Euro's Are Awesome!

[Steelhammer86]

The center of the world of boxing has been moving from the US to Europe. While many say the sport is declining in America, its popularity has been increasing in Europe!

That's partly because of all the great European fighters. All four titleholders at heavyweight and most of the best prospects are from Europe and the former Soviet republics. At cruiserweight the Ring Champion is a Frenchman. The top two super middleweights are Calzaghe and Kessler. At middleweight two of the four titleholders from Germany and Armenia. The top light welterweight is Ricky Hatton.

Euro's are awesome fighters - most have both excellent technical skills and KO power. They have brought new energy and excitement into the sport of boxing. My interest in the sport had declined in the 90's but in recent years it has been restored, mainly because of all the great boxers from Europe and the former Soviet republics!

[GEOFFHAYES]

Calzaghe and Hatton are British.

And in Britain, boxing is worse than ever. It's alien now.

[Steelhammer86]

Calzaghe and Hatton are British.

And in Britain, boxing is worse than ever. It's alien now.

Well, it seems every Brit I meet has heard of Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe. Most people in North America have never heard of Mayweather or Taylor. Interestingly, Calzaghe vs. Manfredo (a mediocre "contender tv" opponent) packed the stadium in Wales, while two fights between four top middleweights - Taylor, Spinks, Pavlik, and Miranda, along with an excellent undercard - drew only 5,800 in Memphis.

Wladimir Klitschko is a household name in Germany and the Ukraine, and everybody in Denmark is aware of Mikkel Kessler.

[Soundtraveler]

Oh yeah, they are doing great over there - too bad they couldn't do better against our journeymen fighters on the Contender Challenge, hehehehe....

[adamk1304]

Calzaghe and Hatton are British.

And in Britain, boxing is worse than ever. It's alien now.

They're still european, i agree with the second point though, it's all gone down the pan since Lewis retired.

[Steelhammer86]

They're still european, i agree with the second point though, it's all gone down the pan since Lewis retired.

Could be there needs to be a top heavyweight to root for.
The popularity of boxing may have declined somewhat in Britain, but in the former Soviet republics it's on the upsurge. I read that every TV in Uzbekestan was tuned into Ruslan Chagaev's title fight with Valuev, and something like 25,000 people came out to welcome him home. When he was WBA champ, Nicolay Valuev couldn't go out on the street in Moscow without being mobbed by fans.

[sonofisis]

Most people in North America have never heard of Mayweather

Who told you that bold-faced, Canadian lie?

[Steelhammer86]

Who told you that bold-faced, Canadian lie?

It's no lie. Everybody has seemed to be familiar with Oscar De La Hoya, but not Mayweather. Maybe the recent fight with DLH has raised his profile a little, but he's no household name like Tyson or Holyfield.

[me2007]

The center of the world of boxing has been moving from the US to Europe. While many say the sport is declining in America, its popularity has been increasing in Europe!

That's partly because of all the great European fighters. All four titleholders at heavyweight and most of the best prospects are from Europe and the former Soviet republics. At cruiserweight the Ring Champion is a Frenchman. The top two super middleweights are Calzaghe and Kessler. At middleweight two of the four titleholders from Germany and Armenia. The top light welterweight is Ricky Hatton.

Euro's are awesome fighters - most have both excellent technical skills and KO power. They have brought new energy and excitement into the sport of boxing. My interest in the sport had declined in the 90's but in recent years it has been restored, mainly because of all the great boxers from Europe and the former Soviet republics!

good post!

[danny stash]

canada cold weather must have froze your brain..