How come Boxing fans are held to a higher standard when criticizing fighters?

[JasonBoxing]

This is something I noticed on the forums. Often times when someone trash talk a fighter, there's always a snide remark like 'why don't YOU put on gloves' 'you are a keyboard warrior and you never even fought in the ring' 'why don't YOU fight a pro boxer'. Comments of that degree.

I never read stuff about that on NBA forums or European Soccer forums.
If someone say something bad about Kobe, nobody ever tell that person to 'play in the NBA, try it'... If someone say something bad about Ronaldo, no poster will say stuff like 'why don't YOU PLAY FOR REAL MADRID'.

[MrP4P]

Because theres fans, and then theres armchair promoters, or fanboys that think they're part of the entourage and trash talk fighters in a much more personal way than a normal fan should. These forums consist of two factions, The Mayweather and Pacquiao fan clubs, and both sides are in denial. They're the equivalent of Team Jacob and Team Edwards. Dont take THIS forum too serious, you wont find many true fans.. To answer your question, the "fans" are responsible for being held to that standard because of the approach they take in enjoying the sport. Boxing isnt mainstream, journalists and fans alike should do everything they can to be an embassador to the sport, instead theres an injustice being done by all parties involved to a sport that already has plenty of black and blues.

[HanzGruber]

Calling someone a bum boxer or crappy qb is one thing. But calling a pro boxer a coward is another. Those that call boxers cowards are the ones that need to be put in their place

[SterlingStained]

boxers should be held to higher standards.

nba players, soccer players, tennis players....

they cant choose their opponents.

boxers do.

that's why they should be held to a higher standard especially the superstar fighters.

but seriously TS,

pace yourself.

[MrP4P]

You cant compare Boxing to any of the other major sports. Boxing doesnt have an association, theres no commisher. Thats what the sport needs.

[SkillspayBills]

That's an easy to answer question. People play basketball. They play football, they play soccer(Sorry Brits).They play baseball. You don't play boxing. To call a fighter a coward when you don't have the balls to step into the ring KNOWING the man standing across from you would love nothing more than to knock your head off of it's shoulders, is offensive.

[Mike D]

Yeah I agree with those above.

I don't think people break out the "well why don't you get in the ring" card unless someone is calling a boxer a coward or saying a boxer has no heart. Or calling a boxer a quitter.

I really don't see people saying that if a poster is just criticizing a fighter, it's just when they start insulting their manhood.

[_original_]

I'll have to agree with that appears to be the consensus opinion, it's only when fans start calling pro fighters "pussies" and "cowards" that these remarks become warranted. Boxing is just too different to compare it to sports like football and basketball since the stakes are so high (both financially and health-wise) in pugilism. Kobe Bryant can have 10 off-nights and it'll be ok because he has his million dollar contract secure, the rest of the team to pick up the slack, and he goes home to his mansion with his health in tact (barring some freak accident on the court). In boxing, you have one off-night and your career can be ruined along with your health and the well being of your entire family and those who depend on you. So, fans calling somebody like Tony Romo a "clown" for screwing the Cowboys out of the playoffs is not the same as fans calling Miguel Cotto a "coward" after Margarito pummeled him into submission.

Conversely, I also feel that if you're paying for PPVs, subscribing to Showtime and HBO for their boxing, and attending live fights, then you as a paying customer have the right to pretty much say anything within reason as well.

[12TRIBEsRiSe]

its simply hard as hell to be good at and all these guys deserve at least some respect for getting to that level, trash talk is cool but disrespect of the sport is a big thing around here... some of us hold it very dear to us thats all

[The Gambler1981]

That's an easy to answer question. People play basketball. They play football, they play soccer(Sorry Brits).They play baseball. You don't play boxing. To call a fighter a coward when you don't have the balls to step into the ring KNOWING the man standing across from you would love nothing more than to knock your head off of it's shoulders, is offensive.

Anyone who watches boxing for anytime witnesses someone getting messed up bad.

This sport is brutal and dangerous, in the NFL a dude may get laid out but that dude is getting carried off the field. In boxing that dude is trained to try and recover to get up and win. You get a concussion in the NFL you could be done for weeks, you get a concussion in boxing good luck finish the fight don't die~.

It is crazy to think anything like that of boxers.