So who's going to be the one to pop the Povetkin hype bubble?

FIRST, I like Povetkin, you should really go back and read my posts.

I never said he was hype. NOT AT ALL! In fact, I said the exact opposite....I feel he will be champ one day, but the key words being ONE DAY!

Now as for the national, ethnic and other biases....

I will be the first to back someone claiming an american bias when its warrented. I KNOW it exists...but on this forum, EVERY SINGLE TIME (seriously, EVERY TIME), that someone claims an american fighter can beat non-american fighter...some jackass comes in claiming that they are doing it because they are american. ITS GETTING OLD!

Go read Huki's post...he said that if Povetkin were white (which he is????) and american, people would be saying that he "would kill Klitschko, own the division, and become an ATG daily"...and THAT my friend is bull****.

The only criteria he laid out was him being white and american. To which I pointed out that Mesi is white and american....AND HAS ACCOMPLISHED MUCH MORE than Alexander and noone has EVER said anything as crazy as that above statement (would kill Klitschko, own the division, and become an ATG daily).

Again, it was a bull**** statement...and if you know me, NOTHING gets me more pissed off then statements like this.

Like I said in my post, if its warrented I will back it. Back before Calzaghe beat Lacy, noone talked about him in the american media (he is still kinda slept on), but I had been a fan of the guy since the Eubank fight....I was one of the few americans who picked him over Lacy...and at that time even I PLAYED THE AMERICAN MEDIA CARD! Because it was warrented. Here it was not.

The only negative thing I said about Alexander was that he was overrated by some (Huki) and even qualified that statement by saying that he was underrated by many more.

But, to this point, as I said, he hasnt accomplished anything worthwhile (YET!!!)....and this has zero to do with him being Russian, and everything to do with him NOT ACCOMPISHING ANYTHING WORTHWHILE YET!!!

(again, when Larry Donald is your biggest win....your NOT a world beater yet.....)

I think you should go reread my posts if that is what you got out of it.

 

I did read some of your posts, that's why I said both of you made good points. I've been reading (more on than off) ESB for over 3 years before officially joining. But I'm not an expert on too many peoples post history - I do have other hobbies I understand your points, but think you were a bit harsh to huki. For all I know maybe you guys have a "history" of heated debates in threads I've never read?

Then we generally agree.

:shock: Well have to agree to that as I don't think he would "kill" either K bro right now or necessarily own the division. If some are writing posts like that about AP, then that's going over the top. But is that kind of exaggeration unusual on sports forums? If you've read some of my posts, you'll see that one of my main gripes is fans that make wild exaggertions to "make" their points.

Kudos to your pick... but you partly make my point that even you, as you say, "played" the American media card since you thought it was warrented. That's what I mean, it is warrented, and often. I may be taking a position between yours and huki's. That's all.

All in all, seems we agree more than disagree. :good

 

Once again, the Joe Mesi example is a terrible one because Povetkin is a gold medalist who started his pro career very impressively, while Mesi started up by beating nobodies for over 5 years. He wasn't hyped because he had no excellent abilities that stood out, no noteworthy amateur accomplishments, and he wasn't interested in taking risks / making an impact on the division.

You're taking what I said too far and getting pissed off because of a personal issue you have with anti-american bias. ALL I SAID was that if Povetkin was an American, the hype for him would be much much greater and very annoying on forums like this. That's all I said. How can you disagree with that?

Imagine if a very dominant amateur American heavyweight won the gold medal, turned pro, and in just two years took the fights that Povetkin did and dominated his opposition easily. He took a step up in just his 11th fight and knocked out a fighter that lasted 10 rounds with America's last top prospect (Calvin Brock) in 2 and shut out a very solid fighter who arguably beat a titleholder in his last fight in his 13th fight. Imagine he was ready to take on two top heavyweights that year and have the confidence to face the recognized #1 HW the next year. Imagine he had the noticable skills and abilities that Povetkin has. Imagine that his last 5 fights were on ESPN main events and HBO undercards! You don't think (especially during this HW era) that this fighter wouldn't be hyped up INSANELY on the internet and in general by American fans/boxing media? Come on.. the hype would be absolutely nuts.

