British Boxing Fans

Crawford is a hype job. Lmfao word

Being American is not enough in America, you HAVE to be good. I actually respect that. A lot. That's what I'm always trying to tell people. It took a long time for Lennox Lewis to grow on Americans (he never did for some) not because he was foreign but because he had to show that he was actually good. Duran, Pacquiao, all the Mexican and Puerto Rican legends...foreigners will get accepted here because we know what good boxing is supposed to look like. But you do have to PROVE it.

He's inferior to Spence but a guy with Khan, Benavidez and Gamboa on his record is no hype job. This is it though. Guys like Fury and Joshua are made out to be these gods, whilst I really rate the latter...he only has two real strong names. And one those names hasn't really fought many decent contenders his damn self lol. No chin, one leg, blown up featherweight. None of those names are impressive.

A part of it is the culture around fights and the fact our country is small, literally. You go to the fight for a night out as much as anything. Whether that is a small hall kind of fight or a bigger venue like the O2 in London, Millenium stadium, MEN in Manchester even Wembley stadium. If you want to go. You can go really. You might struggle a bit to see AJ but even then. Not that much. The fandom on the level you see on tv is not about the fighters almost at all often times. I'm not saying it has always been like that. Minter's racist fans an example. But now it is about the event. The UK is small but is also densely populated. We are always gonna crank out a certain amount of world level fighters from here until then end of time but even that is incidental. If the quality dropped the interest probably wouldnt. We like stories and rivalries and with good promotion and interest whether the participants are world class becomes incidental. So I dont think you can compare the two nations. The US is so big and sprawling. It is basically a continent in itself. You could compare the entire UK to maybe a single state in the US where boxing is popular. Not as a participatory sport but where watching boxing is a social norm. Great post.

A part of it is the culture around fights and the fact our country is small, literally. You go to the fight for a night out as much as anything. Whether that is a small hall kind of fight or a bigger venue like the O2 in London, Millenium stadium, MEN in Manchester even Wembley stadium. If you want to go. You can go really. You might struggle a bit to see AJ but even then. Not that much. The fandom on the level you see on tv is not about the fighters almost at all often times. I'm not saying it has always been like that. Minter's racist fans an example. But now it is about the event. The UK is small but is also densely populated. We are always gonna crank out a certain amount of world level fighters from here until then end of time but even that is incidental. If the quality dropped the interest probably wouldnt. We like stories and rivalries and with good promotion and interest whether the participants are world class becomes incidental. So I dont think you can compare the two nations. The US is so big and sprawling. It is basically a continent in itself. You could compare the entire UK to maybe a single state in the US where boxing is popular. Not as a participatory sport but where watching boxing is a social norm.

Honestly, at the top level, it's probably not a huge difference, but the massive chasm between British and American fans is the love for fighters under world level. Guys at British level can have HUGE followings and sell out arenas where they're from, the fans for the most part on more informed about the fighters and value the guys for what they are. That's what I respect the most and I appreciate great fights more than great fighters, that's why I wake up at 4 AM on a Saturday to watch Russian level guys go to war in Yekaterinburg. In the US there's just no following at a regional level for the most part and very few guys have large local contingents of fans. Just not a sport that is followed like that in the US, aside from hardcore's unfortunately. Whilst this is a fair point, my question are you watching for boxing or the story? I feel big American fights will involve guys who are fucking legit. Hell, people seem to be scoffing at Canelo (though he has a major Mexican following) for taking on BJS over guys like Charlo, Bivol or Plant. Thing is, BJS is a major name in the UK and considered one of our most naturally talented fighters. And yet he's being treated as somewhat of an afterthought.

Crawford is a hype job. He's inferior to Spence but a guy with Khan, Benavidez and Gamboa on his record is no hype job. This is it though. Guys like Fury and Joshua are made out to be these gods, whilst I really rate the latter...he only has two real strong names. And one those names hasn't really fought many decent contenders his damn self lol.

