Part of boxing appeal has always been the potential for danger. Hidden alongside the craft, the excellence on display watching the greatest fighters has been the shadows... Would Max Bauer kill James Braddock? Would Tyson unhinge Golota? And when things happened of the sort it attracted press. Many people from my generation best remember Rid**** Bowe for the spectacular clash where a cell phone was first tested against the density of a human skull, during the Golota fight, and the new aerodynamics involved with parachuting into a ring during a fight(Holyfield).
We love to root for the underdog, Rocky! Gatti!!! But alas, we also love a spectacular train wreck. Train wrecks sell at least as well as the narrative of the fighter overcoming odds to win.
Floyd could not sell a fight to save his life, until he perfected the role of the heel when fighting the wholesome, All Mexican-American Chicano Golden Boy, Oscar De Le Hoya... Never mind that Oscar had a few unsavory aspects... Bronner who chiefly was able to pick out accidental champions, never sold a fight on his skills, but rather as the one people wanted to see punched in the face.
Ryan is going off the reservation... There is no question about it really. The privalege, delight, people take in watching this unfold is the selling point of this fight. Let us be real here. Nobody who understands boxing really thinks Ryan has a chance to win this fight. That is not the selling point of the fight!
Market the fight accordingly and people will buy it. Haney could be in a career changing moment if he plays his cards right.
We love to root for the underdog, Rocky! Gatti!!! But alas, we also love a spectacular train wreck. Train wrecks sell at least as well as the narrative of the fighter overcoming odds to win.
Floyd could not sell a fight to save his life, until he perfected the role of the heel when fighting the wholesome, All Mexican-American Chicano Golden Boy, Oscar De Le Hoya... Never mind that Oscar had a few unsavory aspects... Bronner who chiefly was able to pick out accidental champions, never sold a fight on his skills, but rather as the one people wanted to see punched in the face.
Ryan is going off the reservation... There is no question about it really. The privalege, delight, people take in watching this unfold is the selling point of this fight. Let us be real here. Nobody who understands boxing really thinks Ryan has a chance to win this fight. That is not the selling point of the fight!
Market the fight accordingly and people will buy it. Haney could be in a career changing moment if he plays his cards right.
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