[Maxy]

gravytrain...just curious here for a second....who are these American fighters that nobody knows about? Or do you just mean "nobody" as in the general public?

[gravytrain]

gravytrain...just curious here for a second....who are these American fighters that nobody knows about? Or do you just mean "nobody" as in the general public?

Honestly, I think inactive fighters are probably more well known than some of our American champions and premier fighters. The only active fighter I can think of that most people know by name and is widely known is Mayweather. I'm using that in the general public sense.

I think being an American fighter in America just doesn't carry the same clout as it'd if you were a domestic fighter in another nation. America just has such a variety of sports and so many athletes that it's hard for that American boxer to really break into the mainstream. I think the biggest advantage American fighters have is being able to start their career in America rather than having to crossover to America.

[Maxy]

Honestly, I think inactive fighters are probably more well known than some of our American champions and premier fighters. The only active fighter I can think of that most people know by name and is widely known is Mayweather. I'm using that in the general public sense.

I think being an American fighter in America just doesn't carry the same clout as it'd if you were a domestic fighter in another nation. America just has such a variety of sports and so many athletes that it's hard for that American boxer to really break into the mainstream. I think the biggest advantage American fighters have is being able to start their career in America rather than having to crossover to America.

OK, cool...and this ain't a diss but is this a relatively new thing in America? At one time America dominated and I really don't see that as the case these days. Even the very best American fighters don't have the aura of their contemporaries. I know you've got a broad variety of sports no-one else in the world gives a fuck about but this shouldn't be at the detriment to boxing, considering the massive history your nation has on this magnificent sport.

[SmartyBeardo]

Honestly, I think inactive fighters are probably more well known than some of our American champions and premier fighters. The only active fighter I can think of that most people know by name and is widely known is Mayweather. I'm using that in the general public sense.

I think being an American fighter in America just doesn't carry the same clout as it'd if you were a domestic fighter in another nation. America just has such a variety of sports and so many athletes that it's hard for that American boxer to really break into the mainstream. I think the biggest advantage American fighters have is being able to start their career in America rather than having to crossover to America.

I couldn't even find the results of SMartinez v PWill in any local newspaper on Sunday (fortunately, since I DVRed it and got to see it without knowing the face plant of it).

[gravytrain]

OK, cool...and this ain't a diss but is this a relatively new thing in America? At one time America dominated and I really don't see that as the case these days. Even the very best American fighters don't have the aura of their contemporaries. I know you've got a broad variety of sports no-one else in the world gives a fuck about but this shouldn't be at the detriment to boxing, considering the massive history your nation has on this magnificent sport.

You know, I don't think the sport of boxing has fallen off, I think there aren't many fighters out there trying to create an opportunity. America has always been the land of opportunity and American fighters don't want to do shit. They're not going bear hunting like Ali, they're not making an asshole out of themselves like Mayweather, and they're not knocking cats the hell out like Tyson. They want PPV stardom while making moves like they want to be Emmanuel Augustus.

I can't really speak on when it happened, someone that has been following boxing longer than me would have to answer that. But here in America the sporting channels have the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, and golf whenever Tiger Woods is playing to cover. Between the NFL and NBA it can consume a lot of time on ESPN, then most of the time on talk shows you see NFL players and NBA players. Even when a boxer does make it on TV it's only a PPV star or the Olympic team.

[Snoop]

So if Pac fought with the same boring ass style of Floyd he would be generating 1.15 million buys? Oh get outta here. Pac earns his ratings becaue he brings excitement to the table. Forget whether the guys are weight drained or whatever he's prepared to get down and dirty and people will tune in for that shit.

Yeah I understand that a lot of American fighters aren't known but really what does that prove? If you look at the top PPV stars over the past 15 years they are all American (Manny apart.). If either Klit despite their boring style were American they'd be huge in the states. Fact. The idea that someone's nationality doesn't have at least some bearing on how they sell in their own country is plain stupid.

I REALLY don't think Floyd's current popularity is due to him being American, in fact, I would say most Americans would consider him very un-American. On the other hand, has Floyd been able to succeed in his career because he's born and raised in a nation considered the mecca of boxing? Absolutely. The opportunities and the resources were available to him when they aren't to fighters in other nations, like a Pacquiao, who has to manhandle his way to gain America's attention. But people don't continually tune into Floyd because he's some all American superstar, they tune into him because he's an asshole, because he's controversial, and quite honestly, because most people hope to see him get KTFO.

This post has been edited by Snoop: Nov 24 2010, 04:02 PM

[Snoop]

Honestly, I think inactive fighters are probably more well known than some of our American champions and premier fighters. The only active fighter I can think of that most people know by name and is widely known is Mayweather. I'm using that in the general public sense.

I think being an American fighter in America just doesn't carry the same clout as it'd if you were a domestic fighter in another nation. America just has such a variety of sports and so many athletes that it's hard for that American boxer to really break into the mainstream. I think the biggest advantage American fighters have is being able to start their career in America rather than having to crossover to America.

Spot on. It's not simply because they're American, but because they were able to take advantage of all the things that come with being American.

[The Ollie Reed F...]

I REALLY don't think Floyd's current popularity is due to him being American, in fact, I would say most Americans would consider him very un-American. On the other hand, has Floyd been able to succeed in his career because he's born and raised in a nation considered the mecca of boxing? Absolutely. The opportunities and the resources were available to him when they aren't to fighters in other nations, like a Pacquiao, who has to manhandle his way to gain America's attention. But people don't continually tune into Floyd because he's some all American superstar, they tune into him because he's an asshole, because he's controversial, and quite honestly, because most people hope to see him get KTFO.

Fame/infamy same difference. Floyd was clever enough to realize that his boxing style was never going to appeal to the mainstream fan so he created a persona that would raise his profile and have many people tune in to see him lose. Kudos to Floyd for being canny enough to latch on to that. Do I think this routine would sell as well in America if he was an Australian? Get the fuck outta here.

[Snoop]

Fame/infamy same difference. Floyd was clever enough to realize that his boxing style was never going to appeal to the mainstream fan so he created a persona that would raise his profile and have many people tune in to see him lose. Kudos to Floyd for being canny enough to latch on to that. Do I think this routine would sell as well in America if he was an Australian? Get the fuck outta here.

You're right, he probably wouldn't be able to do any of that if he wasn't American, but his popularity isn't JUST because he's American.

[gravytrain]

Fame/infamy same difference. Floyd was clever enough to realize that his boxing style was never going to appeal to the mainstream fan so he created a persona that would raise his profile and have many people tune in to see him lose. Kudos to Floyd for being canny enough to latch on to that. Do I think this routine would sell as well in America if he was an Australian? Get the fuck outta here.

Man, motherfuckers in America have made millions of dollars by putting videos on Youtube. Don't ever doubt the willingness for Americans to throw money at something somebody is telling them to buy. Jersey Shore is the corniest shit I've ever seen in my life and that has made all the people on it millionaires and their show gets audiences only rivaled by NFL games.

If they're entertaining people will pay to watch them. It wouldn't matter if they're Australian, African, Asian, or American.