Honestly, at the top level, it's probably not a huge difference, but the massive chasm between British and American fans is the love for fighters under world level. Guys at British level can have HUGE followings and sell out arenas where they're from, the fans for the most part on more informed about the fighters and value the guys for what they are. That's what I respect the most and I appreciate great fights more than great fighters, that's why I wake up at 4 AM on a Saturday to watch Russian level guys go to war in Yekaterinburg. In the US there's just no following at a regional level for the most part and very few guys have large local contingents of fans. Just not a sport that is followed like that in the US, aside from hardcore's unfortunately.

Crawford is a hype job.

Why does this matter though? Look at how good guys like Crawford, Spence, Charlo. Hell, as much **** as people talk about Wilder, he's held the WBC for a goo chunk of time and only lost to the world number 1. The UK does this weird thing where we coddle black fighters and then completely turn on them the minute they lose. Whyte only really has support because he's part of the Matchroom stable which is heavily promoted to the casuals through Sky. Most boxing fans know he's tough, but pretty ****. I still think the first KO by Povetkin killed a shedload of his credibility. Follow the British boxing channels a year ago and many thought Whyte could best Wilder. Now? Not so much. Look at what happened to Dubois. Touted as the next big thing here, being featured of daytime TV and seen by many as the next in line to Joshua. He instead loses to Joyce (an Olympic silver medallist and absolutely NO slouch) and half the audience now think he's a bum who quit. The racialised nature of American boxing sucks, but that same hostile climate is why guys like Crawford, Spence and even Lopez are considered very legit before they even hit the big time. The UK produces so many embarrasing busts that these days we tend to not even notice talented fighters when they spring up upon us. Being American is not enough in America, you HAVE to be good. I actually respect that. A lot. The bold part is a great point. Nationalism goes a long way in the UK. If you're representing proudly on the world stage you'll have support. In the States it seems you have to do a lot more to earn that kind of recognition and affection from casual fans. UK fans will disproportionately get behind a Brit fighter much more for doing less

Basically all the Brits on this board were cheering for Povetkin :lol1: but the point does stand, very passionate and loyal fans in the UK

I wouldn’t say we support our boxers through thick and thin, we just don’t see undefeated records as most American fans do. You lose? Great get back up like Ali says, Americans celebrate someone losing like it’s the end of their careers :D

Too much division in America doe. Too much race supremacy. Everyone is only rooting for his race.

I have to say I really respect how y'all support your fighters like Dillian White and AJ. Here, they talk **** about great American fighters like Bud Crawford, Charlo, Spence, and instead support people like Canelo and GGG. Why does this matter though? Look at how good guys like Crawford, Spence, Charlo. Hell, as much shit as people talk about Wilder, he's held the WBC for a goo chunk of time and only lost to the world number 1. The UK does this weird thing where we coddle black fighters and then completely turn on them the minute they lose. Whyte only really has support because he's part of the Matchroom stable which is heavily promoted to the casuals through Sky. Most boxing fans know he's tough, but pretty shit. I still think the first KO by Povetkin killed a shedload of his credibility. Follow the British boxing channels a year ago and many thought Whyte could best Wilder. Now? Not so much. Look at what happened to Dubois. Touted as the next big thing here, being featured of daytime TV and seen by many as the next in line to Joshua. He instead loses to Joyce (an Olympic silver medallist and absolutely NO slouch) and half the audience now think he's a bum who quit. The racialised nature of American boxing sucks, but that same hostile climate is why guys like Crawford, Spence and even Lopez are considered very legit before they even hit the big time. The UK produces so many embarrasing busts that these days we tend to not even notice talented fighters when they spring up upon us. Being American is not enough in America, you HAVE to be good. I actually respect that. A lot.

The fans in the UK support their fighters, some of them are stars and it is not because they are great. In the US a lot of foreign fighters are supported.

If Wilder was fighting Povetkin the whole of the USA would be cheering for Povetkin