Why doesn't anyone in boxing play the heel?

[Dodger07]

Fury and teofimo can become global superstars if they fully embrace the heel role. They've got the boxing skills, talent and signature wins to start with. They just need that extra media heat on them to bring more attention to their big personalities.

[SUBZER0ED]

Ali literally stole his heel act from Gorgeous George...

I don't think Foreman was a heel per se. I think when he was young, he was just a big, mean, scary cat who KO'd most of the folks who dared to get in the ring with him.

[SUBZER0ED]

The "heel" only works if you have an opposite. Duran had SRL. Floyd had Manny. Tyson had Holyfield.

Ali was completely different. He wasn't playing the heel, he converted to Islam and refused to go to Vietnam, which made people hate him.

Rexy is right. You need charisma. You also need talent and confidence.

Tyson didn't need Holyfield to be a heel. He was vicious towards all of his opponents and anyone who got under his skin, including heckler fans and even announcers. It's a part of his personality that he learned to temper as he aged.

Ali was an ass towards his notable his opponents, but it was more of an act to promote the fight and get inside their heads. He was more of a hooligan than a heel, though.

[Marchegiano]

Tyson didn't need Holyfield to be a heel. He was vicious towards all of his opponents and anyone who got under his skin, including heckler fans and even announcers. It's a part of his personality that he learned to temper as he aged.

Ali was an ass towards his notable his opponents, but it was more of an act to promote the fight and get inside their heads. He was more of a hooligan than a heel, though.

I still don't like watching Ali shove old Joe Louis out of his way to hog the camera. Joe's just there to ask questions and promote the young man....such a ****

I can agree with early hooliganism at least. I think the post-fight interview i'm talking about is the end of the Liston fight but I'm not sure. Anyway, it wasn't a hugely violent shove or anything and Ali knew who he was pushing and what he was doing. I'm not so sure a lot of his persona isn't an act. Including the stances where he's not really being cunning or anything he's just an arrogant young ****head.

Ali was pretty cool about his bull**** though. Pisses me off to see Louis be pushed, but also, it's kinda funny, little prick that he was and all.

[sicko]

Ali literally stole his heel act from Gorgeous George...

Exactly! Mayweather was basically Boxing Version of The Million Dollar Man


So yes it does work if you can pull it off and make it believable

[TheBoxGod]

You need confidence and the personality to pull it off, today in boxing theirs is literally 0 fighters who can command the crowd when they speak,,, so no one is strong enough personality wise to play the heel. The last heel we had was Margarito, Floyd.

[Marchegiano]

You need confidence and the personality to pull it off, today in boxing theirs is literally 0 fighters who can command the crowd when they speak,,, so no one is strong enough personality wise to play the heel. The last heel we had was Margarito, Floyd.

Marg was a great heel. ****ing good call.

[Boxing-1013]

Charlo Brothers seem accepting of being the fighters people love to HATE especially Jermell

Also think Teofimo Lopez can be that guy as well especially after beating Beloved Lomachenko. Also Teofimo Sr is a natural at generating more HATE upon them with his mouth

I don't think anybody wants to be the most "HATED" however when you try to be the good guy and yet you still get a ton of hate, I guess sometimes it is just better to just accept being the bad guy

Good point about Lopez Sr. He helps Teo in playing the heel role.

The guys right though ,i think the thread should be more titled "why doesnt any of these idiots have a brain cell/personality?"

Theyre not marketable theyre all boring as hell so they should be looking at being absolute ****s or shocking people if they want to make that mulah

Look at Del boy chisora nearly 10 losses but since he haz that shock factor he gets good names to fight him and people start to believe in him pre fight

Its not until after the fights youve realise youve had your money stolen

Nobody has the charisma to pull it off.

Keith Thurman probably could. He's quick witted and bright.

Yes, I actually really found Thurman entertaining in the buildup to the Pac fight. That whole Trex arms thing was hilarious lol.

But you guys are right - it's really all about personality and charisma, which isn't easy to force really.

Not sure why people are struggling with this concept.

Ask Chris Eubank Snr whether playing the 'heel' can be beneficial to your career. He made a fortune out of his countrymen watching to see if he'd get put flat on his back.

Fury could definitely do it. In fact I think he has done it, and gone through his transformation.

Yes, well said.

[TheBoxGod]

But you guys are right - it's really all about personality and charisma, which isn't easy to force really.

I would say it cant be forced or faked you either have it or you dont. Its something cant be taught imo, you can become a better public speaker and everything but charisma shines through a way speaking well can never relay.

[Thuglife Nelo]

I named quite a few who played the heel, in boxing and MMA. You can also play the heel, in other mediums as well.

If you guys think that 'playing the heel' only takes place in pro wrestling, then lol

What’s “pro wrestling?” The only professional wrestling I know of is from the Olympics. If you mean commercial wrestling, as I am, then that’s the point. They are professional choreographers whom do have wrestling backgrounds but also focus on weight lifting to sell physiques. They aren’t your dedicated tough man or Olympic pedigree styles. They are paid to sell fictional characters.

Point is commercial wrestling is based on acting. It’s a show. That’s why I said Jorge Paez in particular because he was a luchador and acrobat circus performer in Mexico. That is why he did weird acts in pro boxing. He was one of a kind with disgusting hair cuts. He played the role of a true antogonist in the pure sense of “playing the heel.”