Boxers you don’t rate, that make you a massive fan?

This post is really a response to the Froch v Groves.

One of the things I love about boxing is the surprise element, where a fighter can change your whole opinion of them in one fight. For instance, I didn’t think much of George Groves at all, I just felt he was one of those boring domestic fighters that has been well protected and his career would carry on like that for years until he fought someone elite and lost. I also thought the Degale win was overstated, so I disliked him in relation to that as well as he made out he completely shut Degale down, I didnt feel it was that one sided. Then during the build-up to Froch I kind of bizarrely warmed to him a little, mainly because I felt he was in deep **** but talking up a good game. Losing his manager and seemingly being totally on his own had me feeling sorry for the kid as I thought he was going to get crushed.

So I really just saw Groves as this annoying kid that really wasn’t that good and was going to get his arse kicked. Now after the fight I have completely changed my view of him and he is one of my favourite fighters! They way he came out with a performance like that with all the odds stacked against him was pretty incredible, you don’t see stuff like that often and its great when a fighter forces you to realise that yeah they are that good, no arguments. I literally was eating humble pie but at the same time enjoying every bite, I was willing Groves to get Froch out of there, and I’m a fan of Froch! But it was such a surprise seeing this kid beating the crap out of a great champ that I wanted him to do the unthinkable, stop the inhumanly tough Carl Froch.

I cant say that has happened to me often, where I will watch a fighter and just become a massive fan in that instance, they almost force you to be. The last time I think it happened to that degree was the first fight between Holyfield and Bowe. I never thought Holy was that special as a heavyweight, he was just keeping the belts warm for Tyson. But in loss to Bowe, Evander made he a massive fan and from that point I always rooted for him, when he won the rematch that was a high point for me as a boxing fan.

I mean, there must be loads of examples of this when you look back at old fights but I’m talking about a fight you actually watch live and are you just made a fan in that instance?