usually struggle to draw interest, then add the fact that he doesn't speak English, doesn't come from a ethnicity with a rabid fanbase and fights at the lower weights. He should be happy with the purse he's getting from TR. I think he would have because in those days everyone fought everyone for the most part and if he fought the best and kept winning, they couldn't deny him. I think today, the best fights aren't being made because GB and TR don't want to do business with each other and that also hurts the marketability of each fighter.

You really think that Rigo would have been a superstar in 80-90's? get a grip. Defensive minded fighters usually struggle to draw interest, then add the fact that he doesn't speak English, doesn't come from a ethnicity with a rabid fanbase and fights at the lower weights. He should be happy with the purse he's getting from TR.

People were booing during Ali vs. Frazier 1 and also Duran vs. Leonard 3. It's nothing new and it's nowhere near as common as in the UFC or MMA, I don't think I've ever seen an event where they don't boo. Honestly I think a lot of the people who are booing now are just MMA fans that never been to a boxing match and just start booing if nothing happens for 15 seconds.

Well if they pay to see a fight and they don't like what they see, they have a right to boo. It's entertainment, after all.

i think it's more about having more casual boxing fans now than hardcore fans which is the opposite 10 years ago. casual fans are only in it for the entertainment. they're not necessarily dumb...it's just that they don't really care that much about the technical aspect of the sports. their urge towards the sports is different with that of the hardcores. Fans were much more in attendance before than now. I remember when I was an amateur I fought in front of much bigger crowds than what I'm working at now.

i think it's more about having more casual boxing fans now than hardcore fans which is the opposite 10 years ago. casual fans are only in it for the entertainment. they're not necessarily dumb...it's just that they don't really care that much about the technical aspect of the sports. their urge towards the sports is different with that of the hardcores.

Problem with these threads is the denial that, like any sport, boxing is a business. Majority of the profit that is generated comes from the people who want to see action. Without them, you won't even have a thread like this. And the strange thing is that the very same people who complain about the lack of interest in the "sweet science" are streaming them for free. Just imagine if all fighters have the same style as Rigo or Lara. I think you misunderstand my point. I'm not saying all fighters have to fight like Rigo or Mayweather. What I'm saying is that there should be room for them just like the Angulo's of the world. Why should a great fighter like Rigo, not get the payday he deserves because fans can't understand or appreciate his style? I understand the boxing business very well, I'm in it. What I don't get is how just a decade ago, it seemed that boxing fans were more knowledgeable about the sport. Now it seems that it's gone the way of MMA and booing fighters. I don't want boxing to turn into a tough man contest or MMA. Where douche bags are all wearing "Extreme Everlast" T-shirts and booing the fighters. That's my only point.

Problem with these threads is the denial that, like any sport, boxing is a business. Majority of the profit that is generated comes from the people who want to see action. Without them, you won't even have a thread like this. And the strange thing is that the very same people who complain about the lack of interest in the "sweet science" are streaming them for free. Just imagine if all fighters have the same style as Rigo or Lara.

First of all good thread. Secondly, i wont use the word dumb out of respect to everyone, but ive stated this point before that unlike basketball or baseball most combat sports fans have never been through the "experience". So, as a b-ball fan you atleast have played pick up ball with friends if not school team to been through the experience of getting blocked, getting 3s and fouled etc etc. In combat sports most fans have never been in there so they base things on assumptions. Thats why i want all commentators to be ex-fiters so they can atleast educate the non-participant fanbase on the reality. Most people just wanna watch a fight so they dont care about science and just want a good night out, hence the switch to MMA for so many. Thats why many of these guys cant respect guys like Rigondeuax. I personally am a huge Carlos Molina fan and well know the ***** he gets here, but i understand how he neutralizes your strengths. Very fun to watch. Thirdly, rise of MMA has been overall good for boxing. Why? cuz these promoters are learning quick that they have to make good matchups. But this booing thing is annoying and i agree can be attributed to MMA culture. Even with MMA it is evolving cuz before you had a kickboxer learn a bit of ground game but still vulnerable enough to be tapped out by a pure ground guy and vice versa, so you had alot of finishes. Now fiters are more well rounded and a jiu jitsu guy will have to fite for a submission not just get the back and bam got it, so many fites are going to decisions. Man great post and thanks for the intelligent response. I think you make a great point about most fans not ever fighting, it's the very reason I don't ever call a former fighter ro current fighter a "bum". When you fight for a living, whether it be MMA, boxing, kickboxing etc, you gained my respect. Second, I think you make another great point in how MMA is good for boxing. I been saying that for years. Before it was a "Us vs Them" mentality, but now, I think I work with as many MMA fighters as I do boxers to be honest with you. I just want to see fans really educate themselves in the sport and understand how difficult it is to do what Rigo, JMM, or Mayweather do. It's like football now, everyone wants to see TD's but a good defensive game is as exciting for me to be honest.

and who the F%$# **** are you to judge other fans? :*******: He's in the biz. It's perfectly understandable and obvious why he might take offense to dumb fans. so.. is he not a fan himself? his oppinion is no more then any other. quit licking his j-strap :boxing: Bojangles thanks and it's ok if dumb fans get offended when I call them what they are. Regardless of what I do in boxing, I am a fan. I just posted a lagit question as to where the sport is heading. If you want to go back to Floyd and Pac threads, and how every fighter is a "bum" threads, then you can do that to.

