is it respectable to be a fan of a sport to which you have no involvement in at all?

Yes you can be a fan of the sport without actually being a trained fighter. I think it was teddy atlas that said this, "Just cuz you throw a towel over your shoulder doesn't mean you are a trainer."

sure it's respectable to appreciate a sport but not be involved in it at all. where it becomes disrespectable is when these fans post up as if they have the inner knowledge when in fact it's a pure fabrication. then they get upset when they are called out on it. in general fans just talk too much **** with nothing to back it up. they'll **** on the sport with their unfounded bull****, at least I've come to find this in boxing fans after spending many years on here watching them **** on the sport.:boxing: you sound very knowledgeable and sound like someone who has boxed before. am i right?

..other than watching it? whenever someone finds out i'm a boxing fan, one of the first things they ask is, "oh, you box?" or "you train?" and that's a no from me. i don't box, i don't hit heavy bags, speed bags, i don't jump rope, i don't do anything even remotely related to boxing, I only watch. is that ok or is that pussified? don't get me wrong i've been is squabs in the streets (im 2-3) but otherwise you'll never see me square up. my second sport is basketball, and shiieet i'm all over that. i can't even count the number of ankles ive broken. i can cross up harden aka the bearded one on a good day. but the point is that most people's favorite sports are something they play themselves whether recreational or pro, or at least participate in in one way or another. for instance a boxing fan might not box in the am's or pros, but he may spar occasionally and will train with boxing related workouts and at the very least know how to fight. thoughts? why do you think the word fan was invented for...all people who enjoy to watch and discuss about it,doesn't matter if you train or not...

If that's the case boxing would have no fans. It helps your credibility on technical/strategic type discussions I guess but even then you can still learn a lot from watching and studying. Some successful trainers never boxed before: D'Amato & Arcel for example.

Put it this way: The sport industry would go bankrupt if all the fans who weren't involved in the sport stopped being fans. On a side note, :haha: at the thread starter's name and avatar. https://youtu.be/oy9fZTlPlQU Embed disabled by request unfortunately... "You're a fuckin fag???" :lol1: tis a shame what they did to Vito. he was a good man and top earner.

I get your point but like others said, it's entertainment. Fighters become fighters not because they want to get battered, bruised, put their life on the line for fun, they fight to get paid. That's why it's called prize fighting. We get our entertainment out of watching them fight and they get paid for providing us with that entertainment. It doesn't mean you have to jump into a ring and get yourself KO'd to say your a fan of the sport at all. Just try not to feel ashamed if that's what it is more about. The general feeling I get when people hear I like to watch boxing is that I'm a violent guy or like watching "criminals" fight because that's what old school people think of fighters, as criminals that are fit for the job. Completely untrue and a bad rep that the sport gets because of 1 or 2 fighters who got glorified over their misbehavior.

On a similar note, I've met many guys at boxing gyms, some who fight amateur or professionally, who barley know much about the sport (p4p list, who's champ at what division, the history, up and coming guys, ect.). This actually makes no sense to me at all but I've been witness to this plenty times. On the other hand, some of the most knowledgeable boxing fans I've come across have been guys who have never laced up a pair, so no I don't find it weird and don't expect every boxing fan to be an actual fighter/trainer. Man, I've found the same type of people. I'm one of the few people that I know, who are involved in boxing and at the same time know about it beyond May/Pac lol

It's a free world and if you like any sport as a spectator and you are willing to pay for that privilege then I see nothing wrong with that.

I spar all the time but only with women cos its a lot safer.

Ive got no problem with boxing fans who have never laced up a pair, but i really think, you can only truly unterstand the mechanics of boxing, if you have at least sparred sometimes. Got some friends who like to watch boxing and know some of the more popular fighters, but they just cant understand how complex boxing is, they cant see what boxer A is trying to do and how boxer B is changing his game plan in order to nullify boxer A.

