BBC Boxing: Radio x 2!!!

it very nearly did happen...if holy got the nod he deserved against big sugar lumps then..well, you know..

i have no issues with haye fighting harrison, although its an obvious mismatch

 

Bunce why do you think Haye vs Harrison will gain the sport more fans. Surley after the mismatch they will feel ripped off?

 

that could work the other way too...maybe after the mismatch, people will think of haye as better than he is...and this could up his stock value, and gain new followers of him, and in turn boxing, too.

 

This. If people are fooled into thinking this is a competative fight, in theory, and Haye dominates it, in practice, it can just be used as ammunition to say how great he is and get the bandwagon moving on. They've done a fantastic job of convincing people that this is a legitimate match-up so Haye's victory should actually benefit him amongst the general public/casual fan.

 

everyone knows who Audley is, therefore everybody knows how **** he is.

this fight will gain boxing no more fans. just silly to think it will.

 

There are more people talking about boxing than for a good while.

It's all over the tele and radio and folk I know, who don't know owt about the game, are mentioning it too. It's that subtle kind of insidiousness whereby it can be mentioned in passing or alluded to and everyone gets it.

And most of these people have bought into this being a legitimate fight. It does your cause no good at all to deny how popular this fight is - it just makes you seem like a flat-earthist. Decry it for being a joke but don't pretend that people aren't suckered in nor pretend you don't appreciate the potential for a dominant or explosive Haye win to just give him more recognition and fame. And, as we all know, when there is a big name heavyweight, boxing is big business.

 

well, lets look at that a bit closer....last night on the five live show they said 53% of boxing news readers polled thought audley will win this...so, they are boxing fans, people who know a bit more than your average casual sports fan...because if they are boxing news readers then they must be, right ?
as for the more casual fans, that only watch big fights...how do they know that harrison isnt up to the job...they wont be clued up about his career...if they listen to the boxing shows on tv or radio lately they are been told he has a great punchers chance.

 

you cannot take that poll seriouslly. I voted on it and for a joke picked Audley. I imagine allot of people did the same.

Ask 100 people to put there mortgage on the fight, how many pick Audley?

The casual fan who buys this fight is not gonna be some complete moron that hasn't been alive for the past 10 years since Sydney. Audley has had over 20 fights on terrestrial TV and every one was a stinker.

Every boxer in history has a punchers chance. That is meaningless.

Can you honestly tell me you have told a non boxing, general sports fan about this fight and they haven't laughed??

will this (bellow) gain us anymore fans because judging by there fights and not basing it on some mythical hatred for one another its exactly what will hapen.

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Surely anyone who bought a ticket wants to see Haye smash Harrison?
The only booing will be during Harrison 's ring walk

 

And for those who didn't watch the fight (the vast majority of the country) they would rely on reports such as:

"David Haye proved himself a class above Olympic Gold medalist Audley Harrison last night in the biggest all-British fight since Lennox Lewis defeated Frank Bruno. In a dominant performance, Haye extended his reign as World Champion and claimed he would take on all-comers."

And that's what the average person would be taught to take from the fight. Joe Public then might think:

"Wow Haye beat that Olympic champion, you know the boxer I've actually heard of. Like Lewis and Bruno, who I've also heard of, he must be great. The heavyweight champion of the world! Just like Ali and Tyson, who I've heard of. Legends! This guy Haye is at the very top, I'll have to remember him. He's about the only boxer I could name so he must dominate the sport."

In terms of making boxing more well-known, this fight achieves it even if it is the stinker you think it will be.

Now, boxing may or may not need that wider recognition, but it IS getting it because of this fight.

 

yup ^^