My choice of words when saying that "Povetkin is underhyped if anything" was just something to say before I made my point about what would be happening now if he was American. I don't think he needs to be hyped more. I never said that people should all be saying that he is going to kill klitschko and be an ATG in the future. I said that's the kind of hype that would generate by tons of regular U.S. boxing fans on the internet if he was American. Take a look at my last paragraph and try to argue that it's not the truth.

Calm down. I don't have any bias for or against American fighters.

 

And again, you didnt mention ANYTHING about skills, potential or anything else. You said if he was white and american, blah blah blah.

That was a ridiculous generalization....which I showed was wrongly used. Seeing as how there ARE WHITE AMERICAN fighters that have accomplished more than Povetkin and they arent hyped in this manner.

And Decker...I think you misunderstood what I was saying....I didnt mean look at all of my posts...I meant all of my posts in this particular thread.

As for me using the american media bias card...I agree 100% that it exists, but its disheartening to an unbiased fan, such as myself to get that card played EVERYTIME I pick an american fighter over a non-american one. As I said, I will back it, if its warrented....but BLAST IT, if it not.

 

Dude you need to relax. Mesi, although I completely love and support him as an individual born in upstate New York, was so grossly overhyped it was ridiculous. He hand some power, and was unleashing it on overmatched foes in Buffalo. He really lucked out when he caught DaVarryl cold, because that bout truly started the hype train. To be dropped and battered by Monte Barrett, who is a top fifteen gatekeeper and then get pummeled by a former cruiser in Jirov, of whom was stopped by an ancient Moorer after) proved how weak of a prospect Mesi was. And this is coming from some one who has traveled to Buffalo to watch him fight.

Now, Povetkin on the other hand, is a very well polished amateur with great technical skills. Not just the right color from the right country to get people following him. If he were to be featured on HBO, a bunch of people would like him, but not nearly as many as liked Mesi. Its just the way it is dog.

Oh yeah, reppin Boston eh? You born and raised? I'm downtown as we speak.

 

I agree Mesi isnt anything special...just saying that the whole White and American comment was offbase and ridiculous (and that it is overused here...NOTHING gets me more pissed off than reading that in EVERY POST...its getting old).

And I like Povetkin alot. I think he has the tools to be special. I wasnt comparing the fighters in any way, just showing that being white and american doesnt nessessarily equate into unbearable hype (cleaning out the division, beating the Klits and such...).

As for Boston, yeah, born and raised. I now live just outside in Everett (suburn south of there...not sure how long youve been here or how well you know the area... )

 

I can't believe you're taking the **** out of a professional boxer when you worry about having split-ends.

 

7 years and counting. Live out in Chestnut Hill and work downtown.

The american thing comes up a lot, in my opinion, because it is true to a certain extent. Now, every white american heavyweight isnt propelled to the levels of Cooney, but some do get hyped beyond their capabilities or what they've displayed. And it just doesnt happen to white heavyweights either. It happens with fighters like Lacy as well. What cant be refuted is that regardless of how many champions are from the USA at any given time, it is still the mecca and center of the boxing world. That being said, obviously the fighter who fight here will be recognized first. The further you stray away, the longer it takes to get recognized.

 

:good

Totally agree that there is an american bias...and I am fine with people bringing it up, IF WARRENTED! But lets be serious, it is overplayed on this site...as american fans, we CANNOT pick a fighter from here without AT LEAST a few people pointing out that we do it because we are american.

 

LOL. Very true. Nice to meet in the middle my man.

 

Povetkin is a good, very solid guy. But I cannot see him ruling the division as long as the Klitschkos are around. So I think Povetkuin will establish himself as the clear #3 in the division below both Klits (I think Vitaly will comeback in good fashion), but clearly above Peter, Ibragimov chagaev etc.....

 

Wlad
Vitali

Both whoop his ass ...I hope he has a long and succesful career but if he rushes in to fight these guys he's gonna end up on his back

 

Wlad and Vitali are the only ones gaining any support.

So I think its safe to say that there is no bubble. There is just an extremely talented fighter tearing through the division on a course to fight anyone and everyone.

 

:good

 

Again, I said if Povetkin was white and American. If POVETKIN WAS. That's implying that the fighter DOES have skills and potential, because I'm talking about a fighter that accomplished everything he has and has the same skills as him, but he's American. And once again, the point I made is that the hype for this fighter would be absolutely crazy. Can you argue with that?