Why is HW boxing only relevant when an U.S. American is Champion?

[Mr.Fantastic]

US and the Brits.

[New England]

Schleming, Johannson, and the Klitchkos are the only non american HW's that were worth a damn and even they aren't even that good p4p historically

lennox lewis, bob fitszsimmons are greats. fitzsimmons is an odd case, and not really a true HW, but he is recognized as a great by historians

there have been other solid HW from outside of the US. tua, ibeabuchi, donovan ruddock, luis firpo, oscar bonavena. wladimir and vitali, too. wladimir is a top 15 HW, i'd say. he's been a dominant champion forever.


the list is a bit pathetic when you consider that you're comparing a single country with the rest of the world
still, there were a few solid HW from out side of the states.

[GeneralZod]

Schleming, Johannson, and the Klitchkos are the only non american HW's that were worth a damn and even they aren't even that good p4p historically

Not even Henry Cooper? Guy who put Muhammad Ali on his ass?

[Weebler I]

Boring foreign fighters don't cut it in the US, if you're not from America to really crack it you have to be exciting like a Golovkin or Kovalev.

If Wlad was taking out opponents like Kovalev does, he would've been much more popular in the USA. However, if he was American he would've been popular regardless.

[sicko]

More money when an American is Involved! HW Boxing is still not Relevant again yet in America just because Wilder is Champion. It is plenty of Americans who are not sold on Wilder yet so I don't think American HW Boxing is "Back" still have a long way to go! Wilder is just a Pulse for American HW Boxing for now!

[BWC]

The division remains relevant outside the US. I'd be interested in knowing where Wlad stacks up financially against other boxers. Is anyone aside from Floyd and Manny making that kind of money?

Wlad was like the 25th highest earning athlete in the world in 2014 I believe. Floyd Mayweather is the highest earning athlete in the world. American fighters are often flashy, talk a lot of smack, and have huge power. Ali, Frazier, Tyson, Louis, Foreman, etc.

The Heavyweight Champion of the World is a big deal in American culture for many reasons. Americans loving having the idea of having the baddest man on the planet. Wlad/Lennox never really gave off that vibe. They fought more like welterweights.

Anytime an American becomes HW champ for any length of time, they pretty much become top 3 most famous/highest paid world athletes. If Wilder unifies, he will quickly become one of the biggest sports celebs worldwide..

[Chrismart]

America has such a rich history at HW. It's something they're longing to return.

That said, i don't think the lack of the interest in the HW division today is because of the lack of good american HW's. More to it being a poor era overall.

Things look like they could be hotting up somewhat though.

[Scott9945]

Not even Henry Cooper? Guy who put Muhammad Ali on his ass?

That was the highlight of Cooper's career. He wasn't a major factor against top American heavyweights otherwise.

[Redd Foxx]

Let's be honest, the money is in the States and it's hard to get people hyped over someone who doesn't come across well on tv. Pac was a rare exception because he was going to war in every fight. We've had a poor HW era and getting Americans (the ones who spends the money) interested in out of shape or clinch-heavy HWs wasn't going to happen.

[Fantasiabruja]

The lack of American HW's is because of the lost of interest in boxing by the athletes with potential most have taken up baseball and football instead. As for wladimir and Vitaly not getting any support over here is simple they became boring, earlier on when they first came on the scene the bias boxing folks like Larry Merchant and HBO execs were excited about them till they realized the guys were not American and therefore couldn't sell them to the American public as the great white hopes. Because whether you accept it or not boxing is a nationalist sport.