any boxers here? How about fans of the sport/boxer? There's alot of insulting/disrespecting boxers going on in here,as a fans why would you think your respect should count more than that of a fellow boxers?
I would wager that both matter, albeit for different reasons. You can't bull**** the fans, and they know greatness when they see it. There's also far more fans than there are boxers, so the sheer numbers is hard to compete with. There's also something to be said for being respected by those in your own industry- it's not the thousands of screaming fans, it's the individual voices that resonate and get through to you on a personal level. Or something.
Being respected by fans: you make more money. Being respected by fighters: you don't get the big fights.