Why hasn't Lomachenko connected with an audience?

[The Smash]

It's very difficult to figure out why a guy with 8 fights isn't a PPV star.

A real mystery, that one.

[jaded]

He's only had 8 pro fights...considering that he actually is doing pretty well with a fan base. 8 fights is nothing.

[watchayouhead]

Fighters really need to make a name on free tv, then move up to PPV.

Guy used to fight wars on network tv on saturdays for 10 to 50K, now they want a million to jab and clinch on PPV.

[soul_survivor]

His first fight was on the Bradley/Marquez undercard

His next fight was a title shot against Salido as the co-Main Event on the Chavez Jr/Vera card

His third fight was against Gary Russell Jr on Showtime. Once again for the vacant WBO title

His fourth fight his first defense and it came on the Pacquiao v. Vargas undercard

His fight fight was the most coveted spot in boxing. He was the co-Main Event on the May-Pac undercard. They could've sold that spot to another promoter and got millions.

After that he fought on the Bradley/Rios undercard as the co-Main Event

His next fight he headlined MSG on Puerto Rico weekend. He was supported with a Puerto Rican fighter on the undercard and facing a Puerto Rican fighter for a title in the main event.

His last fight he fought Walters on HBO WCB.

Bob has done everything possible to make this guy a star and he's given him opportunities most other fighters would kill for. He's a handsome guy. Doesn't speak English but I dont think that's as big an obstacle as most others do. I have a theory but I don't want to say it just yet. I wanna see other people thoughts first.

What do you mean he hasn't connected with an audience? How do you know he hasn't?

You have just listed his fights but given no information to back up your assumption.

Btw, I'm not saying he HAS connected with an audience, mainly because I have no idea if he has or hasn't but with you making this claim, I want to understand it better.

[Motorcity Cobra]

No actually he doesn't. Pacquiao spoke pretty good English by the time he was a major star. Lomachenko doesnt speak ANY english. And Duran was never an American superstar.

I saw a video the other day of Loma speaking english. He speaks english and it isn't to bad. And what do you mean Duran wasn't an American star? He had a Pepsi commercial and DeNiro just made a movie about his life.

[-PBP-]

In boxing they aren't with you on the come up. They hop on your bandwagon after you made it to the top.

[Banderivets]

Why should white American fans connect with a Ukrainian fighter?

I'm Ukrainian and trust me I have never felt a connection to Kelly Pavlik or Tyson Fury or Carl Froch.

[deanrw]

Most people don't even know who he is yet. Placing him on PPV undercards actually reduces his exposure. Even in the Floyd/Manny card, out of the 4 million buys, I bet less than half million watched his fight.

His style is not appealing for the masses. Remember Floyd was the exception, not the rule.

[Herr Schmeling]

Because he can't speak English. Fans can't connect with him. He should take out a page of the GGG book. Just speak English - no matter how bad it is. He's just a lazy mofo when it comes to learning English.

[Shpacman]

Yeah, this. Loma puts on boxing clinics. I think it's beautiful to watch personally but the casuals ain't about watching boxing clinics. The average casual is blood thirsty, thus the reason why the vast majority of casuals have moved on to MMA/UFC.

The average people also tune in for a media personality. That's why GGG goes here and there, wears mexican hat, tells everybody about mexican style, big drama show, street fight, etc., appears on baseball, goes in press-tours. All promoters and managers should watch at this guy, how he is promoted in media.
So media image matters a lot for a boxer's popularity, and there is no media image for Loma now. They must create public appearences for him, catchy phrases, teach him how to behave in front of cameras. Without it he will never become popular.