What about Jeff Lacy? You Brits make him out like he was a superstar in the US because it is one of Calslappy's career defining fights, but the truth is nobody gave a damn about Lacy in the US. Hell, anyone could see he was a crude club fighter when he was getting schooled by Sheika, until the KO. But after Lacy showed what class he was, you didn't see us AMericans blaming refs, the trainers, or any other **** for his loss like you Brits did for weak ass Hatton.
Out of about 30 respected pundits views before the calzaghe-lacy fight, i think about 25 picked lacy. They even said Lacy was the real deal and going to rule the SM division. Calzaghe ruled it for 10 years and still gets only grudging credit which seems strange.
I think there's a big issue in terms of British fighters feeling that they must conquer the US to truly be considered great. It's actually very much like the music scene, nowadays a band must be in the billboard top 10 to be considered to have made it. Of course when you think about it it's a bit silly because from The Beatles to U2 America is irrelevant. The same goes for Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Lewis. Conquering the US is irrelevant apart from the TV contracts, it's about money not skill or competence. So how are British fighters viewed? I don't think it really matter because how they are viewed has nothing to do with their skills or ability. Take Dawson, he is seen as a good fighter especially amongt the boxing world in the US but he wouldn't get through the amateur ranks in the UK. Conversely Kahn is seen as a lucky fighter with no futire due to his chin etc etc etc. It's nonsense really, there are some terrific fighters in the UK (and the rest of world) but they are underrated compared to very poor US fighters. So I don't think it matters how the British fighters are viewed. The US fans can continue kidding themselves that they have the best fighters on the planet but it's not the case nor has it ever been. Best lightweight? Best Flyweight? Mid weight? Super? Heavy? Are any of those from the US? Fact is the best fighters reside outside of the US, it really doesn't matter what US residents think
This is beyond dispute: At the time, Lacy was viewed as the second coming of Tyson. He was knocking out all competition and was getting tons of press in the US. It was Under-****ing-stood that Lacy would obliterate Calzaghe. No ifs ands or buts. To say otherwise is nonsense. It was a turning point in British boxing, if you ask me (at least from the way the US viewed British opposition, which had always been 'not quite good enough').
Actually, the press (the US press) were deeming him the 'next Mike Tyson' so don't start saying that everyone thought he was **** all along...that is far from the truth.
This thread is stupid - what started out as an honest topic has turned into US v UK bull****...again. Stop generalising ... all brits think this .... all americans think that etc...such a crock of ****. Knowledgable fans judge fighters on ability and legacy Quite a few dip shits on ESB (some in this thread) judge on nationality and personality Its never gonna change...
How are British fighters viewed? They should not be viewed as a pack, they should be judged as individual fighters, same goes for every other country.
This is a typical idiotic post, Thomas....don't end up like this guy.... Let me see....America has Mayweather, Mosley, Hopkins, Williams, and Dawson....that's FIVE upper echelon fighters....FIVE fighters in many Top 10 P4P lists... How many does the little, old u.k. have again? Yeah...that's right....the F*CK outta here... LMAOOOO!! I see you're from Manchester, England....home of Slick Rick Hatton and Mikey Bisping......how proud you must be....LMAOOOO!!
A lot of Brit fighters are exciting to watch few are elites but few fighters from anywhere ever are. Personally I didn't/don't enjoy watching Hatton's holding and hitting style. I don't like that Haye recently pulled out of fights with both the Klit brothers other than that though Khans chinney but he's getting really good and Froch will probably get outboxed by fighters like Bute and Kessler but he's exciting to watch Froch vs Andrade has FOTY potential. Calzaghe was a great fighter he ended his career the right way but did spend a lot of years not facing anyone relevant. Brit fighters are really good and often exciting to watch if there's a knock on them few are world beaters that can be said about most anywhere though.
This is a fair comment however nowadays we struggle to get media coverage at all for boxing unless its a big title fight and then the mainstream media are totally ****ing useless...