Brit Forum Debate: The Boxing Insiders' Contempt For Boxing Fans

it should , theres one problem this fight even though its a missmatch and a joke outsells every other option and makes haye and harrison and sky alot of money


the klit fights would pull some money but as the disscsions about splits rumble on all three parties are of making not a whole lot less for simple fights

infact if the split for haye - klit was 50-50 id say all three will make more money for there next fights than they would out of a 50-50 fight with eachouther

 

Fair point, there does seem to be an amount of disdain for people who aren't directly involved in the sport by the promoters/matchmakers etc. Like Losfer words said I've learnt far more about boxing as a whole since I've been visiting this forum than I knew before.

 

Goddamn Losfer that was well said from A to Z!

Boxing is in my blood and I'll never stray from this beautiful sport, but how many times have we seen this business take 2 steps forward then immediately take 3 steps back with the people incharge killing their own babies. Like you said the sport would be so much poorer without the "internet fans".

I love this sport, but I'll be honest i don't know where it's heading as we have lunatics running the asylum.

 

I think the advent of the WWW and forums in particular has brought a certain amount of democratisation to just about everything from sport through to politics. It's all about freedom to express your views and more importantly, access too information.

Information is the key.

With the shroud of professional secrecy rudely jerked away from boxing, everyone effectively becomes an insider, privy to negotiations and political manoeuvring that previously was carried out behind closed doors. Fighters call each other out on social network platforms and forums and insiders leak information left, right and centre.

This transparency means that industry people are now accountable for their actions, and become targets for criticism. All of their actions are now subject to extreme scrutiny from a fanbase that is becoming increasingly knowledgeable. I understand their annoyance, but this is just part of the sport's evolution.

The savvy promoters, managers and fighters should see the advent of this technology as an opportunity rather than a hindrance and captitalise on it. Now they can get closer to their paying customers and speak directly to them, without the immense cost of investing in conventional marketing methods.

The 'internet' isn't going to go away. Forums, or similar networking platforms will evolve and grow. The online fanbase will grow exponentially until the internet becomes an integral part of everyone's everyday life.

There is a real danger that the old guard in the sport will get left behind as a new breed emerges who are prepared to immerse themselves in the online world and and work alongside fans.

 

I still think alot of forums are like that - including ESB.

I mean if you are on here everyday posting - all the time - surely that classes you as a internet nerd / geek - arm chair fan - whatever you want to call it. With too much time on his hands - talking **** - myself included - I'm guilty of spending way too much time on here - I hate myself for it - because talking **** on forums brings nothing to your life - but its addictive.

Surely if you got better things to do with your life - you dont waste that much time on here.

 

Also I dont think a pro boxer should give a **** what the arm chaor fans think.

They got a whole different perspective on things than the arm chair fans.

To them its their living / profession - just get in there - get the job done and bank the money.

Maybe promoters should take more care of what the fans say - and try to deliever what they want.

But to the boxer - its just his job - and a arm chair fans opinon means nothing to his bank balance or his life.

 

The insiders form all your opinions anyway.

The insiders are working against each other really, which ones you dislike depends what the others have told you to think.

 

David Haye is current living proof - even if a fighter acts fan friendly - and has noble intentions.

He is just playing the game - he dont give a **** for the fans - just like Hatton didnt.

The bottom line is - be smart - get the right fights - and make the max money.

Thats why even though 99.99% of fans want to see him fight Wlad - it dont make business sense to him now - cos easier money can be made.

The best the likes of Haye and Hatton do - is play the game - say the right things - just to try and keep the fans follwoing and coughing up the ££££.

 

That really isn't true. The 'armchair', or informed fan accounts for 10% of the PPV revenue for the big fights in the UK (a figure quoted from Frank Warren).

These guys are also the ones who influence the less educated or casual fans - giving them the information on upcoming fights, whether that be in the pub or in their workplace. Their influence is significant.

Look at Anthony Small for example - the internet provided him with enough rope to hang himself. Much of the momentum (or lack thereof) in Tyson Fury's career has been generated by his participation in online platforms.

 

The sport would be more popular if the matches were more competetive and of a better quality.

This is what will in the long term draw people back to the sport exciting fights big events not events billed as an event that is a mismatch

Can you imagine this in football Man Utd (3 time European champions) vs Nottingham Forest (2 time European champions) on paper to somebody who didnt know much about the sport it seems a decent match but the reality is its a mismatch. Thats what promoters are selling to us not only with Haye Audley but with many title fights domestic and international.

 

yes - true the arm chair fan line the pockets yes.


But I just meant the opinon / feelings of the arm chair fan is not important. only their money.

So for example - Warren can take the **** - by putting on pay per views of Khan against some bum - and people can moan and sya what a rip off - but as long as they cough up the money - Warrens is happy.

 

Oh, I see where you are coming from and agree 100%.

 

The justification for Haye-Harrison being something that appeals to "the man on the street" is quite cynical but it is the normal way professional boxing has been conducted since the beginning of time.

What the promoters are saying is that "we want to sell it to the people who dont really know any better", the widest possible audience for the highest possible price.

You hear people saying "it will get people talking about boxing again", stoke the interest of the casual sports fan. Re-invigorate the sport.

But when those people shell out a fortune and are given a lame mismatch, the sports suffers. The casual fans who got interested in boxing for a week rightfully scream foul or fix, and go back to not given a **** about boxing, with bitterness too.

It's all about the short-term profit really, and has nothing to do with bringing the sport more fans.

 

I agree.

It only helps the sport if we see a good fight, not a mismatch.

Bruno vs Lewis was a great fight, though it had the expected outcome.

Akinwande vs Lewis was a **** fight, but likewise the outcome was predicted.

Haye vs Harrison resembles the latter more than the former.