The Cult of Overhypers

Feel free to read my posts and tell me when I have overhyped anyone. You won't find a single instance. Maybe if you read this site with more care you'd see that there are many kinds of posters here. Are there tons of overzealous fanboys? Sure. But they're not all annoying and some of them are pretty funny and help to create excitement when a fight is happening.

If the General is not your cup of tea, you might feel more at home in the Classic section. There are lots of condescending and cranky know it all types there that you might be able to relate to better. Also the Brit section is generally pretty bitchy and whiny, so you might like it there as well.

 

Paid shills/"industry people" are in huge role in the hype and hate even here on ESB.
Watching their brainwashing working on many, even old members is saddening.

 

The internet helped to further hype fighters and also helped to get them in touch with fans globally, which is a direct easy way to keep fans up to date without the need for articles/interviews or public appearances. This is a great way to attract more fans into the sport. Hype in general is what introduces new fans to the sport and the more the fans the bigger the sport, event, discussions and general recognition. That is the best thing that could happen to my favorite sport. Remember, the more the attention and the bigger the crowd the higher the chances of running into general idiots or simply fans that still lack the knowledge(the majority).

As far as losing is concerned, it has nothing to do with "hype". Fans in general tend to be easily put off when a highly hyped/celebrated fighter finally meets his match. You seem to have forgotten how people immediately started to overlook Ali and claim he's "finished" when he lost to Frazier, same with Tyson when he lost to Douglas, Leonard to Duran, Lewis to McCall, Pacquiao to Morales, Holyfield to Bowe, Mosley to Forrest, Hearns to Leonard...etc. The "As soon as you lose, you're finished/shot/past it/done with" theory has been here forever.

 

It happens in all sports, but boxing to a greater degree. I have to remind myself when I see a fighter look spectacular that styles make fights. Your guy can look great one night and lousy another depending on who he is fighting. That is the great thing about boxing. You never know for sure what is going to happen. And the new wave is always looking to take out the top dogs. Gotta love it.

 

If it keeps people talking Boxing, then what's the problem? Plus, most of the guys here are just messing around with the hype talk, as they know it pisses other people off who take it too seriously. Lastly, since the 'top dogs' of boxing rarely fight each other, focus has to be placed elsewhere- the up and comers, and they receive a certain amount of 'hype'. Bottom line, it doesn't bother me much.

 

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This at least I will agree with.

It also matters to whom, and how a fighter loses though. If GGG lost a good match to Ward it would not effect my opinion of him at all.

I have long been a Martinez fan, but yeah I am off that train now so to speak. Just because at his age and level of health its clear that he should be looking towards retirement, and I have no desire to see a once great champ limping around the ring taking any more beatings. Would rather remember him for all the spectacular performances he gave.

At the end of the day, hyping and fan appeal is really the only force that works in favor of making interesting fights happen. Promoters, matchmakers, marketers do all pay attention to the general public pulse (or pay people that do) and if there is no buzz or hype for a fighter or matchup then dont expect to see them in interesting matches. Often times it is still not enough, but its really all there is.

Getting excited and such is not a bad thing, even if a purely objective view might find it unbalanced.

Since a major fighter only fights 4 times a year at most, getting excited about fights and fighters is integral to the longevity of the sport. If some of the grinches around here had their way, there would be very little to get excited about or be interested in. (Floyd and Ward are invincible, and should never fight anyone. That new breakout guy - hes just a hypejob, dont bother watching or being interested. You might get disappointed. Boxing and/or X division isnt good compared to the good ole' days anyhow. Why pay attention, just youtube fights from the 80's. Blahblahblah)

Also my pet peeve is that anytime someone says something good about a fighter, some asshat immediately feels to need to pretend like your calling them a top5 p4p or future ATG or something. Seriously, these people need to stop with the tin-pot petty self aggrandizement pretending they are the Sole Keeper of Common Sense and get a fkin clue.

 

People will absolutely cream themselves over a non-american puncher. It's hilarious to see

 

Hype is needed for boxing business.
We need new generation of superstars.

 

Add Cotto to the list. BUM

 

I'm not saying you hyped Broner but you are doing what everyone is talking about. Broner has lost one fight and all of a sudden he's destined to fail.

 

Fans loyalty to immediately attack anyone criticizing their supported fighter isn't a new trend either. Back then if anyone said anything bad about Tyson even in articles fans went crazy regarding it and instantly launched vicious attacks through comments, letters...etc. The only difference today is that these comments and letters are far easier to send therefore allowing a bigger audience to jump ship and make their voice heard and clear. Again, it's still nothing different compared to before, only difference is that it's easier to comment today than it was before but people hardly changed. People still respond to hype today as they did before, only today it's easier to attract a bigger crowd. Backing off when their fighter loses is rather normal for fans to do as well, it's just a natural human reaction to be silent and walk away when they lose than when they win, again nothing different or out of the ordinary.

I wouldn't say Canelo is written off, look at his PPV numbers against Angulo, it made as much as Cotto-Martinez did. Fans aren't put off by Canelo and it's not even close otherwise no one would have purchased that card considering the poor main event and lack of serious advertising. It all depends on how well the fighter is hyped and how many fans his promotional team were able to gather whether through posters, TV ads, social networking..,etc, it all comes down to how well the fighter is promoted. Yes, overhyping does hurt but sometimes it doesn't when a fighter proves he's well prepared for the big stage. It all comes down to taking risks and please remember, when a fighter is hyped well enough to main event a major event his hype doesn't necessarily flush down the toilet overnight if he loses. If a fighter is hyped well enough to be recognized at the major stage then he will always be popular among fans. It's not easy to kill off your popularity when people in general already started to recognize you and the Alvarez-Angulo PPV numbers is the proof.