where did i say "Knowing Americans"? :huh As for location, think about it more. Wouldn't HBO be showing more Klitschko fights if they were Americans fighting in America?
I was saying that. My point is Americans don't care because they don't know enough to care. I have thought about it and they have been shown here. If the money wasn't here no fighter would ever cross the pond. If they were exciting HBO would have sought them out like it has sought out every other great Boxing talent. Seriously, with today's technology it only takes a few legal documents and a satellite to bring the Klits to America. They don't because they know what we all do. They are average guys going up against horrible competition. However I do applaud them for looking like fighters every single time and I do agree, "Maybe a tad."
wait, so you're saying that location doesn't matter, and if the Klits were Americans fighting in America, HBO would still ignore them? :silly
Solis was almost 50lbs lighter when he beat Haye What a joke the fat idiot is. If he was in shape he could be so much better, why ruin your chances ?"
Yes. What American HW is HBO not ignoring? HBO is basically ignoring them all. Hell HBO is ignoring two thirds of the weight classes! HBO has proven that they can and will reach out and make great fights. The Klits' fights just aren't great. Granted, I do cede the point that they may be a shade more popular, but not much. The Cruiser Weight division is far more exciting for Americans and we even have title holders... completely ignored. :conf
are there so many American heavyweights worth televising? wait, let me answer my own question. I believe they did televise Arreola plenty including his loss to Vitali.... then showed his loss to Adamek. see, they do. it helps to be local
No. Therefore they would happily televise someone else. Arreola? Really? He was a "freak" in that he was Mexican (probably the most bankable Boxing demographic) and a HW. You had no choice but to televise him. I agreed that it helps to be local, but there are tons of examples of non-local fighters who were able to have sizable US followings. Klits don't because they are blah fighting horrible comp.
I never heard of it. They also never set up shop here to get the fights. They got a couple against guys fading and lost. Seriously? Mayweather makes more money because he is a personality OUT of the ring. It has NOTHING to do with his Boxing other than he keeps winning. How he does it is irrelevant. Boxing is still entertainment. Mayweather creates a feeling. Sometimes love. Sometimes hate. It is a feeling. Pac, Cotto, Martinez, Vitali? They are boring and lack charisma. I like Froch though. Especially when he is being a cocky *****.
Yeah no doubt! I was away from my computer for the last five monhts and when I came back it was basically the same people saying the same things, over and over.
i agree man you can just tell Vitali is begging for a fight but noone out there is good enough to give it to him. Vitali is not a boring fighter at all imo. Even some of his one sided fights are fun. His fight with Lewis is one of the best fights of the decade. Wlad is boring by nature. I wouldn't put him in the same rank as Vitali. What would a better version of Sam Peter have done to Wlad when he decked him several times?
Its Vitali's own fault. He shouldnt have hit Solis so hard that his knee ligaments came undone. it was ALL due to the punch he threw. so its his own fault. next time dont hit people with your full power! you dont want to break any more joints do you...
I see, Arreola was the exception. Large US followings without fighting in the US? More likely it was limited in the US and bigger where they were fighting. It doesn't matter, Klitschkos were somewhat the faces of HBO until 1-2 years ago. Then HBO in fact stated that they were sick of traveling across seas to televise the Klitschkos. :deal If you feel they are lying, then you can be that way.
Good thread Jack, well balanced and honest views. I agree with everything you say, especially later when you made the point about there being no second tier nowadays. Your spot on. And another thing is that the top contenders don't even seem willing to step in the ring with each other, except Adamek. To a lifelong boxing fan it is a very sad thing, and one that really has to change in the next few years. Whether it will or not remains to be seen. I agree it is hard on Vitali that there is no competition for him has the man obviously comes to fight, and i also agree he would of been in many exciting fights too, had the opposition been there for him. There is no doubt the bros are way ahead of the rest, i hope Haye proves otherwise with a good performance, win, lose or draw, for the sake of the sport. It is universally accepted that Wlad is more gifted and technically better than his brother, which is true. But Vitali would of been competitive at the top in any era, and i don't think Wlad would! Because has good has i think he is ,i think if he were to come up against quality opposition similar to previous era's, then i think he would of been found wanting at the very top because of his inability to cope with pressure and show true fighting instincts in times of crisis. Something his brother is more than capable of doing. I suppose all they can do is keep winning but has you say Jack how much will it improve they standing in history, which for me personally is not top 20 for either. I just have to say Bretchko, Bremen and Silencer never fail to dissapoint everyone on ESB. Keep it up lads. Or not?