Desperate American heels

[Coverdale]

Why does the United States produce more 'heel' characters in boxing than any other nation? British media will usually refer to 'the brash American', with brash being a polite way of saying 'obnoxious imbecile'. Berlanga is the latest one who follows Miller, Lopez, Broner and countless others.

Far from being a sign of confidence, it's quite obviously massive over compensation. It's not entertaining to me either, observing such characters usually makes for an embarrassing/uncomfortable experience.

Nor is it necessary to sell PPVs as some will no doubt imply. Ricky Hatton was a pretty dull character outside the ring but he did the hard graft of building a local following, fighting regularly and putting on good performances. He wasn't even an elite talent, just slightly below that.

At root, I view the American heel as desperate. Desperate to 'make it' by any means necessary, even at the cost of one's dignity. US culture, after all, gave us that appalling show Jackass.

[MulaKO]

It's not entertaining to me either, observing such characters usually makes for an embarrassing/uncomfortable experience.

But it is enough for Coverdale to go out of his way to make a thread lmao

You're a very small man/woman

[ELPacman]

Honestly, it's built into American culture and a lot of individuals take it to heart. They grow up feeling they're in the best country in the world and all others are trash or beneath them. So with that mentality, they automatically assume anyone not from this country will not be on their level.

Berlanga was on an interview yesterday where he was his usual annoying as f**k personality where he thinks he's the biggest star in boxing and deserves mega paychecks having accomplished nothing. They asked him about the Sheeraz fight and he said he's soft. They asked why he thinks that and he said because he has to come here to fight and he won't be able to handle it. That when we go over to their country, we can handle it. There are some instances of that, but there also instances of us going over and losing, so it has nothing really to do with it. Though in his mind, that might be the difference.

I'm on the side where I appreciate growing up here (maybe back in the day and not in current times) because of the freedoms it gave and safety. Though I never took it for granted to belittled any other country no matter what reputation it may have had. We can't choose where we're born and you should count that as a gift or blessing.

There's dudes born in countries where they're going to grow up to maybe live to their late teens, early 20s only to get their head chopped off because of the conflict that they were born into. It's wild stuff and you could never imagine being born into that type of life.

[Coverdale]

Honestly, it's built into American culture and a lot of individuals take it to heart. They grow up feeling they're in the best country in the world and all others are trash or beneath them. So with that mentality, they automatically assume anyone not from this country will not be on their level.

Berlanga was on an interview yesterday where he was his usual annoying as f**k personality where he thinks he's the biggest star in boxing and deserves mega paychecks having accomplished nothing. They asked him about the Sheeraz fight and he said he's soft. They asked why he thinks that and he said because he has to come here to fight and he won't be able to handle it. That when we go over to their country, we can handle it. There are some instances of that, but there also instances of us going over and losing, so it has nothing really to do with it. Though in his mind, that might be the difference.

I'm on the side where I appreciate growing up here (maybe back in the day and not in current times) because of the freedoms it gave and safety. Though I never took it for granted to belittled any other country no matter what reputation it may have had. We can't choose where we're born and you should count that as a gift or blessing.

There's dudes born in countries where they're going to grow up to maybe live to their late teens, early 20s only to get their head chopped off because of the conflict that they were born into. It's wild stuff and you could never imagine being born into that type of life.

The US has higher per capita wealth than the UK but that's about where the superiority ends in my opinion. General education standards are lower, higher levels of religiosity, lack of history and culture. Even US imperialism is more crude.

When it comes to boxing specifically, your best fighter is not a crossover star and elite US fighters are far too inactive. Sheeraz sells tickets in his home town and is probably quite excited about fighting in the US. Another box ticked, like when Calzaghe fought Hopkins.

[ELPacman]

The US has higher per capita wealth than the UK but that's about where the superiority ends in my opinion. General education standards are lower, higher levels of religiosity, lack of history and culture. Even US imperialism is more crude.

When it comes to boxing specifically, your best fighter is not a crossover star and elite US fighters are far too inactive. Sheeraz sells tickets in his home town and is probably quite excited about fighting in the US. Another box ticked, like when Calzaghe fought Hopkins.

Hey, I don't disagree with any of that and feel it is actually a product of the American ways. The system is designed so that if you mostly come from riches, you continue to be enriched. If your poor, they do a pretty good job keeping you down there. That helps keep the wealth at the top. They're not into educating the poor and making them smarter. That means they'll have less to keep at the top if the bottom starts joining them up there. It's a system by design.

[NihonJim]

It's not just Americans though is it, UK fighters are doing that **** now as well

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

They all wanna emulate Ali, Tyson, Mayweather etc.

[MulaKO]

They all wanna emulate Ali, Tyson, Mayweather etc.

But not Coverdale

lmfao

[Willow The Wisp]

Slippery slope, this thread.
Personally, I'm very proud of where I come from, and grateful as well. But I am pretty well traveled and proud also to be an avowed citizen of the world; and I've witnessed first hand that no one people, culture or nation is superlative in every measure.

The United States was a nation born from crushing the largest expeditionary force ever assembled by Great Britain at that time, and by the late 19th century supplanted her as the world's most powerful nation, both militarily and economically. Today, the U.S. hosts 4.22% of the world's population yet holds approximately 32% of the world's liquid, investable wealth, estimated at $67 trillion.

It stands that these conditions are going to give both Americans and the British something of an attitude when conceptualizing each other.

What you're more likely observing with these boxers, however, are behaviors relating to subcultures within the U.S.

[Coverdale]

Slippery slope, this thread.
Personally, I'm very proud of where I come from, and grateful as well. But I am pretty well traveled and proud also to be an avowed citizen of the world; and I've witnessed first hand that no one people, culture or nation is superlative in every measure.

The United States was a nation born from crushing the largest expeditionary force ever assembled by Great Britain at that time, and by the late 19th century supplanted her as the world's most powerful nation, both militarily and economically. Today, the U.S. hosts 4.22% of the world's population yet holds approximately 32% of the world's liquid, investable wealth, estimated at $67 trillion.

It stands that these conditions are going to give both Americans and the British something of an attitude when conceptualizing each other.

What you're more likely observing with these boxers, however, are behaviors relating to subcultures within the U.S.

Let's bring it back to boxing. Why can't more US fighters build a local following in the manner of say Hatton or Calzaghe?