“BELIEVE IT OR NOT” BLACK FIGHTERS DON’T DRAW!
October 10th, 2011
By Pedro Fernandez
Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson
“BELIEVE IT OR NOT” TWO BLACK GUYS TOP LOS ANGELES CARD
San Francisco, CA- Having been at this a while, I am always questioning the motives and intentions of both promoters and fighters alike. That is what makes me different from the norm, as in some instances I just throw out the “who, what, where and when” format journalism is based on and head in another direction.
That being said, I am beyond perplexed that reigning World light heavyweight (175 lbs) champ Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KOs) will meet Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KOs) in the City of Angels, Los Angeles, CA this Saturday night on an HBO telecast emanating from the Staples Center on a card that is dubbed, “Believe It Or Not.”
BLACKS DON’T DRAW OR BUY DUCATS UNLESS…
Fighters of African-American descent that can draw a huge gate are a rarity. Right now, I can already hear the seething of Blacks thinking that I’m taking a shot at them ethnically from the headline of this paragraph. But it is true, Bernard Hopkins couldn’t draw, not unless he was fighting Oscar De La Hoya or Felix Trinidad.
If you attended any of Hopkins’ defenses of the middleweight title, you know where I’m coming from. Oh, there are exceptions, Muhammad Ali, Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson could sell out arenas, regardless of whom they were fighting. Evander Holyfield and George Foreman, not so much. The only African-American fighter that can pack a joint today is Floyd Mayweather!
DAWSON COULDN’T DRAW 35 MILES FROM HOME
In 2009, Dawson took on Glen Johnson in Hartford, CT, which is roughly 35 miles from his home of New Haven, CT and reportedly drew less than 1,000 paid. Hopkins on the other hand, I can’t think of a time when he sold out any arena, ever, on his own, not even fighting near his home base of Philadelphia, PA.
CAN ONLY MEXICAN STARS DRAW IN LOS ANGELES?
There are two Mexican fighters on the bill, the first is Mexican national Antonio DeMarco (25-2-1, 18 KOs) of Tijuana taking on Jorge Linares (31-1, 20 KOs) of Venezuela. The second, Orlando Mora (28-1-1, 19 KOs) of Culiacan, will face Brooklyn’s Paulie Malignaggi (29-4, 6 KOs).
Neither Mora or DeMarco are really big names, so what is the lure hear to get Mexican’s to buy tickets that top off at $300 and bottom out at $25?
Unbeaten Mexican sensation Saul Alvarez had a great crowd at the Staples Center a fortnight ago when HBO split the Floyd Mayweather-Victor Ortiz Pay Per View card that resulted in Floyd putting out Ortiz in Las Vegas, while Alvarez stopped Alfonso Gomez at the Staples Center.
SO WHY IS THE AFOREMENTIONED TRUE?
When I promoted cards in San Francisco, I could never count on a huge Black turnout. Without putting him on the spot here, a Hall of Fame promoter told me that “Black fighters don’t draw” and “Blacks don’t buy fight tickets,” that is the rule and not the exception.
Hell, all that being said, who is going to take the apparent financial bath this Saturday night when Hopkins-Dawson takes place at the Staples Center.
http://ringtalk.com/bernard-hopkins-...staples-center
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October 10th, 2011
By Pedro Fernandez
Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson
“BELIEVE IT OR NOT” TWO BLACK GUYS TOP LOS ANGELES CARD
San Francisco, CA- Having been at this a while, I am always questioning the motives and intentions of both promoters and fighters alike. That is what makes me different from the norm, as in some instances I just throw out the “who, what, where and when” format journalism is based on and head in another direction.
That being said, I am beyond perplexed that reigning World light heavyweight (175 lbs) champ Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KOs) will meet Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KOs) in the City of Angels, Los Angeles, CA this Saturday night on an HBO telecast emanating from the Staples Center on a card that is dubbed, “Believe It Or Not.”
BLACKS DON’T DRAW OR BUY DUCATS UNLESS…
Fighters of African-American descent that can draw a huge gate are a rarity. Right now, I can already hear the seething of Blacks thinking that I’m taking a shot at them ethnically from the headline of this paragraph. But it is true, Bernard Hopkins couldn’t draw, not unless he was fighting Oscar De La Hoya or Felix Trinidad.
If you attended any of Hopkins’ defenses of the middleweight title, you know where I’m coming from. Oh, there are exceptions, Muhammad Ali, Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson could sell out arenas, regardless of whom they were fighting. Evander Holyfield and George Foreman, not so much. The only African-American fighter that can pack a joint today is Floyd Mayweather!
DAWSON COULDN’T DRAW 35 MILES FROM HOME
In 2009, Dawson took on Glen Johnson in Hartford, CT, which is roughly 35 miles from his home of New Haven, CT and reportedly drew less than 1,000 paid. Hopkins on the other hand, I can’t think of a time when he sold out any arena, ever, on his own, not even fighting near his home base of Philadelphia, PA.
CAN ONLY MEXICAN STARS DRAW IN LOS ANGELES?
There are two Mexican fighters on the bill, the first is Mexican national Antonio DeMarco (25-2-1, 18 KOs) of Tijuana taking on Jorge Linares (31-1, 20 KOs) of Venezuela. The second, Orlando Mora (28-1-1, 19 KOs) of Culiacan, will face Brooklyn’s Paulie Malignaggi (29-4, 6 KOs).
Neither Mora or DeMarco are really big names, so what is the lure hear to get Mexican’s to buy tickets that top off at $300 and bottom out at $25?
Unbeaten Mexican sensation Saul Alvarez had a great crowd at the Staples Center a fortnight ago when HBO split the Floyd Mayweather-Victor Ortiz Pay Per View card that resulted in Floyd putting out Ortiz in Las Vegas, while Alvarez stopped Alfonso Gomez at the Staples Center.
SO WHY IS THE AFOREMENTIONED TRUE?
When I promoted cards in San Francisco, I could never count on a huge Black turnout. Without putting him on the spot here, a Hall of Fame promoter told me that “Black fighters don’t draw” and “Blacks don’t buy fight tickets,” that is the rule and not the exception.
Hell, all that being said, who is going to take the apparent financial bath this Saturday night when Hopkins-Dawson takes place at the Staples Center.
http://ringtalk.com/bernard-hopkins-...staples-center
.
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