If you don't like this fight, maybe boxing isn't for you

First of all, I would show them a short fight. Nothing more than say 5 rounds. In this era of SAS people, even if you have a thoroughly good fight for 10, 12, 15 rounds, no one with passing interest will want to finish it, even if they're interested. They'll probably say they don't have time.
I have an older friend, about 55, who I recently kind of re-converted to boxing in a way. He said he used to really keep up with boxing a lot from the late 70s to early 90s in particular. I brought it up one day and we clicked. First fight I showed him was Foreman-Lyle, for obvious reasons. He loved it of course. It was a short and sweet watch, and since then we've watched Holmes-Shavers II, Norton-Holmes, and Robinson-LaMotta VI together.
As good as Foreman-Lyle is though, I would say that perhaps a bout with a more furious beginning would be most alluring, like Moorer vs. Cooper or Hagler vs. Hearns.

 

Any of the Márquez–Vázquez trilogy (I still refuse to acknowledge IV)

 

I'd show them Corrales vs Castillo I. Not too much science or emphasis on the finer points of boxing, yet plenty of action and heart. The commentary, as well as the event itself is solid, also. The ebb and flow is a good demonstration how a fight can change minute by minute, and that there is no such thing as a sure thing, you can't predict the result until it is in the books.

If a person doesn't like this fight, I'd say boxing isn't for them.

 

Johnny Nelson vs Carlos De Leon.

 

I wouldn`t judge about interests of other people. Anyway, to introduce boxing to someone, I would show: Muhammad Ali vs. Cleveland Williams / Brian London and George Foreman vs. Ron Lyle.

 

To introduce them, you don't just need the action and skills. You need the name, the event, the story. Ali vs Frazier III is my choice. It has:

• Renowned characters in and out of the ring
• The name recognition
• Heavyweight Factor
• The historic build up
• Quality footage
• War
• Skills
• Consistent action / no lulls
• Dramatic ending and aftermath
• Polarising figures (they'll root for one or the other by the end)

 

We had the same idea, but you explained much better than I would've. Although I think the premise of the thread is flawed (sorry, Jel ). I don't think you'd make someone a fan of boxing by just showing them one fight. I think the best way of drawing new fans into boxing is by giving them a taste of that pre-fight Buzz that you get around big heavyweight fights. It was the buzz of Joshua vs Klitschko that hooked me in completely. It was the buzz of Tyson vs Bruno that hooked my dad in. And it was the buzz of Wilder vs Fury I which hooked my two best mates in.

I think seeing the fight in real time is the best way to attract a perspective fan.

 

Well if they have merely a passing interest I wouldn’t go old school/Black and white types, I would go more modern. Preferably with current fighters if I really was hoping to connect them to the sport.

perhaps something like Lomachenko vs Lineras, Fury vs Wilder I or II, Canelo vs GGG. Perhaps something as far back as Morales vs Pac 1 or something along those lines

I know these won’t be popular answers on classic but it’s the truth. Mediocre footage in standard def with fighters they can no longer relate to wouldn’t be the route I would go until and unless they connected with boxing as a whole.

 

Agreed. 'Build up' is important in the case of attracting fans. The count down to the event 'builds up' in their minds and creates an investment, which over the years could eventually lead you to The Morlocks level insanity . Even with big classic fights I prefer to watch the ones with intros intact - trying to feel the era out. Chavez vs Rosario had a good one I remember from seeing recently.

I know what Jel means. I don't think the premise is that flawed. If you can watch Gatti vs Ward 1 for the first time, no prior knowledge at all, with absolutely no investment or feeling, then yeah, Boxing ain't for you.

 

Norris vs Waters
Lewis vs Briggs
Hagler vs Hearns
Tyson vs Ruddock 1

 

Yeah, I didn't mean it in a sense of 'you can never bring in a new fan just by showing them a fight', more in a way that it's not how I'd go about it/not the best way IMO.

But **** that, how've you been??

 

Mm-
I think a violent brawl would actually be the wrong way to go about it for a fan, MMA already resembles a street fight more so then boxing and is more popular and that is really what is prevalent in the minds of most fight fans- showing them a brawl with big gloves seems like it wouldn’t be shocking or captivating enough to keep their interest I have had my best luck showing masterful displays by Roy Jones Junior, Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard the true sweet science is very appealing to fans who’ve never witnessed the magic of it.

 

Good pick

 

I've been alright mate. I just ****ed these forums off as I had a big wane in interest. Lockdown, Boxing gym closed, all that stuff added up on top of other things. Maybe I got the Blues. I've just had other things on my mind. Good to see the quality and stupidity of this forum is still trucking on though .

I'm sure you've been compulsively defiling every other poster in sight with your lists and attitude.