The Next de la Hoya/ Tyson/Holyfield Phenomenon?

Boxing is an extremely individual sport, the vast majority of those huge audiences watched DLH and Tyson for the name value and the buzz, not for the sport. You could say that Holyfield was living off his wins over Tyson and Floyd and Pac definitely became PPV superstats on the back of DLH, and they are at the end of their careers. You can tell by the average ticket sales and ratings in the US that boxing did not become more popular despite some impressive PPV numbers.

It's about the names, and to become an attraction such as DLH or Mike, a fighter has to do something really special really early (DLH: Gold medal, bunch of world titles in the pros plus his story, Tyson: HW championship, crazy persona), and keep up the buzz inside and outside of the ring for years.

Frankly, I don't see a scenario where someone could become as big on his own, maybe on the back of Pac and Floyd and with a lot of charisma. Let's say, just for the argument, that Saul Alvarez becomes an elite fighter, he does have the looks and the charisma to become a superstar, especially if he learns English. Now he'd still have to beat Pacquiao and/or Mayweather to reach the absolute heighs and beat other household names, and for the average viewers, there aren't many. And even if Canelo becomes a PPV attraction or something like a CBS regular, it's still hardly gonna bring back boxing to the mainstream unless several others can become huge attractions as well plus the title and weight class mess is cleaned up. Promoters and organizations dag the grave too deep and ripped off the followers too bad to recover through a single or many phenomenons.

 

Frankie Gomez. He's Mexican and has a Mike Tysonesque style.

 

Jose Benavidez Jr. He's 18 years old and holds the record of won 8 (KO 8 + lost 0 (KO 0)

 

Its going to have to be someone garners media attention outside the ring, has a face and personality for television and who is exciting in the ring.

They only athletes I can think of as popular as Tyson at his peak were/are Michael Jordan, Pac Man, Hulk Hogan, David Beckham and Shaq. Recognized, even by grandmas, the world over.

Mayweather isn't that big yet, but he is close thanks to Dancing with the Stars, being a wife beater, ducking pacman, etc..

Tyson was big because he was so devastating, and was a crazy man.

ODLH was not nearly as popular as Tyson, but was a name because he seemed like a good guy, performed well and had the father/son rags to riches story.

Holyfield, again nowhere near as popular as Tyson, was only mainstream because he was in the right place at the right time, performed well and had his ear chewed off.

As for current fighters... I think the Klitschko Bros could be if they played their cards right. They have an interesting story, Wlad is dating a well known American acrtress, Vitali is into politics, they are articulate, intelligent brothers who both hold PhD's and HW Titles. You don't see that every day. If they were American, they would be the biggest thing in sports over here...but they are not...so they are not.

 

gary lockett :yep

 

That cholo Gomez whooped him like 3 times in the amateur games.

 

Some are already hyped up for their pro fight! :thumbsup

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=207793

 

Damn, they want to see Benavidez get knocked out that bad?

 

Wlad is at a perfect age to carry on for another few years at least. Vitali is on his way out, so the novelty of the two brothers as champions won't last much longer.

I could see the US warming to a foreigner. They love Pac, Lennox was accepted and liked, and of course everyone loves David Beckham.

The thing about the US is that the public will embrace anyone portrayed positively in the media. They don't even have to be talented, just popular.

If Wlad could get onto some mainstream US publicity machine and be a friendly, handsome charming guy...I think he could be popular.

Tyson popular? Michael Jordan popular? Pre-divorce Tiger Woods popular? Probably not, but who knows. Everyone loves Taylor Swift and she can't carry a tune in a bucket.