Why David Haye and Amir Khan Will never have the Same Following as Hatton

[bboy80]

There is not a race element for Haye, I have never heard one person slagging off haye for being black what so ever, his management team just have never been that good at promoting him until he hit the heavy weight scene really. Most of the UK had never even heard of Haye until he fought Enzo.

But unfortunately I have heard people slagging of Khan for his race & going on about islam and wearing the Pakistan flag on his shorts. Your going to get idiots where ever you go unfortunately - This is not my own view at all!!!

I remember when Khan beat Barrera at the m.e.n, there were shed loads of people supporting Barrera just because they didnt like Khan. After the event there was a major kick off between all the Asians & the British which was totally race related, fiar play to the police though they beat sh.it out of the lot of them

[Jim Tom]

It's because they're not White.

IF Khan or Haye were white, they'd be sucking their balls. Hatton was an average boxer with a huge following because he was 'one of the lads'. Khan or Haye will never get Hattons fans to follow them because they aren't White. My opinion.

Is Carl Froch white?

[removed]

Hatton had a huge following because he was a geezer. Everyone hates Khan & Haye because they're arrogant bellends!

[Jim Tom]

I was at the MEN when Khan got knocked out by Prescott and I saw the Arena in jubilation.The only bunch of people who were not celebrating were people from P@kisat@ni who probably support him for his race.Khan's difficult to like and way overrated.

[Peterp]

Lennox Lewis wasn't white either

Hatton was popular because he was a straight ahead action fighter

and yes he did come accross a one of the lads, hofmeister, follow the frackin bear etc

[boxingboy86]

BTW i was not talking about popularity i was talking about the Following which Hatton Received. I.e 20,000+ following him to the US. If you look at the make up of all the people who followed him to the US, in my opinion 90% of them would be White, far right nationalists who aren't even boxing fans.

[Blubba]

It's because they're not White.

IF Khan or Haye were white, they'd be sucking their balls. Hatton was an average boxer with a huge following because he was 'one of the lads'. Khan or Haye will never get Hattons fans to follow them because they aren't White. My opinion.

one name that dispels yr paranoia....

Carl Froch.

[Ray*]

Hatton had the best Media/PR people when he was active, He had a little fan friendly style when he was an up and comer but thats about it, Maybe being white helped because a lot of fans can relate to him just like the late Sir Henry Cooper but he certainly has a very good PR team behind him.

[Ray*]

And yeah Haye does have a lot of support over here, Even when he was unknown and he was unknown because he fought in the cruiserweight IMO, But after beating the Man at that weight and fighting Maccarinelli who was a big puncher and a huge domestic fight at that time he was expose to a bigger audience over here in the UK, So moving up to HW was good for him because he brought or gather a lot of people/Women along the way.

[Fish_Scotland]

There is not a race element for Haye, I have never heard one person slagging off haye for being black what so ever, his management team just have never been that good at promoting him until he hit the heavy weight scene really. Most of the UK had never even heard of Haye until he fought Enzo.

But unfortunately I have heard people slagging of Khan for his race & going on about islam and wearing the Pakistan flag on his shorts. Your going to get idiots where ever you go unfortunately - This is not my own view at all!!!

I remember when Khan beat Barrera at the m.e.n, there were shed loads of people supporting Barrera just because they didnt like Khan. After the event there was a major kick off between all the Asians & the British which was totally race related, fiar play to the police though they beat sh.it out of the lot of them

Your spot on. There is no race issue with Haye, like you say it's been a case of arriving on the recognisable scene late. You're also spot on with Amir too. I've said it for near on 2 years that if Khan were white he'd have alot more universal support in this country. I think he through his fights has swung alot of general boxing community but if you ask a random punter in this country if they like him I know the more and likely answer you'd get.

Hatton had the universal support because he was working class, wasn't flashy and kept his feet fully grounded (in the public eye anyway) The general public in the UK love down to earth, working class achievers because they respresent the general ethics of the UK. We have a mentality that we may be inferior in size but we'll just work harder to achieve more. Hatton embodied that from tip to toe and thats why he was/is so popular. The current revival in boxing in this country can be credited in many ways to Hattons achievments and that for me will be Hattons biggest legacy. I've never prayed at all but I did before the Mayweather fight and I can't say I've ever been so gutted at a result at a sporting event. I had a general sense of heart break for weeks afterwards, I wanted to speak to Hatton and tell him how sorry I was. I felt so bad for him it was just ******. Thats what effect Hatton had on me at the time and I think that was something special.