Sports is entertainment, I don't think you need to participate to be a fan of a particular sport But honestly if your 2w - 3L in street fights boxing is a activity that you should consider picking up Hahahaha...true! Bingo.:lol1:

I don't think anyone expects you to box just because you watch boxing. But it's like football/hockey fans who refer to their team as "us". Some people take it to awkward poser levels.

On a similar note, I've met many guys at boxing gyms, some who fight amateur or professionally, who barley know much about the sport (p4p list, who's champ at what division, the history, up and coming guys, ect.). This actually makes no sense to me at all but I've been witness to this plenty times. On the other hand, some of the most knowledgeable boxing fans I've come across have been guys who have never laced up a pair, so no I don't find it weird and don't expect every boxing fan to be an actual fighter/trainer. Haha, my observation is the same. Guys who make those nerdy ATG/P4P lists have never stepped foot in a gym and the ones that will be on your country's national team wouldn't know a damn thing besides: Pac, May, Ali and Tyson.

On a similar note, I've met many guys at boxing gyms, some who fight amateur or professionally, who barley know much about the sport (p4p list, who's champ at what division, the history, up and coming guys, ect.). This actually makes no sense to me at all but I've been witness to this plenty times. On the other hand, some of the most knowledgeable boxing fans I've come across have been guys who have never laced up a pair, so no I don't find it weird and don't expect every boxing fan to be an actual fighter/trainer. You'll find this in any sport or aspect of entertainment, and it's usually because those people are too focused on doing their own thing and trying to make it to worry about being up on everybody else's. These are usually the people who actually accomplish things though

..other than watching it? whenever someone finds out i'm a boxing fan, one of the first things they ask is, "oh, you box?" or "you train?" and that's a no from me. i don't box, i don't hit heavy bags, speed bags, i don't jump rope, i don't do anything even remotely related to boxing, I only watch. is that ok or is that pussified? don't get me wrong i've been is squabs in the streets (im 2-3) but otherwise you'll never see me square up. my second sport is basketball, and shiieet i'm all over that. i can't even count the number of ankles ive broken. i can cross up harden aka the bearded one on a good day. but the point is that most people's favorite sports are something they play themselves whether recreational or pro, or at least participate in in one way or another. for instance a boxing fan might not box in the am's or pros, but he may spar occasionally and will train with boxing related workouts and at the very least know how to fight. thoughts? define a sport fan, then we will start from there if it is respectable or not.

On a similar note, I've met many guys at boxing gyms, some who fight amateur or professionally, who barley know much about the sport (p4p list, who's champ at what division, the history, up and coming guys, ect.). This actually makes no sense to me at all but I've been witness to this plenty times. On the other hand, some of the most knowledgeable boxing fans I've come across have been guys who have never laced up a pair, so no I don't find it weird and don't expect every boxing fan to be an actual fighter/trainer. This is true, some guys are just fighters. They want to work hard, get in shape, and want a way to release their energy and boxing just happens to be it. I think even a great fighter like Maidana has said he doesn't really follow the sport.

that's true, however most other boxing fans i know of are involved in the sport someway or another. it seems like im the only one who isnt. I don't see Dan Rafael, Steve Kim, or Elie Seckbach hitting the bags everyday. Hell I doubt Stephen A. Smith or Skip Bayless have ever put on gloves.

*raises hand* I'm are sure most people are fans of music, but do not make music themselves.

On a similar note, I've met many guys at boxing gyms, some who fight amateur or professionally, who barley know much about the sport (p4p list, who's champ at what division, the history, up and coming guys, ect.). This actually makes no sense to me at all but I've been witness to this plenty times. On the other hand, some of the most knowledgeable boxing fans I've come across have been guys who have never laced up a pair, so no I don't find it weird and don't expect every boxing fan to be an actual fighter/trainer. that's true, you see that shiet all the time in elie's videos and people come up with crazy shiet like cotto being #1 p4p and bradley hitting harder than pacquiuao ect

Sports is entertainment, I don't think you need to participate to be a fan of a particular sport But honestly if your 2w - 3L in street fights boxing is a activity that you should consider picking up i wish i had when i was younger but im too old now (25).