What your non boxing mates say about our fighters

No one I know likes boxing really. Occasionally, I'll hear some buzz, there was some for Audley/Valuev vs. Haye, and Hatton's outings, but apart from that boxing is never mentioned. One guy I know showed a mild interest in becoming a fan, but I think I scared him off with my constant attempts to convert him by imparting everything I know about the sport onto him....

 

Who?

 

Tried to get some of my mates for the Cleverly Wembley bill and got told by one "I don't know who that geez is"- they arent interested unless its Khan or Haye.

 

That's Uber-******ed. Remarkabley so.

 

Most of my casual mates are alright to be honest. But I think it's because there is a group of us that are bang into it and everyone else more or less bows down to our knowledge and always checks themself before they say something. So conversations tend to start with "Who do you reckon would win between..." rather than "I reckon [x] would ko [y]".

It's the odd nobhead in a pub that does my head in. Managed to find a pub in Liverpool that had Froch v Abraham on. I was engrossed, most of the lads were just carrying on drinking and just left me to it. I spotted another fella who was watching the fight and not talking to anyone. After a few rounds we ended up at the bar at the same time. I asked what he thought of the fight and he said "Calzaghe's getting battered there isnt he? And who's he fighting? Pepe Reina? F*cking joke".

I turned my back and went back to the screen. Alone.

 

Another one that just came to me.

On a train and got chatting to the geezer next to me. Talk turned to boxing and he said "I am a massive boxing fan, ask me anything...". Seemed an odd comment but I left it and asked who is favourite fighter of all time was. He said De La Hoya. This raised my hopes, I use that question generally to gauge people's level of interest. If they say anything other than Ali or Tyson then I give them the benefit of the doubt that they know a bit. I chatted about Oscar for a bit and he went on to say "my favourite fight of his though was against Calzaghe...." (what is it with these casuals and Joe?)

I couldnt help myself and pointed out that they never fought. He was adament, to the point that he said "any money on it?". I refused to take the bet, which he took to mean he was right. I got boxrec up on my phone and showed him both fighters records. He said "that could be any website".

Yes mate, I have specifically set up a website in the event that some random dickhead mentions Calzaghe fighting De La Hoya.

He carried on trying to talk to me as well, saying that Floyd ducked Oscar. I just nodded and smiled and put on my ipod.

 

Didn't Joe KO1 De La Hoya? :huh

:hey

 

i generally try to educate them as best i can. but some of the more cringeworthy conversations can get a bit embarrassing.my main problem of late is that i'm becoming a bit of an underdog man and i'm placing bets against my better judgement just to amuse myself and i'm gettin stick from the casuals when my slip gets torn up,its a hell of a buzz tho while it lasts.COME ON DUDEY LAD KNOCK HIS ****IN HEAD OFF!!!!!

 

The Boxing snobs have come out in force for this thread.

 

Has anyone got a mate that believes a completely random and ridiculous "fact" is true? Like "Calzaghe has only lost 1 pro fight, it was at featherweight in Copenhagen" and can't be convinced that its complete nonsense.

 

Mate I'm all for trying to get people into the sport- I love it and try to share my love for it- but you have to admit some people chat magnificent amounts of **** and try to pass it off as fact with regards to boxing. It happens with every sport but I reckon non more so than boxing. Just imo.

 

Yeah im the exact same mate.

 

the spastic in the pub who said that audley was a world champion and was gonna spark haye

 

Hate to say it fellas, but i'm seriously worried about the future of our sport. I've got mates who were hardcore fans in the 90's but have lost interest and turned into casuals, if that. I can't even have a conversation with them about anything which happened in the last decade. :-(