Who will be the next US mainstream boxing star after Mayweather retires?

Canelo and GGG are on that track. Thurman is a possibility as well.

 

He's 33, and he's still prime. The dude doesn't take a lot of punishment (thanks to HIS punishment) and he seems fresh.

Why do you think he doesn't have personality? The dude has humble, charming and endearing personality. Add that with an exciting style and it will sell. Pacquiao is similiar.

And he's getting exposure on mainstream TV as it is (ESPN), so he might as well test the PPV waters. You gotta start somewhere.

Canelo is doing well, and he doesn't even speak English to show personality lol. He should though. That's how Golovkin has been able to be on mainstream ESPN shows. If Canelo spoke English, I'm sure he would be more mainstream as well.

 

Also, fighters really should incorporate the usage of social media. I don't think they realize how much it could impact their popularity. Follow the steps of Mayweather, he's extremely involved in social media (and boasts about it) because he understands the world we live in and business.

So much of the May/Pac fight was hyped through social media. Pac tweeting to Floyd and Floyd instagramming about Pac. I know it may seem like a hassle, but fighters should avoid allowing their promotions to do their tweeting where it's obviously not the fighter and allow the fighter to do it or be at least a little involved. For example, Golovkin personally is not involved on any platform but if he wants to enhance or speed up his crossover-ness then he really should take some notes from Mayweather and Pacquiao and start incorporating himself into that world. That goes to all fighters.

 

Sorry for the tangent lol. I just feel like it's an obvious thing to do to become mainstream and surprised more fighters don't do it.

 

Hard to say. While I think Canelo has the potential following and an entertaining style, I don't think he has the skills at the highest level. Even if he beats Cotto which I have reservations about, he will still have to get past Golovkin at some point which seems a very daunting task. But he is still only 25 and who knows he may improve. But to do so he will need to beat Cotto, Golovkin and maybe even Ward if he moves that high up and he'll need to improve his English.

Golovkin's first PPV will tell us much about how big he could become. His popularity is growing and while he isn't young he still could have a few years in him. But I don't think he'll become a huge draw like Mayweather or even Pac.

Ward has all the ability, but his style bores many and he seems intent on sabotaging his career at every opportunity.

I suspect the next really big, crossover PPV star may not yet have proven themselves. Maybe a relatively unknown fighter who bursts onto the seen.

 

Berto.

 

The only US fighter with personality is Wilder, but I don't think he'll be able to beat Povetkin or Fury, although a fight with Vlad would be 50/50 in my view.

The next big star in the States will not be a US fighter, but probably Saul Alvarez or Vasyl Lomachenko.

 

In terms of Americans I think Crawford or Spence are the next big hopes for you lot. Wilder will be exposed the first time he fights someone worth talking about.

 

There doesn't seem to be anyone on the horizon. Sad.

 

There is truth to what you say, however a fighter's fists will always talk louder than his mouth.

 

I think if GGG was 5 or more years younger, he would be able to make it to almost a Floyd/Pac level in a couple of successful years. I just think he's too old. I think the lighter the fighter gets, the harder it is for them to be super popular- sorry Chocolitito and Lomachenko. Canelo could be good but 1) he doesn't speak English (which will hurt a little) and 2) I think he's gonna get stopped by GGG early in his career which will severely stunt its growth.

 

I'm rooting for Crawford, wasn't a big fan initially but I like his style.

You ride GGG hard these days. Calm down.