Why have American Boxers.........

[Mr Punch.]

Got such crap support? Fighters like Dawson and Bradley couldn't sell out a phone booth. The likes of Ward and Alexander don't do much better fan wise either. The only American i can think of that draws a crowd is Mayweather, and most of them only watch him because they want to see him lose. Considering the huge size of the USA the support is piss poor for their boxers.

You only have to look at the fans Ricky Hatton had to compare. Ricky used to take 20,000 plus to the States whenever he fought. How many American fans would follow their boxers to another Country?

[APryor]

America has produced many great champions. In recent decades, Great Britain has produced a small handfull. Therein lies the main difference. British boxers are generally far below world class, so when a Ricky Hatton or Joe Calzaghe comes along, of course they will be regional heroes.

Imagine if Mayweather were British. He would be your most accomplished fighter of all time. You guys would be all over his nuts. Fortunately, he is not British so you can correctly see what an ******* he is.

American fans are spoiled.

[The Nimble Guru]

America has produced many great champions. In recent decades, Great Britain has produced a small handfull. Therein lies the main difference. British boxers are generally far below world class, so when a Ricky Hatton or Joe Calzaghe comes along, of course they will be regional heroes.

20-odd thousand turned up to see kevin Mitchell fight earlier this year - a fighter who has never proven himself at anything resembling world level - so it isn't just that we support our big fighters. Fighters like Paul Smith have fought in front of nine or ten thousand.

It's not for me to explain away the tepid support for America's own fighters, but - like the thread author - I am interested to find out.

[APryor]

20-odd thousand turned up to see kevin Mitchell fight earlier this year - a fighter who has never proven himself at anything resembling world level - so it isn't just that we support our big fighters. Fighters like Paul Smith have fought in front of nine or ten thousand.

It's not for me to explain away the tepid support for America's own fighters, but - like the thread author - I am interested to find out.

Correct me if I am wrong, but UK fans were lauding Mitchell as the next great thing out of Britain, were they not? Then he got exposed.

The delusional nature of British fans is also due to the fact that you produce so few world class fighters. Everytime a decent one comes along, there is anticipation that you could have a legitimate top fighter. Meanwhile, American prospects are all but ignored. Only the superstar fighters get any real press over here.

You have no active superstars. Hatton and Calzaghe (two great fighters) are retired, so of course guys like Khan, Froch and even Mitchell are going to get big press.

[Gino Ros]

Got such crap support? Fighters like Dawson and Bradley couldn't sell out a phone booth. The likes of Ward and Alexander don't do much better fan wise either. The only American i can think of that draws a crowd is Mayweather, and most of them only watch him because they want to see him lose. Considering the huge size of the USA the support is piss poor for their boxers.

You only have to look at the fans Ricky Hatton had to compare. Ricky used to take 20,000 plus to the States whenever he fought. How many American fans would follow their boxers to another Country?

Dilution.

If you are an American fight fan, you probably hav a fighter in your region. New Yorkers have Zab and Paulie and Gato. Southerners have Paul Williams. Florida has Andre Berto. St.Louis has Devon. Detroit area has Dirrell, Southern Cal has Bradley and Mosley. Northern Cal has Ward. New England has Dawson. etc.

There are so many top americans to choose from.

But if you are a non-amwerican, the whole country rallies behind one or two fighters.

Pinoys are almost 100 million people. One third the size of US. There are only 2 big fighters. Conception has no fanbase and Penalosa is gone.

[The Nimble Guru]

America has produced many great champions. In recent decades, Great Britain has produced a small handfull. Therein lies the main difference. British boxers are generally far below world class, so when a Ricky Hatton or Joe Calzaghe comes along, of course they will be regional heroes.

Imagine if Mayweather were British. He would be your most accomplished fighter of all time. You guys would be all over his nuts. Fortunately, he is not British so you can correctly see what an ******* he is.

American fans are spoiled.

Correct me if I am wrong, but UK fans were lauding Mitchell as the next great thing out of Britain, were they not? Then he got exposed.

The delusional nature of British fans is also due to the fact that you produce so few world class fighters. Everytime a decent one comes along, there is anticipation that you could have a legitimate top fighter. Meanwhile, American prospects are all but ignored. Only the superstar fighters get any real press over here.

You have no active superstars. Hatton and Calzaghe (two great fighters) are retired, so of course guys like Khan, Froch and even Mitchell are going to get big press.

Nothing of what you've said explains away a seriously limited - and not particularly flamboyant - fighter like Paul Smith being able to fill an arena. And our huge support is fed from a populus that is dwarfed by a country like America.

Truthfully, if I was pushed to try and explain lukewarm American attendances, I'd point toward just how many huge mainstream sports American boxing has to try and compete with.

[AddiX]

American fans have been spoiled over the years.

WHen you look at places like Canada and Europe, these are places that are just starting to make a footprint in boxing.

It's actually a good thing because now american's need to go over-seas for a paycheck. That has NEVER been the case.

And that is exactly what will make American Promoters and Managers get back to promoting their fighters to build them a fan base again.

When HBO and Showtime started paying big $ for fights, promoters stopped building a fanbase for there fighters because they didn't need to sell tickets to make a profit.

You could consider this a bit of a revolution in boxing.