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It has been said by many "as the HW division goes, so goes boxing". While I don't entirely agree with this statement, I do feel that an exciting hw division generates the most publicity, exposure, and excitement in this sport that we all love.
Let me just say as a hardcore boxing fan, I find the Klit bros. to be excellent boxers. I admire their work ethic and dedication to the sport. Weak era or not, they have to be in the conversation when speaking of the top heavy's from the past 20 or 25 years. With that being said, besides Germany, the casual boxing fan, or sports fan in general for that matter, generally find them to be dull, boring, and dare I see big giant geeks. I mean, lets face it, the Klits are the opposite of "cool" in the eyes of the casual fan. I know many will give me flak for that, but its just how it is. Boxing is a form of entertainment, and no matter how you look at it, the Klit bros. are not entertaining to the casual fan, outside of Germany of course.
Let me give more insight to what I mean. Take Adrien Broner for example. It's quite evident that he grew up watching and immulating FMJ. He wants to be the next Floyd. The same with many fighters, such as Pascal, modeling themselves after Roy Jones. How about the many filipino's that will want to be like manny? Or how about the influence that the legendary mexican fighters have had on the up and coming mexican champions? We can even switch sports and its the same thing. Lebron wanted to be the next MJ for example. Now, at this very moment, there aren't any hw's that have that "it" factor that makes kids, or even adults say, hey, I want to be him or be like him. For America in particular, all of our popular athletes that have the size to become hw boxers are in other sports. Those are the athletes that the kids here are aiming to become like.
Most of it is media exposure. You see these larger than life, exciting, flamboyant athletes all over the media and you say hey, I want to live like that. I don't care if the Klit's were posted all over the media, people will never find them interesting enough to care, let alone wanting to be like them, at least not here in America. For the past few years there has not been any hw's that have had the "it" factor to capture our medias attention. Enter David Haye.
David Haye has an opportunity to become huge. If he is successful at dethroning the Klits it could change things up a bit. Haye has everything that the media (especially the American media) finds appealing. He has a great physique, has an exciting style, brash and ****y, and basically hes just "cool" to the casual sports fan. Or, he will be the opposite, people will hate him, either way, he will be relivent. There is so much riding on this fight, its crazy.
Even if Haye follows thru with his retirement after defeating the Klits, he could still rejuvinate the hw division by taking down the "boring" Klits, and opening the door for a new generation of exciting hw's. Of course, this is all contingent on Haye defeating the Klits, which is a very, very tall order, pun intended.
Let me just say as a hardcore boxing fan, I find the Klit bros. to be excellent boxers. I admire their work ethic and dedication to the sport. Weak era or not, they have to be in the conversation when speaking of the top heavy's from the past 20 or 25 years. With that being said, besides Germany, the casual boxing fan, or sports fan in general for that matter, generally find them to be dull, boring, and dare I see big giant geeks. I mean, lets face it, the Klits are the opposite of "cool" in the eyes of the casual fan. I know many will give me flak for that, but its just how it is. Boxing is a form of entertainment, and no matter how you look at it, the Klit bros. are not entertaining to the casual fan, outside of Germany of course.
Let me give more insight to what I mean. Take Adrien Broner for example. It's quite evident that he grew up watching and immulating FMJ. He wants to be the next Floyd. The same with many fighters, such as Pascal, modeling themselves after Roy Jones. How about the many filipino's that will want to be like manny? Or how about the influence that the legendary mexican fighters have had on the up and coming mexican champions? We can even switch sports and its the same thing. Lebron wanted to be the next MJ for example. Now, at this very moment, there aren't any hw's that have that "it" factor that makes kids, or even adults say, hey, I want to be him or be like him. For America in particular, all of our popular athletes that have the size to become hw boxers are in other sports. Those are the athletes that the kids here are aiming to become like.
Most of it is media exposure. You see these larger than life, exciting, flamboyant athletes all over the media and you say hey, I want to live like that. I don't care if the Klit's were posted all over the media, people will never find them interesting enough to care, let alone wanting to be like them, at least not here in America. For the past few years there has not been any hw's that have had the "it" factor to capture our medias attention. Enter David Haye.
David Haye has an opportunity to become huge. If he is successful at dethroning the Klits it could change things up a bit. Haye has everything that the media (especially the American media) finds appealing. He has a great physique, has an exciting style, brash and ****y, and basically hes just "cool" to the casual sports fan. Or, he will be the opposite, people will hate him, either way, he will be relivent. There is so much riding on this fight, its crazy.
Even if Haye follows thru with his retirement after defeating the Klits, he could still rejuvinate the hw division by taking down the "boring" Klits, and opening the door for a new generation of exciting hw's. Of course, this is all contingent on Haye defeating the Klits, which is a very, very tall order, pun intended.