Hopkins racism claim is garbage, Wlad is proof

[dc6112]

As much as I respect what Hopkins has done in this sport, he is wrong to claim he is not more popular on account of his race. The reason he isn't more popular is because his fights are almost guaranteed to be boring as ****.

Wlad Klitschko, a white fighter, knocks out almost every opponent he faces, and his fights rarely ever get carried on American TV anymore. Why? Because like Hopkins, his fights are boring as ****. Race has nothing to do with it. If race were a factor Klitschko, who has been making a case as a top 10 all time heavyweight, would be setting records in PPV numbers every year.

So with respect, B-Hop needs to suck it up and face reality.

[jas]

wlad is from europe, not america...........and wlad is very popular in parts on europe, hence why his fights are sell outs and he makes a lot of money

[The Ninth Layer]

Poor example for a few reasons.

1) Wlad isn't American so Americans aren't going to care about his fights as much. "Ukranian heavyweight champion" doesn't really turn heads here.
2) In Germany Wlad is hugely successful and one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Bernard has never hit this level.

Chances are if Wlad were a black Ukranian he would not be as big of a draw in Germany, even as champion.

[HanzGruber]

Yea like they said wlad isn't American he's huge in his country. Not a good comparison

[dc6112]

Poor example for a few reasons.

1) Wlad isn't American so Americans aren't going to care about his fights as much. "Ukranian heavyweight champion" doesn't really turn heads here.
2) In Germany Wlad is hugely successful and one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Bernard has never hit this level.

Chances are if Wlad were a black Ukranian he would not be as big of a draw in Germany, even as champion.

Golovkin is on the scene 2 yrs fighting not nearly the level of comp Wlad has proven himself against, and he is catching on in America fairly quickly, selling out Arenas, getting hyped by HBO. Not because he's white, but because his fights are EXCITING. Pacquiao is from the god damn Phillipines, and is a mega star, not because he's white or black, but because his fights are EXCITING to watch. Mike Tyson sold tickets and is still popular and beloved today, even though he's made more than his share of huge mistakes, because he was so much fun to watch. You see where I'm going with this right?

[LacedUp]

Did Hopkins actually say race was the reason why he's unpopular?

[daggum]

golovkin and kovalev barely speak english and are very popular. wlad is just boring to american audiencies because he holds nonstop. maybe germans like to clap politely for him but who claps politely for something exciting? no one. even the germans know its boring but they still support him out of obligation. they wish they had golovking or kovalev in germany.

[bojangles1987]

Poor example for a few reasons.

1) Wlad isn't American so Americans aren't going to care about his fights as much. "Ukranian heavyweight champion" doesn't really turn heads here.
2) In Germany Wlad is hugely successful and one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Bernard has never hit this level.

Chances are if Wlad were a black Ukranian he would not be as big of a draw in Germany, even as champion.

We don't have a problem with a Russian light heavyweight champion or a Kazakh middleweight champion. If Wlad was as entertaining as Kovalev or Golovkin, he'd have caught on in the States. He's boring as hell, so he hasn't.

Race and nationality doesn't matter that much in America. Exciting is exciting, and if a guy gets a push he'll become a star. Being American helps, but it doesn't guarantee you will be a star here.

[dc6112]

Did Hopkins actually say race was the reason why he's unpopular?

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id...scended-boxing

[LacedUp]

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id...scended-boxing

Oh god, yeah it's because he's black.

No black fighters have ever been popular.