If you based your opinion off of NSB, EVERYONE in the sport of boxing is a bum. To answer OP's question, I don't think it's the fans being "dumbed" down, they simply want to get their monies worth and I understand that. I think it's more of an issue with the promoters protecting their investments and putting on one sided or fights that simply aren't competitive. I don't mind watching guys like Rigo and Floyd, but casuals expect a high light reel KO or wish they put it all on the line. Well I think that's my point. The fact that in days past, watching a guy like Rigo was a pleasure and a privilege. Now it seems as though if it's not a Bradley vs Provodnikov type fight, then fans can't appreciate it. I really think what Nacho said was very telling in the way that boxing is heading. Personally, I don't like it. Like I tell my fighters all the time, boxing is not fighting, it's a sport.

I hear very often that GGG is ducking Lara, or that some other fighter is ducking Rigo. Cotto is set to fight Martinez instead of Canelo, and people have issues with that. There's an obvious business aspect to boxing most fans don't get, but I also think there's a reason we aren't seeing these fights and it's because the "boxing fans" don't want to pay to go watch them. For example, I love the way Rigo fights, I think it's the purest form of boxing we see in today's sport, yet he has trouble getting fights, not because fighters are "ducking" him, but because promoters don't want to shell out money for a failed show. Lara is another fighter who I find to be fun to watch, but his more classic Cuban style of boxing, is one the avg fan isn't interested in. It's the reason Mexican fighters are so popular (not saying this because I'm Mexican for the record). Mexican fighters have an appealing style to the common fan, knockouts, hard fought brawls, come forward styles etc...That's just one aspect of boxing though, we also should appreciate the technical aspect of the sport and I think the avg boxing fan is losing that. Is it because of the rise of MMA? I don't know but it also pisses me off when I hear boxing crowds boo at fights. I never used to witness that, it happened only in MMA and I think that has now found it's way in boxing. Are boxing fans "dumber"? Do they no appreciate the true boxing science we have seen in the past? Nacho said after the 3rd Pac fight that maybe he needed to change the way he trained his fighters, because hit and don't be hit wasn't working even with the judges. What do you guys think? First of all good thread. Secondly, i wont use the word dumb out of respect to everyone, but ive stated this point before that unlike basketball or baseball most combat sports fans have never been through the "experience". So, as a b-ball fan you atleast have played pick up ball with friends if not school team to been through the experience of getting blocked, getting 3s and fouled etc etc. In combat sports most fans have never been in there so they base things on assumptions. Thats why i want all commentators to be ex-fiters so they can atleast educate the non-participant fanbase on the reality. Most people just wanna watch a fight so they dont care about science and just want a good night out, hence the switch to MMA for so many. Thats why many of these guys cant respect guys like Rigondeuax. I personally am a huge Carlos Molina fan and well know the ***** he gets here, but i understand how he neutralizes your strengths. Very fun to watch. Thirdly, rise of MMA has been overall good for boxing. Why? cuz these promoters are learning quick that they have to make good matchups. But this booing thing is annoying and i agree can be attributed to MMA culture. Even with MMA it is evolving cuz before you had a kickboxer learn a bit of ground game but still vulnerable enough to be tapped out by a pure ground guy and vice versa, so you had alot of finishes. Now fiters are more well rounded and a jiu jitsu guy will have to fite for a submission not just get the back and bam got it, so many fites are going to decisions.

I instantly thought "its called baseball, not home runs." in the same sort of analogy. I love going to baseball games, SF Giants games are usually eventful/cheerful, and its not always an exciting game and there's not always home runs.. but when there are homeruns/back to back runs being scored its a great feeling. I hated it when baseball started putting so much emphasis on homeruns. They are great when they happen naturally in the flow of the game and not when you try to force them with roided players. Same thing in soccer. You would cheapen goals if you made it so that they happen more often. People have to learn to appreciate the sport as a whole and not demand knock downs every damn time. Yes it's cool when they happen and it adds to the enjoyment but let's not try to force every bout to be Gatti-Ward. It's like wanting to eat dessert for every meal.

Fans want to see the best fight the best available competition, no matter how many "nationalistic" fans show up at a live gate waving flags. There are fans worldwide that have access to boxing via internet, legal or not. If anything fans are getting "smarter" and hiding behind popularity is starting to become "unpopular".