How much do race and nationality have to do with boxing

there's an element of identity - but that's very different to racism imo. Look at Obama - black people identified with him, young people, and liberals. that the first identified does not make them racist, not by any means.

i'll tend to support british fighters, even though I think many of them are tw@s

 

It makes no sense for me to like a fighter based on race or nationality, we see enough of these guys that we can judge them on character and fighting style. Though I do realize that it plays a big part in boxing, for example Hopkins seems so pissed because he got beaten by a white man that he wants to fight every white fighter out there to try to correct it.

 

Then you're wrong. The casual fan supports the home fighter against anyone. For him, it's "them and us". That's why black v. white sells so well...for example...people separate into tribes, they have a couple of beers, their hearts are beating fast and they want to see blood.

Hardcore fans on the other hand are looking for well-matched opponents, styles match-ups that gel well, a competitive fight in which both do very well...

A lot of people come into boxing hating or supporting a certain fighter...then, the more you learn, the more you forget about background, class, colour, ethnicity, etc., and look at skills, performance, intangibles, character, etc.

 

Ialways saw the casual fan(or neutral fan) support the underdog in fights always.I guess that's what life,humanity is about......going to hell to win.....giving your all against all odds and prevailing.

 

Well put. I think the guys who are purely into boxing as a sport can like Zab Judah, Micheal Katsidis, David Haye, Manny Pacquiao and MAB all at the same time without thinking twice about it.

 

i think people are way too quick to brand someone a racist. i have had friends (close friends) of every race and i am still a racist by the esb standard because i believe that every group has different characteristics in their behaviour and beliefs that are particular to their group, and i happen to dislike certain characteristics. race only comes in as a factor in the scale of probability (not every dog barks but it is reasonable for me to expect it to do so).
when looking at race in boxing, i think you should look at the group of people who are directly represented by the fighter and what value their culture places on what they do. you will find that it is not race but culture that influences the behaviour in individuals.

 

I have no problem with Irish people pulling for Irish fighters Hispanics pulling for Hispanic fighters Italians pulling for Italian fighters British pulling for British fighters etc.

Be proud of who you are and be proud of your fighters when they do well. There is nothing wrong with that. That is what makes Boxing such a great sport because it is GLOBAL.

 

it's a massive part of it. The casual fan tends to relate to a boxer as an extension of themself. When one of your own 'tribe' is victorious you feel vindicated in a sense. It's why WASP's haven't produce too many great boxers. Because they already rule the world and that is who the rest of us want to 'defeat'. Think of the ready made market for Russians, poles, irish and italian fighters in the states. If you pick the right area you can fill an arena fighting tomato cans for years with the right ethnic boxer......the problem is if you are black or mexican you are in a crowded market place........because there are so many great black and mexican fighters.

 

you cant simply classify and say that a harecore fan doesnt give a **** about race and just looks for well-matched opponents or styles match-ups..

for example, freddy (like myself) is a hardcore fan of our sport, not casual IMO, and race, backround, etc. is all apart of pride and you cant help but take **** personal.

 

No race hatin? then it's all good son. yah be patriotic. I love my country and people. Fo reaaaaaal. I usually support that, first and foremost above everything else..

 

reguardless where your from there is a grey area between "hardcore" and "casual"..

btw, i'm from SF :yep