..TRUE or FALSE: Fans Don't Like Intelligent Heavyweights...

[TheGreatA]

Floyd Patterson was hugely popular.

[Dynamite Kid]

Most fans dont want to see a fighter from any division fight intelligently, but the perception the media push is that a Heavyweight must let it all hang out and go for a KO, which leads most people not to appreciate intelligent HW's.

Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko are huge guys but fans dont fully appreciate them because they are essentially defensive counter punching Heavyweights. Lewis gets a degree of respect because he was SUCCESSFUL, but i guarantee you if Lewis was not as successful as he was he would be chastised for his measured approach and called boring, so to would Larry Holmes, who was another counter punching Heavy.

The only reason Ali,Holmes get mad props is because of how successful they were, if they were not as successful they would probably not be considered entertaining to watch, not boring, but not exciting to watch. Ali and Holmes had their entertaining fights Bonavena,Frazier 1-2-3,Weaver,Shavers 2,Snipes etc but doesn't every fighter have some fights that are good to watch, by and large those fights were entertaining because of how much the OTHER guy forced the issue, not because Ali,Holmes like to mix it up, i dont find either of them boring but im pointing out that they are seen as more entertaining than they actually were, because of popularity due to success. Wlad does not get props because he does it with sub par opposition that you dont need to be AS cautious with.

Look how many of these fickle fans have Hopkins as their fav fighter now ? they will act like he is not really that boring because he is successful, when if he was not successful they would be saying stuff like its like watching paint dry, i dont find him boring, i dont find him entertaining either though, and i would not act like he is entertaining because he is successful, ironically his willingness NOT to please fans and fight for the crowd is one of the reasons he is so successful, he can stick to his game plan and have the other guy come to him and lead off where he can be in his element ................counter punching.

[S A M U R A I]

They want a strong, brute who goes in there, kills then swings home from a vine to his tree house.

Vote. Discuss.

I doubt it. On the other and, it seems certain boxing fans just don't want intelligence. Period.



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[MANGLER]

Nowadays, fans don't seem to like HW's anymore. Wlad is respected, but not altogether popular. If fans were gettin their ideal HW punchin machine, I'm sure they'd luv the guy as the champ.

[TheGreatA]

I don't think there was much hate for Wladimir back when he fought like this:

[Spray_resistant]

Intelligent athletes make people feel inadequate... it's like what doesn't this guy have?

[baracuda]

fans dont like boring fighters.....

[PittyPat]

Yup. I get the impression over time (whether from forums or people I've spoken to) that a Tyson-like maniac in the ring is what matters in the HW division, and that a Lennox or Wlad-like thinker doesn't hold their interest at all. I can fully understand their reasoning and where they're coming from, but I will never agree with it. My favourite type of fighter is one who thinks, calculates and isn't afraid of playing a chess game.

Sure, it's fun to watch some wild beast go in there swinging and getting caught on an iron chin (i.e. my initial appreciation for Margarito), but it doesn't tickle my brain at all. Like with Lennox and Wlad fights, I enjoy trying to figure out what the guys are thinking and what their next move may be - rather than a bunch of crazy swings hoping to land. It may be boring if one craves constant action, but it's a sport in the end. Every sport needs a brain.

[Poet682006]

There is some element of truth in this but I think you have to differentiate between casual fans and hardcore fans. Casual fans like nothing better than seeing two pugs standing in ring center wailing on each other until one falls. Casual fans are obsessed with KOs. Hardcore fans, on the other hand, appreciate different types of fighters and don't consider a spectacular KO the end all and be all of boxing. That being said, even a hardcore fan is going to be dissappointed in fighters with low punch out-puts.

Poet

[Allucard]

Wlad's repertoire is very limited.

Yes this is the problem. The man has a jab and a right hand, that's it. If anyone even attempts to get close he holds and uses his giant strength to make sure you can't separate yourself and KO him with a single punch which we have a feeling it's always close to happening. And I'm sure this is about Wladimir.