This group gets mentioned quite a bit and are believed to be a big source of PPV buys. I'm referring to the American casual fan as I don't live in the UK/Europe In my opinion the casual fan knows maybe 5-8 fighters. They don't know Leo Santa Cruz, Andrade, Andre Ward, Mikey Garcia, Rigondeaux, Crawford or really anyone who hasn't been an opponent of, or mentioned in the same sentence as Floyd or Manny. So they may have heard of Ward... but likely never watched him fight (hard to do when he refuses to get in a ring.) In your experience, what "level" are the casual fans you know on? Basically they know: Floyd Manny Cotto Canelo Bradley maybe Danny Garcia, Maidana and Broner. Even on that list most are only known for their association to Floyd/Pac and casuals would not go out of their way to watch anyone but maybe the top 4 I mentioned.
Well i'm from Ireland and i would guess that's similar to the UK so from my mates they would known of Mayweather Pacquiao Khan Haye Froch after Wembley they know who he is. Carl Frampton i understand he isn't a big name but in Ireland people would know who he is. Canelo After the Mayweather fight. Klitschko Groves Tyson Fury I'm sure it's different in America but they wouldn't really know who Cotto, Bradley, Maidana, Broner or Garcia are.
Most people are just casual in general, regardless of sport. When a sports team starts getting good all the casuals come out. In terms of how casual is defined in terms of a boxing fan the list could go 30 deep or just include Mayweather and Pacquaio. At least that is how it works in the U.S.!
Most Europeans know of Klitchko. Tyson is a household name in a lot of countries. People here do know of Floyd.
Even before I started watching boxing a few years ago, as a general sports fan I knew quite a few fighters, of the active ones: Mayweather, Pacquiao, Cotto, Khan, Froch, Ward, Hopkins, Klitchkos, Tyson Fury, De Gale, Chisora, Price, plus quite a few more since retired.
In addition to the two obvious, my guess is that Hopkins and the Klitschko brothers have been around long enough to attract casual fans. Canelo/Cotto/Bradley/Khan are starting to get a mainstream names. My hunch is that other fighters such as Haye, Bute, Abraham, Sturm, have interest in the country they live in.
