Are boxing fans "dumbing" down?

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

I hear very often that GGG is ducking Lara, or that some other fighter is ducking Rigo. Cotto is set to fight Martinez instead of Canelo, and people have issues with that.

There's an obvious business aspect to boxing most fans don't get, but I also think there's a reason we aren't seeing these fights and it's because the "boxing fans" don't want to pay to go watch them.

For example, I love the way Rigo fights, I think it's the purest form of boxing we see in today's sport, yet he has trouble getting fights, not because fighters are "ducking" him, but because promoters don't want to shell out money for a failed show.

Lara is another fighter who I find to be fun to watch, but his more classic Cuban style of boxing, is one the avg fan isn't interested in. It's the reason Mexican fighters are so popular (not saying this because I'm Mexican for the record).

Mexican fighters have an appealing style to the common fan, knockouts, hard fought brawls, come forward styles etc...That's just one aspect of boxing though, we also should appreciate the technical aspect of the sport and I think the avg boxing fan is losing that.

Is it because of the rise of MMA? I don't know but it also pisses me off when I hear boxing crowds boo at fights. I never used to witness that, it happened only in MMA and I think that has now found it's way in boxing.

Are boxing fans "dumber"? Do they no appreciate the true boxing science we have seen in the past? Nacho said after the 3rd Pac fight that maybe he needed to change the way he trained his fighters, because hit and don't be hit wasn't working even with the judges.

What do you guys think?

[SlySlickSmooth]

The booing at boxing fights is really dissapointing, these mofos don't know anything. I hate it.

I remember watching the video of Tyson sparring an exhibition, he had people booing him when he showed more craft in that sparring session than most/all current HWs.

The ref even tells em "they dont know know betta"

Sad shit

[-Huey-]

Not "dumbing" as everyone has their opinion which they're entitled to anyway.

Take me, for example...I personally think GGG ain't all that good cause I feel he hasn't fought anybody. Does that mean he's not good? Maybe not, it's just my personal opinion.

I feel Floyd and Pacquiao are two of greatest to ever lace em, while others say only one of them is and trash the other one to justify their opinion. Does that make either of us "Dumb?" No, just out personal opinions.

I do, however, wish people would not boo a fighter that's about to put his life on the line or throw garbage at him for losing a fight where he left it all.

[SlySlickSmooth]

Also, I think reading NSB is like poison.

[Hougigo]

I hate going to a show and they start booing if it's not total carnage.
It's disheartening.

[-PBP-]

I don't think fans are "dumbing down". I think the sport has a nationalistic aspect to it and guys like Rigo and Lara just don't have a natural accessible fanbase to take their side, push them and defend them. They have no representation in the boxing media, their fanbase consists of a few hardcores/purists who can do more than tweet and post their thoughts on forums and their fanbase isn't large enough to generate big dollars and ratings.

I look at a guy like Devon Alexander, who is looked at as a boring fighter but packed close to 10,000 fighting in St. Louis. Not comparing Rigo and Lara to Devon but if they could pack those kind of crowds in Miami, New York or New Jersey I'm sure they would be getting better fights, more airtime and less criticism. Andre Ward also comes to mind as a guy that can bring in decent crowds in Oakland.

A big part of professional prize fighting is selling yourself to the public which is something Cuban fighters will need to figure out as more and more stars continue to defect and fight professionally.

[SnakeVen0m]

Also, I think reading NSB is like poison.

If you based your opinion off of NSB, EVERYONE in the sport of boxing is a bum.

To answer OP's question, I don't think it's the fans being "dumbed" down, they simply want to get their monies worth and I understand that. I think it's more of an issue with the promoters protecting their investments and putting on one sided or fights that simply aren't competitive.

I don't mind watching guys like Rigo and Floyd, but casuals expect a high light reel KO or wish they put it all on the line.

[bojangles1987]

The Internet allows anonymous ******ity, and boxing fans have never been the sharpest tools in the shed for the most part.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

Look at this forum as an example pure boxers like Rigo, Ward and Floyd are boring. Meanwhile fighters like Lucas, GGG become flavors of the month and everyone is ducking them.

Most boxing fans have been dumb. Like Winky Wright once said "Its called boxing not knock outs".

[SlySlickSmooth]

People pay to get what they want, but usually they think having the fighter jump through punches and swing haymakers in the 4th round out of 10 is better than 10 rounds of boxing. Some are snooze fests, but hey.. know what you're getting into before going to a boxing event.