from Europe Carpentier, Schmeling, Cerdan has there been any big euro fighters since, not including UK fighters? which Aussies too, Peter Jackson, Squires, Darcy, Fenech, WHO?
I think Cerdan had some crossover appeal because of his relationship with Edith Piaf. Of course, in the US he was a nonentity. But yeah, in Europe I think he was pretty celebrated.
IN ENGLAND. Around the world, a lot more people know ODLH than know Eubank. Put another way, if ODLH ha d been a Brit, he would have been a far bigger star in England than Eubank would have been. IF Eubank is/was a bigger star than ODLH in England, it's due the UK media raising Eubank's profile to a much greater degree than they did ODLH. Another thing, I always take anything Bunce says with a pinch of salt, he is the king of hyperbole and bluster as far as journalists go - he overeggs everything. I knew Bunce 20 odd years ago when he was a shock haired beatnik tyro journalist trying to make his way in the London amateur boxing scene. Nothing against Steve, I always thought that despite the bluster he was a decent enough fella...but he's ALWAYS been a "look at me" type.
One of the most famous boxers ever was a man few would remember today: Tom Cribb from Bristol. Two hundred years ago boxing was quite different, of course, but so was the world itself. There was no media as we know it, no telecommunications and literacy levels were far lower. Yet Tom Cribb was well known and very famous throughout the British Empire and North America. That's quite impressive for a working class man during the early 1800's. If I remember Cribb was Britain's first ever world champion and during the Napoleonic wars he was something of a mascot for the British Empire. Although few remember Cribb today there are still reminders of his legacy including a statue that still stands in London, the Tom Cribb pub and a Tom Cribb restaurant. There are also many paintings and prints of Cribb hanging in galleries and museums throught the UK. He is also referenced in numerous books and film media both fact and fiction. When Cribb fought Tom Molineaux for the world title ceramic figures of Cribb and Molineaux were mass produced in what might be considered the first ever attempt at sporting event merchandise. These ornaments are still highly sought after today and quite valuable. At the height of his fame Cribb was considered to be the most famous man in the Empire and his company was pursued by the elite classes including the King. When Cribb died in the mid 1800's over 20, 000 people turned up at his funeral. We forget Cribb today, but for a guy fighting 200 years ago he was as famous as anyone could possibly become and surely had the cross over appeal under discussion here.
Thanks. Cribb is an important figure in the history of Boxing, Molineaux too. Cribb's fame during his own lifetime is even more remarkable when you consider that prize fighting was actually illegal during that time.
Particularly during the times in which he fought, the portrait of Cribb became a symbol for bravery and strength.
Manny Pacquiao is an interesting one. I do believe he is bigger in his homeland than David Beckham ever was over here in England; that is quite difficult for a native to understand as there was a period when people swooned every time David brushed his hair. However, such is the damaging nature of PPV that millions of Briton's simply don't know who Pacquiao is. From the HBO PPV's, to Sky Box Office, to Boxnation, to Primetime etc - exposure has been cut up and diluted. If Manny fought as recently as the 1990's many more would know of him, and he'd easily qualify as a global superstar.
I agree with this. If you showed a picture to a random person of Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey and SRR they wouldn't know who it was. Ali and Tyson I believe they would. Possibly Manny and Floyd because they are the big stars now.
Total rubbish? What, all of my post - even the last paragraph abut Bunce? How long have YOU known Bunce then? What a constructive reply... If you really believe that if ODLH was a Brit that Eubank would be a bigger star in the UK, well that beggars belief. Sounds to me like you haven't got a constructive reply so have resorted to an insult...
If we're talking boxers that were marketed and became household names outside boxing then maybe not globally but very well known in Britain. You could include Henry Cooper.
It's a fundamentally flawed statement and doesn't make sense. As for Bunce, I've known him since the eighties when he was harassing Rod Douglas for interviews.
I think what people mean when they say that it was watched by half a billion people is that it was globally televised in over a hundred countries, so if everyone in those countries with televisions had watched the fight it would have been half a billion. In actuality, it was probably more like 50 million viewers out of a possible audience of ten times that. Still big and international, but not like they are saying. They claimed the same figures for Ali vs Frazier and a couple of other fights. Considering that the super middleweights in the UK never went over 20 million viewers in their own country though it's unlikely that they got another 480 million internationally. Manny Pacquiao picks up 50 million viewers for his fights in the Philippines but he's not getting another 450 million on the rebroadcasts in other places. Marquez can depend on 20 million viewers in Mexico, and the Klitschko's can pull maybe 30 million in the Russia/Germany/Ukraine area. Globally though, they probably won't do more than double the figures from their backyard, which is why I say that Benn vs Eubank probably didn't do more than 20 million at home and 50 million worldwide.
